Informative Speech on Lysergic Acid Diethylamide

Informative Speech on Lysergic Acid Diethylamide

            LSD affects the brain in various ways over time. INTRODUCTION Good afternoon class. Before we begin today, I would like to do a quick activity with you. Close your eyes. (Start Beatles’ song, “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”.) Can you all hear the music? Can anyone describe how the sound of this music feels against your skin? Does it feel cold, hot, smooth, rough, sharp? (Visual aid slide) Open your eyes now. Can you all see the color on this PowerPoint? Does anyone want to describe how this color might taste? If you could taste this color, would it be bitter, sweet, salty, sour? This confusion of the senses is known as synesthesia, and it is a common side effect of lysergic acid diethylamide, or LSD. LSD has been a controversial drug for over 70 years. Since 1938, people have taken LSD or acid illegally and legally to obtain the hallucinogenic trips that the drug offers. LSD peaked in popularity during the 1960’s during the psychedelic hippie revolution. (Visual aid slide: showing different ways in which LSD can be taken. To be shown one method at a time) LSD can be taken in several different ways, including intravenously (with a needle), in liquid form, mixed into foods, rubbed against the skin, and ingested orally with blotter paper.

Blotter paper is paper that can be cut up into small pieces (about the size of your pinky nail), dipped in LSD, and ingested. It is most often printed with psychedelic images. But LSD affects the brain in various ways over time. My name is Lucy Diamond, and I’m here to share how the mind altering drug LSD affects the brain immediately, after a few days, and long term. We’ll cover how LSD makes the user feel and how the chemistry of LSD effects the brain. BODY (With all that in mind, let’s begin with the immediate effects of LSD.) i. LSD causes an immediate hallucinogenic effect. a. (Interview with Hazel Zimmer) Hazel Zimmer was under the influence of LSD when she dropped a bag of seeds and watched the seeds transform into multicolored bugs before her eyes. The ‘bugs’ then started to crawl over her and she was overwhelmed with panic. She continued to see multicolored bugs everywhere for almost 6 hours. b. LSD trips are different for everyone. 1. Some people can have euphoric trips that they interpret as being very spiritual. These trips can result in creative breakthroughs, enhanced spiritual well-being, relaxation, inspiration, or peace of mind. I. Many musicians and artists gathered inspiration for their art while tripping on LSD. Bands and musicians of the 1960’s popularized the drug by incorporating it into their music. II. The Beatles, perhaps the most influential musical group of modern history, were one of the most well-known bands for incorporating their drug use into their music. 2. On the other hand, some people have very negative trips that can be frightening, panic inducing, dangerous, or even life threatening. I. Judy Monroe’s informative book LSD, PCP and Hallucinogen Drug Dangers recalls the tragic story of Al Sicherman’s son who was a promising college student. The boy tried LSD for the first time in his seventh story dorm room. He opened the window and jumped out, believing the he could fly. Witness accounts of that day say they he didn’t scream while he fell to his death. He died instantly. However, this is far from the first report of people unintentionally killing themselves while under the influence of LSD. c. LSD can make the brain believe that it is perceiving something that is not actually there. Researchers don’t understand exactly how LSD creates hallucinations, but it has been concluded that it affects serotonin receptors in the brain. 1. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is known to create a ‘feel good’ sensation. Serotonin keeps you awake and happy. LSD is thought to work by binding to receptors that hold serotonin and stop the brain from releasing serotonin. The LSD (being very similar to the neurotransmitter) then takes over the role of serotonin and confuses the brain. The brain has so much input going on and chemical mix ups that it has what we call ‘sensory overload’. This is thought to be the cause of hallucinations while under the influence of LSD. (Next we’ll talk about what happens after the immediate effects of LSD wear off) ii. LSD can still have an effect on the brain days after it wears off. a. A few days after taking the LSD and seeing the ‘bugs’, Hazel experienced flashbacks to the trip. She felt overwhelmed by the bugs and panicked just as she had under the influence, even though the drug had left her system. Hazel, although sober afterwards, recalls looking down and watching those multicolored seeds crawl all over her. This flashback was mild, and she suffered no serious consequences or damages because of it. b. Flashbacks in terms to LSD are not unlike PTSD flashbacks or severe traumatizing memories. 1. People can feel like they are actually under the influence of the drug again; they can have the same experience and feelings that they did when they took LSD. Some people who suffer from flashback can feel paranoid, anxious, or depressed. 2. In one 1967 case study by Dr. Duke Fisher with the Saturday Evening Post, Dr. Fisher describes one of his patients agitated state of mind days after taking LSD. His patient, known as the ‘orange man’ was convinced that he was an orange and locked himself in a room. Apparently, the man was terrified of being near people because he was sure that if anyone touched him, he would turn into a puddle of orange juice. 3. While these delusions may be relatively common under the influence of LSD, in some cases, as that of the ‘orange man’, these delusions persist after the drug leaves the brain. c. Medical professionals and scientists are not aware of what causes this flashback effect. It doesn’t appear to be related to the frequency of LSD taken or dosage. 1. According to an article by Henry Abraham in Addiction, one possible explanation of the flashback effect is that an everyday occurrence can remind LSD users of something they experienced in a trip. Their brain then begins to reenact the trip, which can sometimes feel very much like and actual LSD trip itself. This sensation would be similar to déjà vu, only with hallucinations and extreme emotions. (The last thing we’ll cover is how LSD can affect the brain after years of use.) iii. LSD can lead to long term effects on the brain. (Visual aid slide of Hazel Zimmer) a. Hazel Zimmer is now in her mid 70’s. She suffers from psychotic paranoia. Hazel is afraid of people following her and frequently hears voices and communicates to inanimate objects. She believes she channels their spirits. b. Prolonged use of LSD is not addicting, but users can build up a tolerance for the drug. That is, they need more and more of it to achieve the desired effect. 1. However, a week without taking the drug, and a user’s tolerance will be back to normal. Prolonged use of LSD can non the less cause paranoia, psychosis, or schizophrenia. 2. According to Dr. Henry Abraham in Addiction, many chronic users of LSD suffer from some state of altered consciousness as they age. 67 percent of chronic hallucinogen users will develop at least a mild form of psychosis into their later life, according to Dr. Abraham. 3. Documenting chronic LSD users in pop culture proves to be a somewhat difficult task, as many of the severe chronic users don’t live long enough to study in later life. c. Taking LSD over a period of time damages the receptors that hold serotonin in the brain. This stops the regulation of serotonin in the brain. 1. Unchecked levels of serotonin in the brain have been known to cause mood swings, hallucinations, paranoia, delusions, sleep disorders, and depression. 2. However, this is not the only long term reaction. Dr. Geraline Lin from the National Institute of Drug Abuse quoted in Scholastic Choices that scientists are still researching the full long term effects that LSD has on the brain. CONCLUSION (Blank Slide) Today we’ve talked about how LSD immediately creates a hallucinogenic effect, short term flashbacks, and long term psychosis and the role of serotonin in these reactions. We’ve also examined these effects on pop culture and in the personal life of Hazel Zimmer. CLINCHER (Visual Aid Slide: Beatles vs Orange Man) I’m not trying to persuade you not to take LSD, and I’m not suggesting you go trip on the drug after class today. LSD has done a lot for society and our culture, but it has damaged the lives of many people. I hope that I’ve provided you with the information necessary to decide that for yourselves.

References

Abraham, H. D., & Aldridge, A. M. (1993). Adverse consequences of lysergic acid diethylamide.            Addiction, 88(10), 1327 1334. doi:10.1111/j.1360 0443.1993.tb02018.x

Davidson, B.   (1967). The hidden evils of LSD. Saturday Evening Post, 240(16), 19. Retrieved from MasterFILE Premier.

Monroe, J. (2000). LSD, PCP and hallucinogens drug dangers. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow       Publishers.

Baily, C. (2003). Heads up real news about drugs and your body. Scholastic Choices, 19(2), 12.   Retrieved from MasterFILE Premier.