Lysergic acid diethylamide

Imagine hating the world you are growing up in and needing something to escape it.  That was the situation for the young vulnerable 60's teenagers. LSD was taking the young generation by storm. It was like giving candy to a little kid. The dangerous psychedelic allowed freedom to a freedom feeding generation. The drug allowed them to experience what is known as "trips". These trips would last for several hours and were much stronger than using something like marijuana. Even though it wasn't legal for very long, the effect it had on the sixties culture was massive. The drug became one of the primary beginnings to the sixties drug culture. 

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Creation of LSD

Even though LSD became extremely popular in the United States during the sixties, its roots come all the way from Sweden. In the 1930's LSD was created by a Swedish scientist by the name of Albert Hofmann. Surprisingly enough it originated from a fungus that grows on rye. The chemical was found using that fungus, and wasn't heavily tested until the CIA during the Cold War era. The CIA were hopping to use the chemical as an interrogation tactic. They originally believed the drug would allow for some sort of mind control or cause the person to give up information much easier. The Red scare was probably the most likely cause for the research. Even Hofmann himself hadn't discovered the effect until almost 10 years prior to discovering it. He accidentally ingested it and quickly realized its effect. He described seeing all sorts of colorful shapes, almost like looking through a kaleidoscope. Later he would take a larger dose, which was considered to be the "world's first intentional trip," later known as bicycling day in the LSD community due to his riding a bike during the trip. 

Albert Hofmann

Scientific Effect of LSD

To this day the full effect of LSD on the brain has not been fully understood. LSD falls under the drug category of Ergolines. Ergolines are commonly used to treat things such as migraines and Parkinson's disease. The main interaction of LSD and the brain happens in the serotonin receptors. Serotonin is extremely important due to its job helping brain cells communicate. The main receptor that LSD uses is the 5-HT2AR receptor. There are two different kinds of serotonin receptors being used by chemicals in the brain. The receptors are called G-proteins and β-arrestins. The problem with LSD is that it basically blocks entry of the chemicals to pass through the G-proteins, and instead send them all through the β-arrestins. Along with the that issue the effect is dramatic long. A almost "lid" is formed above the LSD molecule causing the trip to last way longer than most other drugs. The effect of hallucinogens on the brain is crazy. It can make a person experience things that they can see, feel, and even hear. None of those things are actually occurring but the drug is able to trick your brain into believing it to be real. The craziest part of the "trip" is the fact that you will almost never know what is going to happen. LSD is so unpredictable in the result that you will almost never be able to tell if you will have a "good" or "bad" experience.

Why is LSD bad/illegal?

The side effects of LSD can very from more common to severe. The more common and less dangerous effects are higher blood temperature, dilated pupils, increase heart rate, increase blood pressure, loss of appetite, sweating, dry mouth, tremors, and sleeplessness. The more short term severe effects are terrifying feelings and thoughts, fear of insanity and death, fear of despair, and even a fear of losing control of your body. A rare but extreme side effect the the LSD flash backs. Some users experience flashbacks to moments from taking the drug. While it is extremely rare it will most only occur during a time of high stress. The drug is considered highly illegal due to its ease of abuse and no medical gain from taking the drug. It sits as high as other drugs such a heroin and MDMA.

Work Cited

History.com Editors. “LSD.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 14 June 2017, https://www.history.com/topics/crime/history-of-lsd.

“LSD.” LSD - Alcohol and Drug Foundation, https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/lsd/.

“Protein Structure Reveals How LSD Affects the Brain.” National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 28 Feb. 2017, https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/protein-structure-reveals-how-lsd-affects-brain.