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| A tab of LSD displaying a caricature of the famous "Bicycle Day" |
LSD is illegal in the UK and is usually portrayed in a negative light by the press. Despite this, many people who have taken the drug have cited it as being a beneficial experience and many psychologists believe the drug could be vital in further understanding the human mind.
One of the UK's leading experts on Hallucinogenic drugs Dr. Ben Sessa, a Psychopharmacology believes the drug is safe to use in the correct environment and can offer users an enlightening experience.
Dr Sessa said, "If used wisely, with due care and attention to Set and Setting, adequate preparation and appropriate support, a user may have a wonderful, meaningful, fulfilling and important psychedelic experience."
"The experience can provide the user with a depth of personal meaning, an opportunity to explore their past emotional experiences, to resolve repressed trauma and identify new and creative ways to look at old problems."
"The 'classical psychedelics' (LSD, psilocybin, mescaline and DMT) have relatively few physiological effects, this is why the classical psychedelics are so physiologically safe and there is very low risk of physical or psychological dependency."
"Epidemiologically we do not see people returning again and again to drugs like LSD in a 'moorish' fashion. Indeed, many people describe taking LSD or mushrooms just a few times, often as a 'rite of passage' during an episode in late adolescence or early adulthood and then not continuing that use for long periods of time. Indeed, the psychedelic experience is often so intense and 'life changing' that one does not need / want to repeat it regularly. This is why they are actually very useful tools to treat addictions."
LSD was first synthesised on November 16, 1938 by Swiss Scientist Albert Hoffman. Working for Sandoz Laboratories he was hoping to create a circulatory and respiratory stimulant when he accidentally made one of the most famous inventions of the 20th Century.
The inventor ingested a huge dose of 250 micrograms, expecting this to take little to no effect on him. He then bicycled home on a historical trip he could never have expected. Hoffman realized the significance of his creation and his drug inspired many influential figures of the 20th Century.
Steve Jobs cited LSD as one of the most important experience of his life, second only to the birth of his children. The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and many other musicians were heavily inspired by the drug. Writers Aldous Huxley, Hunter S. Thompson and Ken Kesey and many famous Hollywood icons such as Jack Nicholson, Carey Grant and Tim Burton also took the drug. Even Francis Crick, who discovered the structure of DNA, enjoyed taking LSD.
Despite the stigma attached to the use of illegal drugs, many people who have taken LSD are happy to speak of their experiences and share their stories.
Gary Hedley, 22, Supermarket Cashier
I have taken acid on only three occasions and was completely shocked by the effects it had on me. From what you see in movies and hear in the news I expected to be surrounded by very real unicorns and people morphing into interesting and scary things. It was nothing like this! For me it gave me the feeling of ecstasy while marking everything I seen beautiful and interesting. I have taken it in the house as well as while camping in a forest both experiences were different however both were extremely fun, mind opening and brought me closer to the people I was with. I would say that acid is my favourite drug
Harry Appleton, 21, Unemployed
ive took acid 4 times, it was an entirely different experience each time i took it, ive experienced the hell and the heaven, and wouldnt change those experiences for anything, it opened my mind to new ways of looking at the world, it shaped who i am as a person, made me more cynical and at the same time more open minded to ideas i would once of ignorantly thought were nonsense It gave me a lot more empathy towards the struggles of those around me, and helped me accept my discomfort instead of trying to helplessly trying to solve said discomfort with material gain like i perceive most people to do, and after i comedown, Its always nice to feel a whole lot lighter, without losing any weigh
John Fitzpatrick, 21, Student
“I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve taken
LSD, but it is only once in a blue moon that I do. Usually I take it with friends
and have a great laugh, but also it makes you see a things from a much more
open-minded perspective, it’s like you can see the meaning and beauty in
things.
Thomas Foster Beattie, 20, Travelling Confectionery Manager
Travelling Confectionary Manager "I've tried it around 30 or so times,it let me into an altered state of mind where when looking at an object it appears to slightly morph or breath , and brain is running at 100 miles a hour analysing every possible outcome of the thing you are thinking about. I've took it in different environments, inside and outside, in a night club, at a festival, with people that i know very well and people that i didn't know at all. The only bad experience I've had is when i had it in a club and i got bored with the shitt music they were playing and there were loads of tosserss about so I went home.
Daniel Allinson,20, Bar Person
The only time i took acid, i only took one tab. Three of us decided to take it, however I had four other friends who were drinking alcohol. I previously had apprehended this was a bad idea, the noise and the mania of the drunks made me feel uneasy, however as the night progressed i begin to stop caring. I had a small amount to drink as well that night and smoked a lot of weed. I would say the cannabis certainly amplified the effect of the drug. I didn't have anywhere enough to have visual trips or see any particular hallucinatory images, instead I recall a strong feeling of well-being and a dream like lucidity to all of my surroundings. Overall I'd say that it was nice and I'd definitely do it again
William Griffiths, 22, Bar Manager
I've tried acid five times. It distorted my perception of reality and all surrounding entities. It threw all my per-conceived notions of life, death, religion and every matter in between into question, and it made me giggle a hell of a lot. I had it Surrounded by friends late at night walking around the surrounding villages and towns.
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