Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LCD): Addiction, Treatment, and Prevention Research Paper

Lysergic acid diethylamide, commonly known as LCD in the streets of most states and countries worldwide, was first discovered by a Swiss scientist named Albert Hofmann in the 1930s. During the cold war, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) conducted experiments using LCD and other drugs to enhance mind control and information gathering (Agasarov et al., 2021). In 1938 Albert Hofmann conducted research in conjunction with the Swiss chemical company using chemicals found in ergot, a fungus that grows naturally on rye and other grains. However, he never noticed the hallucinogenic effect of the drug.

In 1943 he accidentally ingested a small portion of and perceived extraordinary shapes with an intense, kaleidoscopic display of colors. On April 19, 1943, he took a large amount of the drug dose and rode home from work on a bicycle. He encountered his first intentional trip about the second world war experience with a restriction that made automobile travels off-limits. Later in the 1960s, the drug became a symbol of counterculture and was eventually classified as a hallucinogen that could be used for recreational purposes at the rave parties. Years later 19^th day of April is celebrated by some recreational LCD users and is termed the Bicycle day.

Currently, in most streets of the United States and in some countries, LCD is found in different forms and of various sizes. This form includes blotter paper that is LCD soaked in an absorbent sheet of paper in a colorful design and cut into small tablets, thin squares of gelatins commonly known as window panes, tablet form known as microdots or capsules, sugar cubes, and lastly, pure liquid form which is highly potent.

Problems of Drugs in Society

In modern society, most people suffer various forms of addictions with no exception of LCD drugs that post significant and adverse effects on an individual and the community. The problems are not only depicted in the area of concentration but also in the suburbs that are out of the stereotypical view of intoxication of the drug. The use of LCD mainly causes a lot of social, economic, and public health complications. Most addicts cannot take responsibility because they are unreliable financially and in terms of work output. Moreover, the drug dealers mostly are residents of the poor society and therefore prop up the illicit drug market hence imposing more problems for the neighborhoods.

Furthermore, in the urban areas, the impacts are still experienced. Most LCD victims have portrayed an inability to take family responsibilities, risk getting arrested, and have other illegal problems (Curran et al., 2018). This problem has affected individuals and society. Besides, there have been increased deaths due to carelessness resulting from drivers who have flashback experiences after using the drug. Other deaths have resulted from excess intoxication of the drug in the body organs, especially the brain, thus increasing blood pressure and eventual death. This leads to communal development retardation due to reduced wages and the workforce.

There are several problems revolving around the usage of LCD and LCD addicts in society, as depicted by the research data of central and south America on the abuse of the drug. Most problems are financial and social-based that affect the families and the society. Most communities with many addicts experience retard economic development due to the reduced work output and lack of skills to enhance the development process. Most victims indulge in excessive drug usage, thus preventing them from being reliable. Besides, the victim society encounters the loss of most potential community members.

LCD Mechanism and Adverse Health Effects of The Drug

Taking a small LCD drug of less than two salt grains is enough to create the visual effect and the hallucination as perceived. The drug uses the serotonin receptors in the brain to produce a variety of mind and mental effects such as hallucination, delusion, impaired sense of time, distorted sense such as touch, sight, panic, and anxiety. The LCD traits bind themselves to the receptors creating manipulation and increasing or reducing the serotonin output. The affected receptors include sensory perception, sensory input, sexuality, muscle control, and self-regulation, thus affecting the brain’s normal functioning.

Health Effects of Taking Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LCD)

Research depicts that most patients intoxicated by LCD in small amounts experience short-term effects. At the same time, those who have been under excess intoxication of the drug for a long time portray both the short-term and long-term effects. The short-term effects of using LCD include hallucination, euphoria, feeling of detachment, delusion, impaired sense of time, and distorted senses such as touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste. Other short-term effects include panic, anxiety, depression, fear of losing control, loss of appetite, insomnia, failure in body temperature regulations, tremors, dilated pupils, and cardiac symptoms.

The long term effects, on the other hand, include permanent hallucination, psychosis, mania, depression, lack of motivation, lack of interest, difficulty in making yourself understood, lack of enjoyment in previously enjoyable things, irritated thinking and behaviors, panic attacks, mood swings, tolerance to the drug, flashback, and generalized anxiety. The most common factor is the flashback, when LCD is stored in the spinal fluid and travels back to the brain after some time, thus causing similar feelings, hallucinations, and sensations as per the original trip. According to the National Library of Medicine, flashback comes during stress and mental agitation.

Psychological and Physiological Effects Of LCD

Taking of LCD causes psychological effects such as anxiety, a fight or fight disorder described when an individual perceives danger and is depicted by the following physical and mental symptoms, rapid heart rate, excessive worrying, sweating, restlessness, tension, and insomnia. Another psychological effect is shame and guilt encountered from the stigmatization of LCD addicts; a negative feedback loop also is a result of LCD addiction. Besides, depression is evidenced by hopelessness, lack of motivation, weight gain or loss, loss of interest, and suicidal ideation. Lastly, there is a loss of interest in everyday attractive things.

The physiological effects are those that tamper with the standard working system of the body as a result of intoxication of the drug. This effect includes insomnia, where the victim of LCD experiences sleepless nights due to drug intoxication. Another effect is psychosis/confusion. LCD has an increased risk of hallucination and psychosis—impulsive control and compulsive behaviors where patients experience immense sexual urges and intense urges to spend money (Tirri et al., 2022). The most portrayed physiological effects are depression and suicidality. Other effects include Dyskinesia, neuropathy, cardiovascular ischemic events, melanoma, and glaucoma.

Solutions to Adverse Health Effects Associated With LCD

The united states of America, in conjunction with some non-governmental organizations, has tried to curb the abuse of LCD drugs through different ways such as restricting the dosage and providing easy access to naloxone. This has enabled meaningful usage of the drug is only a prescribed manner by physicians (Family et al., 2022). Naloxone also helps in reducing respiratory problems caused by the drug. Identification and crackdown of prescribers who provide excess dosage or large quantities of the LCD drug, the government has also employed radio stations and social media to educate citizens on the adverse effects of LCD. The government has also established and implemented medical guidelines for treating health problems associated with LCD effects.

Besides, the US authority has also started sanctions on all drug dealers who supply LCD drugs, especially in the poorer communities, to reduce the supply and educate doctors on the best methods of treating addiction. The government has also set aside funds to help build and maintain rehabilitation centers to help regulate the rate of addiction in society. The US urgencies have also aided in the solution making through promoting and paying for medication to the addicts in their treatments. The government has also invested in labor-intensive jobs to help keep most youths busy, thus preventing easy indulgence in LCD usage.

Treatment of LCD Addiction

The treatment of LCD addicts can be made through intervention as endorsed by The Substance and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) which is essential short counseling. However, in some cases, the technique is used for individuals showing more serious usage of LCD. Another treatment technique used is community treatment and family training, or CRAFT which The American Psychological Association describes as increasing an individual’s compliance with substance abuse treatment by properly engaging family and community (Nutt, 2022). There are also inpatients’ and outpatients’ medicines that can help by carrying out different therapy series.

The treatment of LCD addicts can also be made possible through rehabilitation of the victims and using the recovery process where the victim is prevented from using the drug and taught how to resume living a healthy and productive life without the influence of the drug. However, a permanent cure can’t be done just like other diseases, as asthma treatment is always not an efficient form of medication.

The treatment of LCD addicts can also be enhanced by rehabilitating the victims, which involves restricted and monitored movements and behaviors (Blue Cross, 2020). Unfortunately, this also affects the follow-ups on the victims’ food while in the center. However, according to research, most addicts are evidenced to resume taking LCD after leaving the rehabilitation center if not given further follow up that were previously made in the rehab.

Recommendation on Drug Education

The government should intensify the war against drug dealers, especially those involved in supplying LCD drugs and other forms. Besides, different governments should come together and launch a massive campaign against the drug and educate youths on the adverse effects of its usage of the drug. Furthermore, the world Health Organization (WHO) should keep track of records of victims, especially children, to analyze the fluctuations in LCD addiction and develop ways to help reduce the rate of addiction. On the other hand, the youths should also be educated and exposed to various methods of keeping themselves busy by involving in labor-intensive jobs to avoid bad influences that may lead to addiction.

This document is vital to most youths and affected individuals as it provides exposure to the adverse effects of LCD, how it affects the community directly, and those out of the stereotypical view of the drug influence. Besides, the paper also provides the best way to curb addiction, the treatment of the drug, and its efficiency and, therefore, should be considered essential by most youths and the entire society.

References

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Blue Cross. (2020). New medical, medical drug and behavioral health policy management updates—Effective August 3, 2020.

Curran, H. V., Nutt, D., & de Wit, H. (2018). Psychedelics and related drugs: Therapeutic possibilities, mechanisms and regulation. Psychopharmacology, 235(2), 373-375.

Family, N., Hendricks, P. S., Williams, L. T., Luke, D., Krediet, E., Maillet, E. L., & Raz, S. (2022). Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and subjective effects of 50, 75, and 100 µg LSD in healthy participants within a novel intervention paradigm: A proof-of-concept study. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 36(3), 321-336.

Tirri, M., Bilel, S., Arfè, R., Corli, G., Marchetti, B., Bernardi, T., Boccuto, F., Serpelloni, G., Botrè, F., De-Giorgio, F., Golembiowska, K., & Marti, M. (2022). Effect of -NBOMe compounds on sensorimotor, motor, and prepulse inhibition responses in mice in comparison with the 2C analogs and lysergic acid diethylamide: From preclinical evidence to forensic implication in driving under the influence of drugs.Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 875722.

Nutt, D. (2022). Psychedelic drugs—a new era in psychiatry? Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 21(2), 139-147.