LSD
{Acid, Tab, Lucy, Lysergic acid diethylamide}
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Harm Reduction
There are certain precautions you should take before doing LSD. The advice below helps you to be physically and mentally prepared before tripping. Furthermore, we want you to be safe, and just in case you have a bad experience or unwanted side effects associated with acid, we have also provided information on how to take care of yourself throughout the trip.
Finally, there are those uncomfortable or undesirable effects after the high has passed its peak. Read on for some practical tips on how to have a better come down and to help you to reduce the harm done to your body.
Head over to our ME section if you would like to know more about harm reduction.
Every feeling is enhanced with LSD, this is why you want to plan your trip carefully.
- Always test your LSD. Other hallucinogens can be sometimes sold as LSD, many of these other drugs have a smaller safety window (i.e. the ratio of the typical lethal dose to the effective dose)
- Don't try LSD if you are in a bad state and feel a bit down. You shouldn't take any drug when you are feeling low, but taking psychedelics is probably the worst idea. You can easily fall into a very unpleasant rabbit hole.
- Try to have a trip-sitter look after you during your trip. Ideally, this would be someone who remains sober, has had previous experience with psychedelic drugs, and has read this guide! Or, let someone you trust know when and where you are planning to take it.
- Always take it with other people and, whenever it is possible, with familiar and kind faces. Experienced users might start trying it out on their own, often to seek artistic or intellectual inspiration.
- Set and setting, i.e. the place you choose to take LSD, is extremely important. It should be a familiar and safe place. Avoid places that may trigger negative feelings for you or unsecure and unsafe locations with a lot of people. If possible, prepare the site beforehand with a friend you trust.
- Prepare a music list. Check our section: What should I listen to? below.
- Gather any items you want to experiment with during your trip (books, videos, pen and paper etc.)
- Don't carry valuables while tripping as it's easier to become disoriented and forgetful. Stay hydrated: bring a bottle of water and some light snacks.
References
1 Carhart-Harris, R. L., Kaelen, M., Bolstridge, M., Williams, T. M., Williams, L. T., Underwood, R., ... & Nutt, D. J. (2016). The paradoxical psychological effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Psychological medicine, 46(07), 1379-1390.
2 Carbonaro, T. M., Bradstreet, M. P., Barrett, F. S., MacLean, K. A., Jesse, R., Johnson, M. W., & Griffiths, R. R. (2016). Survey study of challenging experiences after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms: Acute and enduring positive and negative consequences. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 30(12), 1268-1278.
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5 Kaelen, M., Barrett, F. S., Roseman, L., Lorenz, R., Family, N., Bolstridge, M., ... & Carhart-Harris, R. L. (2015). LSD enhances the emotional response to music. Psychopharmacology, 232(19), 3607-3614.
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