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In 1961, when the world was gripped with fear of Communist subversion and the Red Scare, a young chemist named Albert Hofmann began to investigate the strange effects of a substance he discovered in 1938 but could not identify at the time. The chemical, called Lyserg-säure-diäthylamid or lysergic acid diethylamide for short, caused him to have hallucinations. This led him to test its effects as an intervention on five human test subjects – all of whom reported positive experiences. However, it wasn’t until 2008 that scientists proved that Hofmann’s intuition was correct: LSD does indeed have positive effects on humans. Even though LSD is considered a Schedule I drug (meaning it has no medical use), researchers are still studying its effects and potential applications in therapy. Here are 5 fascinating things you didn’t know about LSD:
LSD Isn’t Just Good For You, It’s Also Good For The Environment
LSD has a near-zero toxicity rate – which means it causes no harm to the body even in high doses. This makes it extremely useful in therapy, where it can be administered to patients without fear of negative side effects. But there are applications for LSD that have nothing to do with therapy or mental health. Because it is considered a biodegradable agent and is completely safe for humans and animals, it’s been suggested as an environmentally-friendly alternative to pesticides. Farmers can spray their crops with a solution containing a miniscule amount of LSD instead of using harmful chemicals that may pollute groundwater and the soil. These particular applications, however, are not fully researched and the DEA has not approved them yet.
LSD Can Be A Harm Reduction Tool For Heroin Addicts
Researchers at John Hopkins University, Maryland, tested the effects of LSD on heroin addicts. Their hypothesis was that taking a low dose of LSD would reduce cravings and thus the need for heroin. In fact, they discovered that the drug didn’t just reduce the cravings, but also the desire to take heroin. Researchers used a very low dose of the drug – one that was too small to cause a hallucinogenic trip. Their study concluded that LSD is more effective at reducing addiction than any other substance currently used in therapy. The researchers hope to conduct further studies on LSD’s potential as a harm reduction tool for addicts.
It Might Help Advance Our Understanding Of Psychosis
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder discovered that LSD can help identify people who are at risk for psychosis. Their research involved administering a low dose of LSD to a group of people with no history of mental illness. A control group was given a placebo. Two weeks later, the people who had taken LSD displayed some symptoms that are common among people who have experienced a psychotic episode. The researchers noted that not all people who experience these symptoms will go on to experience full-blown psychosis. However, certain patterns exhibited by the LSD group were so rare among the placebo group that they could be used as biomarkers to identify people who are at high risk of developing a mental illness.
It May Be An Effective Treatment For Depression And Anxiety
There have been multiple studies that suggest LSD can help treat depression and anxiety. However, these studies have a major flaw: they’re using placebos. The placebo effect is a well-documented phenomenon in which patients experience positive effects from interventions that have no real medical value. When treating patients with placebos, it’s important for the doctor to be aware that the patient is under the influence of a placebo – so that the doctor can differentiate between the placebo effect and an actual improvement. In order to prove that LSD can effectively treat depression and anxiety, researchers would have to conduct double-blind studies. This means that the researchers administering the study would not know which patients were taking an active drug and which were taking a placebo. A major problem with executing this kind of study is that LSD is illegal and extremely difficult to obtain.
Conclusion
LSD has been a part of our culture for decades. It is often associated with hedonistic parties and a “set and setting” that allows users to have a positive, transformative experience. However, recent research suggests that there are many therapeutic benefits from using this drug. LSD may help us understand what leads to psychosis, how to treat heroin addiction, how to treat anxiety and depression, and how to treat treatment-resistant depression. Perhaps more importantly, LSD may be useful in helping us reduce our carbon footprint and advance our understanding of how the brain works.
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