When a person gets high on acid, or LSD, they go on an acid trip. You might hear it referred to as a psychedelic experience or tripping. An acid trip usually lasts for eight to twelve hours, but it can sometimes last longer.
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What is Acid?
Acid is the street name for an age-old drug known as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). LSD is a commonly known hallucinogen that is used by teens, young adults, and even mature adults.
Found in clubs, parties, and on the streets, LSD is used to go on a hallucinogen high. It’s a dangerous drug that can lead to numerous negative side effects and often, use of the drug ends in death.
Is Acid Addictive?
Although acid is an illegal drug, it’s not addictive. But just because it’s not addictive does not mean it’s safe. Acid is highly dangerous; the more a person uses the drug, the more dangerous it becomes. Over time, the body grows tolerant to it. The longer a person uses, the larger the dose needed to hit a high and take that acid trip.
Unpredictability is a major risk associated with this drug. Each time a person trips, they experience a different feeling. Although the thrill of unpredictability is exciting and compliments the drug’s high, it also makes tripping on acid extremely dangerous. Just because it made you feel good one time doesn’t mean it will have the same effect the next time. In fact, the next trip could result in injury without medical attention, or even death.
What Are the Effects of Acid Use?
Since the drug is unpredictable, no two “trips” are the same, and the results vary according to the dose, the user’s mood, and the atmosphere. Some of the short-term effects include:
- High body temperature
- Increased heart rate
- High blood pressure
- Dilated pupils
- Sweats
- Decreased appetite
- Tremors
- Insomnia
- Dry mouth
- Mood swings
- Sudden changes in emotions
- Visual hallucinations
- Delusions
- Synesthesia of senses (when they are confused with smelling sounds and hearing colors)
- Loss of time
- Fear
- Anxiety
- Depression
Some of the long-term effects that last for hours, even weeks, after tripping include:
- Severe depression
- Schizophrenia
- Flashbacks from using
- Psychosis
A Trip You Don’t Need
Tripping on acid can seem like an adventure, and the longer you’re on a trip, the more real the hallucinations feel. The sensations start mildly and grow in intensity during the following eight to twelve hours. A trip can feel great, but it can rapidly turn scary when you become confused and your surroundings are distorted. Death can result when the body becomes so used to the drug that a larger dose is required to deliver a high.
It’s normal to be curious about things, but trying a drug because of curiosity can be dangerous, and it can ultimately lead to critical, even deadly, situations. Know who your friends are, and if they make you feel like you’re a downer for not get stoned with them, they aren’t your friends.