The following drugs fall into the hallucinogen category: Dagga, LSD, Mushrooms and Malpitte.  LSD is the most commonly used hallucinogen, excluding Dagga (see our page).

History:
LSD was accidentally discovered by Albert Hofmann, a research chemist at the Sandoz Pharmacy in Basle Switzerland in 1943. Hofmann was studying the chemical composition of the ergot fungus believing it to have medicinal potential. Hofmann discovered the Ergotamine molecule which is known to have medicinal value as well as the chemical LSD-25.

The illegal use of LSD was very popular among the "Hippies" in the 1960's, later the "Punk" and more lately the "Rave scene" cultures. The CIA and Eli Lilly Co. were the first manufacturers of LSD, 10 years before it became illegal.

Lysergic acid diethylamide

Street name:
Acid, caps, trips, candy

Selling as: (with images on paper squares)
Rainbows; smiles; stars; window; purple ohms; Germinis; microdots; DDP (double dipped penguins); ying-yang; sunshine; sunflower; fat cats; black sar; strawberries; Batmans; Bart Simpson; Hofmann's 2000; monroe's and a lot more.

Form:
LSD is a colourless and odourless liquid. It is generally sold in the form of small paper squares (called a cap) that have been saturated with the LSD liquid in sheets, perforated into these smaller squares. This can be swallowed or placed under the tongue. LSD can also be absorbed through the skin.

• excessive energy;
• no inhibitions, will do or say things they would normally not do or say;
• increased heartbeat;
• dilated (enlarged) pupils;
• inability to maintain a steady focus, the objects in view jumps, colours become more intense, all senses are increased and distorted;
• difficulty in concentrating;
• impaired memory;
• difficulty in thinking;
• jaw becomes tense;
• increased temperature, hands sweat;
• person becomes very talkative.

The effects of LSD are complex and as yet not fully understood. LSD can be given to someone without their knowledge in their food or drink. This can be life threatening if the person starts hallucinating due to his changed state of mind, and changed perceptions (eg. of distance, time etc, and double vision), which could lead to irrational behaviour and, for example, cause accidents.

Duration:
Anything from 6 - 8 hours.

• increased heartbeat;
• dizziness;
• nausea;
• jaw becomes very tense even to grinding of teeth;
• excessive perspiration;
• double vision;
• see and hear things that do not exist (hallucinations);
• no inhibitions, will do or say things they would normally not do or say;
• confused;
• impaired memory;
• poor judgment;
• sleepless or restless;
• becomes paranoid;
• anxiety or panic attacks;
• feels separated from reality;
• loss of identity;
• brain damage.

• panic attacks;
• change in personality;
• severe paranoia(feels persecuted);
• psychological deflection;
• severe psychological addiction;
• tolerance to smaller amounts requiring larger doses for the same effect;
• difficulty in distinguishing between reality and delusions;
• can have serious suicidal tendencies, to actually commiting suicide;
• severe anxiety;
• respiratory suppression;
• brain damage;
• severe tension in muscles eg. backache, jaw clenching, cheek biting;
• severe depression;
• sleeplessness;
• restlessness;
• poor judgment which could lead to reckless acts threatening the abuser's life;
• flashbacks long after discontinuing use (re-experiencing the LSD trip without taking the drug).

Law:
LSD is listed in Part III of Schedule 2 of The South African Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, Act 140/92 as an Undesirable Dependence Producing Substance even though from a pharmacological point-of-view it is not considered dependence producing. Use, possession and trade illegal in South Africa.

No stats available

Depending on the mood the abuser is in when taking the LSD, if for example he is in a bad mood, it will produce a bad trip, and this can cause the person harm, or even cost him his life.
Some people can even unintentionally commit suicide in order to escape a bad experience. The bad experience can be of such a nature that it causes permanent psychological damage, and this can lead to suicide at a later stage. Persons most likely to be affected in this way are people who:

• mix different drugs such as ecstacy, cocaine and or dagga(marijuana) with the LSD;
• already have a psychological problem due to any problems in their lives;
• had a previous bad experience;
• if someone treats them badly whilst using LSD eg. a police man who might use force to confront someone.