Merry Pranksters And The LSD

LSD, Psilocybin, DMT, MDMA, Ketamine and Adrenochrome… what do they all have in common? They are all psychedelic drugs. Psychedelic drugs are drugs that cause hallucinations and apparent expansion of consciousness. There are many unanswered questions about the drug, what exactly is a psychedelic and what defines it also, what is the purpose of a psychedelic drug? Psychedelics are usually thought of as one of the most profound times in your life or one of the worst decisions you have ever made, but either way it is a life changing experience. Another aspect of psychedelic drugs is the myths and misconceptions about the different types, some are exponentially more dangerous than the others and in the end each drug has a different effect on whomever

Consequently, what others do not realize is that “Looney Tunes” is also a street name for lysergic acid diethylamide or LSD for short (National Drug Intelligence Center 2003). Moving on, in 1943, Albert Hoffman invented lysergic acid diethylamide and used it (Coney et al. 1). Furthermore, Hoffman is known for his interest and studies in “alternative states of consciousness” (Wilson 315). Consequently, since the invention of lysergic acid diethylamide, it has gained popularity. Within its acquired reputation, comes different perspectives of the usage of this drug.

The article discusses research on the use of hallucinogens for medical therapies applicable to cancer, drug addiction, and psychological problems. Studies being undertaken at Johns Hopkins University are discussed. Johns Hopkins' research on hallucinogens includes assessment of the drug's psychospiritual effects among volunteers and its use in easing psychiatric and behavioral disorders in those so affected.

Ergot can affect any part of the body in both people and animals and can cause problems in any body system, known or unknown. The symptoms can range from mental to physical distresses, such as extreme confusion and hallucinations to convulsions and crippling loss of movement (Bonnet & Basson, 2004). While LSD is not addictive, it can do damage similar to, but not as extensive as, the plant of its origin, ergot.

At first, Hoffman doubted whether he had accidentally poisoned himself with the LSD. Days later, he decided to voluntarily intoxicate himself with 250 micrograms of LSD to see if that was the cause of his psychedelic experience earlier in the week. When he was debating about how much of the LSD to intoxicate himself with, he decided that it would be best to be very conservative and try just a small dose. Unknowing of exactly how powerful this new hallucinogenic chemical was, he thought 250 micrograms would have little or no psychological effects. Later it was determined that 250 micrograms was an extremely large dose for a human to consume. After ingesting the LSD, Hoffman describes in his own words the events that followed:

“Psychoactive substances exert their their effects by modifying biochemical or physiological processes in the brain.” Psychedelics are taken out of context to be for recreational use only, when they can be taken to enhance spiritual journeys.

The researchers conducted their study at the alcoholic unit of the New Jersey Neuro-Psychiatric Institute at Princeton, New Jersey. Participants were recruited by offering patients admitted to the institute the opportunity to take part in the experimental LSD program. A total of 28 alcoholics were admitted to the program, and their results were compared to that of a group of 34 alcoholics who took part in a standard comparison program provided by the Alcoholic Unit. Details about the patients were recorded such as their ethnic background, age, and marital status. Subjects were placed into groups of four. The first week was structured as an orientation week, and at the end of the week, two of the members were randomly chosen to be administered

Within the 1960’s a new form of drug was created and was said to be an essential pharmaceutical that should be in every doctor’s bag. This drug was called lysergic acid diethylamide, but is more commonly know as LSD. Albert Hofmann, as Swiss chemist, created this new drug in hopes that he might have found a profitable analeptic that could cure migraines. However, this was not the case. Hofmann decided to dose himself with the drug to see if it would help subdue headaches. He quickly discovered that this new

It is important to note that from the tens of thousands of doses of LSD and other classical compounds such as mescaline which has been conducted under medical administration, a general fact about these drugs have emerge which posits that the drugs are not addictive but is self-limiting meaning that if taken three days in a row it will no longer produce a psychic effect (Buckley, 1966). Studies on LSD have revealed that it causes no organic changes to the brain or any permanent changes in brain activity.

“Love not war” was a phrase often used by the early hippies. The hippies in the 1960’s were rebelling against government and war, caused by the social unrest that they felt, which ultimately helped create a looser style of living for the modern day Americans. The reason that hippies came to be in this time of age is because society was very strict and many people didn’t support the government. The effects that the hippies had on present day American culture is substantial. They changed the way people dressed, the way people acted, the way people wore their hair, and the type of music that became popular.

     The user's mood is likely to change depending on how he/she feels at various stages of the trip. The outcome of the trip is almost always dependent on two primary variables: the set and the setting. The set refers to a user's expectations of the drug's effects and the user's state-of-mind. The setting is the environment in which the drug is taken. If an inexperienced user takes LSD in stressed condition or in a bad mood, a bad experience may occur. By the same token, taking LSD in a chaotic environment like a noisy rock concert could turn into trouble for someone unsure of the drugs effects. When users on LSD become frightened or enter a state of panic,they can usually be relieved or "talked down" by a friend.

In 1966 Great Britain, several art forms began to spring up within the LSD subculture, and music and art were being produced and performed. As Andy Roberts puts states, the environment “was being created by LSD users for the LSD user.” [18] Most musicians and artist used LSD to open up creative pathways for writing and creating art and used lyrics and artwork to express their rebellious and dissatisfaction with the government. LSD was common among psychedelic rock artists such as The Beatles, Jefferson Airplane, Pink Floyd and the Grateful Dead among others; this helped in increasing the popularity of LSD during the 1960s. Musicians in America were writing songs about social protest and anti-war, due to roaring voices of the youth expressing

LSD, also known as Hallucinogens to the common public or Lysergic acid diethylamide, is a psychedelic drug that can lead to “mystical” visions, feelings of alienation and separation. Hallucinogens can alter a person’s mood or state of mind. LSD is the most psychedelic substance known and doses of LSD can be measured in micrograms. It is manufactured from lysergic acid, which is found in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains. This halluncinogenic drug is delivered in a crystalline structure and blended with a natural or synthetic substance that is formulated alongside an active ingredient of a medicine. Hallucinogens have been used since ancient times, for religion and medicine. Some commonly used drugs that are under hallucinogens

LSD was also tested on schizophrenics, drug addicts and criminals (Dye, 1992 p. 38). Research determined that LSD was ineffective in treating any behavioral problems. It was also concluded that LSD might transform a normal individual into a person with a very calm to severe personality problem.

Following the journey of Kesey, Tom Wolfe demonstrates how the drug led to his preliminary ideas, breaking away from society, forming cults based on the taking of psychedelic drugs, most important of which was LSD. Kesey’s acid tests quickly became the counterculture style, Wolfe details the strobe lighting, dayglow face paint and bizarre commentary that allowed those involved to ‘freak freely’. It was these acid tests that were key in forming the counterculture. Students in California quickly took to copying Kesey’s acid tests and eventually became popularized as more and more student were trying LSD after hearing about the experience their peers had on the drug. A reasonable estimate to the growth in the counterculture is the size of the Human Be-In Festival on January 14th 1967, where some 30,000 attended the festival which was a countercultural gathering, focussing largely on