The History of Acid or LSD

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Nairobi Institute Of Business Studies *

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290

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Medicine

Date

Nov 24, 2024

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docx

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3

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Acid, or lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), is an illegal recreational drug derived from a parasitic fungus that grows on rye, or ergot. Acid is the most well-known hallucinogenic drug. It distorts and alters a person's perceptions of reality. LSD is classified as a Schedule I drug, meaning it is illegal in the U.S. due to its high potential for misuse. Initially created in the late 1930s, there was an early interest in the substance's potential psychiatric uses. This abruptly stopped when the drug was made illegal in 1970. However, there has been a resurgence of interest in LSD's possible therapeutic effects. Research on the use of LSD in psychedelic-assisted therapy is ongoing and still in the early stages. LDS cannot be legally prescribed and is restricted to limited research settings. History of Psychedelic Use The Discovery of LSD The psychoactive properties of acid were discovered almost by accident by Dr. Albert Hofmann, a research chemist working for the Sandoz Company, in 1943. Dr. Hofmann had been synthesizing LSD-25, and some crystals made contact with his fingertips and were absorbed through his skin, resulting in symptoms of LSD intoxication. Hofmann experimented on himself and took a small quantity of the drug.1 Believing that lysergic acid had potential use in neurology and psychiatry, he proceeded with animal experimentation and further human studies. Such early experiments suggested the potential for people with mental health issues. LSD also appeared to release long-forgotten memories and traumas into consciousness. Some suggest that this could allow such memories to be worked through therapeutically.2 What Are Psychedelic Drugs? LSD Research During the 50s and 60s The pharmaceutical company Sandoz marketed LSD under the brand name Delysid. In one 1964 catalog, the company described the substance for use "in analytical psychotherapy to elicit release of repressed material and to provide mental relaxation, particularly in anxiety states and obsessional neuroses."3
LSD was used in European psychotherapy clinics in an approach called psycholytic therapy—meaning the dissolution of tension or conflicts in the human psyche. In this approach, people took lower doses of LSD over a series of sessions.4 After each session, the patients would rest, then have a period where they would paint or work with clay to depict the visions they saw while hallucinating. After the art session, the patients would have a therapist-led group discussion about their experiences.5 Another approach, known as psychedelic therapy, involved people taking a single high dose of LSD, after a period of intensive psychological preparation to attempt to restructure and cure the patient's personality problems. LSD was also explored as a model for psychosis and a treatment for severe pain associated with cancer. During this period, as many as 40,000 people were treated with LSD for various mental health conditions.6 Risks and Legal Restrictions During the 1960s, LSD became heavily associated with counterculture activities. This contributed to stigma about the drug, and reports of adverse events linked to LSD use resulted in a wider recognition of its potential risks.7 Recognizing the dangers of the drug, the pharmaceutical company that was then producing it stopped LSD production and distribution in 1965. Psychotherapists then abandoned its use in therapy. In 1970, LSD was classified as a Schedule I drug. These substances are known to have the highest potential for abuse. While LSD is not addictive, it can produce tolerance and psychological dependence. Tolerance means people must take more substance to achieve the same effects. Tolerance builds quickly, and the effects of the drug can be risky and unpredictable.8 Treatment for LSD misuse can involve inpatient, residential, or outpatient therapy. While there are no medication to treat LSD problems, different types of psychotherapy can help, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), group therapy, family therapy, and motivational enhancement therapy (MET).
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