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Treatment for LSD Abuse: How to Treat LSD Addiction

Psychoactive substances, by definition, change the way people think and feel. Hallucinogens do this in a unique way, by altering the way that humans sense and perceive the world—making false visual, auditory, and tactile sensations seem real.

One of the most commonly used hallucinogens is D-lysergic acid diethylamide, or LSD. LSD (“acid,” “yellow sunshine”) is a synthetic, powerfully hallucinogenic drug that is derived from lysergic acid—a substance produced in a fungus that grows on rye and other grains.1

Recurrent LSD use is potentially dangerous and can seriously impact an individual’s thoughts, emotions, and behavior. If someone you know is struggling with LSD use, treatment is available, and there are a number of ways to intervene.

Approaching an LSD Addict

While LSD is not considered by most to have physically addictive properties, psychological addiction to this hallucinogen may occur, and problematic use of LSD can cause numerous issues in a user’s life, requiring treatment.

Approaching someone you care about with a substance addiction can be difficult. In some cases, the user will have enough insight and awareness to recognize their condition and, with the help of others, seek appropriate care. More often than not, however, this doesn’t happen. In many cases, addicted individuals are in denial about their substance use and the extent to which they have control over it.

It is important to approach a loved one who’s struggling with addiction in a way that will maximize the chances of achieving the desired outcome: getting them to accept help.

Should I Use an Intervention?

LSD abuse intervention

In cases where a person steadfastly refuses to cut back or quit their LSD use despite problems that it causes and is reluctant to seek care or receive help from those around them, an intervention might be the most effective approach.

The word “intervention” is sure to conjure up a number of images—most likely those of reality TV and radio shows depicting substance addiction and the confrontational meetings that bring a person back to a path of sobriety, health, and happiness. In contrast with the highly charged, dramatic situations that transpire on TV, many healthcare providers regularly carry out interventions in a fairly routine medical setting.

“Brief interventions” have received considerable support from research and are endorsed by The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Brief interventions are essentially short counseling sessions—lasting anywhere from 5-30 minutes—that are administered by trained healthcare providers.2 Brief interventions are most often used in cases where the individual has not yet developed a serious addiction but is showing signs of risky or problematic drug or alcohol use.2 The intervention is designed to provide the individual with insight into their use and the inherent risks of using substances in order to get them to stop using drugs. However, in some cases, this technique is used for individuals showing more serious substance dependence and is aimed at getting them to accept more formal addiction treatment.2

If you plan on carrying out an intervention outside of a medical setting, be advised that doing so without proper planning and support can increase any confrontation and may actually harm your loved one’s willingness to receive treatment. You may wish to better prepare by enlisting the help of a professional interventionist or other knowledgeable treatment professional to guide the intervention, help plan treatment options, and ensure that the communication throughout is only helpful and loving, as opposed to judgmental or blaming.

Community Reinforcement and Family Training

Another research-backed approach to get people into treatment is Community Reinforcement and Family Training, or CRAFT.3 The American Psychological Association describes the purpose of CRAFT as a way to increase the compliance of an individual in substance abuse treatment by properly engaging family and community members. People who comprise the addicted individual’s support system are trained in ways that strengthen this system and maximize the individual’s chances of maintaining sobriety.4

CRAFT’s therapeutic impact extends beyond the substance abusing individual by encouraging concerned significant others (CSOs) to take care of themselves in addition to their addicted loved one (the identified patient, or IP). While it may seem counter-intuitive at first glance, this method confers a positive, indirect effect on the IP; the overall support system that is integral to the health and recovery of the addicted individual has a better chance of thriving when all the individuals making up that support system take care of themselves.3

Is LSD Addictive?

Addiction is the recurrent use of a substance despite the negative consequences that such use brings. While research investigating the addictive qualities of hallucinogens is still ongoing, the U.S. government has stated that LSD does not induce drug-seeking behavior like some other hallucinogens (e.g. PCP) or mind-altering substances (e.g. cocaine, heroin, alcohol) do.1,5 The reason for this is that its use does not precipitate the chemical changes in the brain responsible for the development of cravings.

Individuals, however, can still develop problematic patterns of compulsive use analogous to those seen with more commonly recognized drugs of abuse (such as cocaine and heroin). LSD addiction—or, in this case, what’s known as a hallucinogen use disorder—is a real, diagnosable entity, and it is treatable as such. The phenomenon of LSD tolerance also exists, in which users require larger amounts over time to experience the desired effects.5 This ramping up of use, over time, can increase a person’s chances of overdose and/or ongoing negative physical and mental effects.

What Are the Signs of LSD Addiction?

Chronic LSD use can cause distress and interfere with a person’s social or work life. Signs that you or someone you know might have a problem with LSD use include:

  • Taking more LSD than was intended.
  • Taking LSD with other substances to heighten the experience of LSD.
  • Spending substantial amounts of time or money on obtaining or using LSD.
  • Neglecting responsibilities or hobbies as a result of continued LSD use.

If this sounds like you or someone you know, please call American Addiction Centers’ (AAC’s) free hotline today at .

Is Addiction Treatment Necessary?

While LSD may not be associated with uncontrollable drug-seeking behavior, its use can still have a detrimental impact on those who regularly use it. LSD’s unique psychoactive effects can give rise to a number of potentially dangerous situations for the user. Some of these profoundly impairing effects include:1

  • Changes in sensory experiences.
  • Visual and auditory hallucinations.
  • Changes in sense of time.

While LSD won’t induce powerful physical cravings in the same way that drugs like heroin and cocaine will, the effects can become so desirable for the user that they continue to use it despite mounting negative consequences.6 They may even need to keep taking more and more to combat their developing tolerance. This is when treatment for LSD addiction becomes vital.

If an individual does not get treatment for LSD use, they are continually subject to the dangers of LSD, both physical and psychological, which may include:1

  • Nausea.
  • Increased heart rate.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Dizziness.
  • Changes in body temperature.
  • Rapid emotional shifts (panic to euphoria).

A rare but particularly disturbing long-term effect of LSD use is hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder, or HPPD.7 HPPD is a long-lasting condition characterized by the occurrence of spontaneous flashbacks reminiscent of acute hallucinogen intoxication.7 Flashbacks occur in a significant proportion of those who have used hallucinogens—anywhere from 5% to 50%.7

About LSD Addiction Treatment

There are currently no known government-approved medications to specifically treat LSD dependence.1 This does not mean, however, that there is no way to attend to or help someone who has an LSD use problem, or that existing treatments will not work for someone with LSD addiction/abuse.

As one of the less commonly abused drugs, few treatment centers will have a specific protocol for treating LSD abuse. However, in cases where individuals abuse LSD only, or when LSD is the primary substance of abuse, inpatient treatment can provide numerous benefits, including:

  • Preventing access to LSD (and other substances).
  • Monitoring psychological and physical well-being during the stages of early abstinence.
  • Providing group counseling and individual therapy to address the reasons behind substance use and help the individual to develop both better coping skills and techniques to prevent relapse.

Medications may be administered to directly address the individual’s unique clinical presentation, which can include psychotic or other mood symptoms that result from LSD abuse. Those suffering from “bad trips” may present with severe symptoms that may be successfully managed with medical intervention. Medications may also be used to alleviate the distressing symptoms seen in cases of HPPD. In one case study, an individual who experienced the onset of HPPD responded to the anticonvulsant lamotrigine after an unsuccessful regimen of antidepressants and risperidone, an antipsychotic medication.6

In addressing substance addiction—particularly the co-occurrence of mental illness and substance addiction—the National Institute on Drug Abuse recommends a dual approach to treatment involving both medication and counseling. This may not be appropriate in all cases; some individuals may not need or want medication. However, a number of substance addictions and mental illnesses are most properly treated with the concurrent administration of medication and therapy.5

Outpatient care offers similar services to those of inpatient care. The primary difference is that outpatient care does not entail living at the treatment facility. Counseling and therapy are carried out during the day, allowing the user to attend work or carry out other daily responsibilities.

American Addiction Centers maintains a strong partnership with a large group of insurance companies at our addiction treatment facilities. Start the journey to recovery and find out instantly using the form below if your health insurance provider may be able to cover all or part of the cost of rehab and associated therapies.

What Happens After Treatment?

after treatment therapy

Like diabetes, asthma, or other chronic conditions, addiction requires ongoing monitoring and support.7

Counseling and therapy does not necessarily stop at the end of a structured treatment program. It can continue indefinitely to provide the support that recovering individuals need to continue their path of sobriety.

A significant number of individuals who experience substance addiction also suffer from mental illness. Depression and anxiety are particularly common. Thus, not only does the addiction itself have to be monitored, but also the behaviors and thoughts that precipitate substance use or compound the stress and burden of abstention.

Other recommendations for ongoing support for addiction include recovery groups and 12 step programs. 12-step programs include Narcotics Anonymous, among many others.

American Addiction Centers (AAC) is a leading treatment provider and has trusted rehab programs across the country. To find the best LSD treatment option for you or someone you love, please call us free today at .

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