Slashdot Mirror
LSD Can Treat Alcoholism
ananyo writes "LSD has potential as a treatment for alcoholism, according to a comprehensive retrospective analysis of studies published in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The researchers sifted through thousands of records to collect data from randomized, double-blind trials that compared one dose of LSD to a placebo. Of 536 participants in six trials, 59% of people receiving LSD reported lower levels of alcohol misuse (PDF), compared to 38% of people who received a placebo. The study adds to the weight of evidence that hallucinogenic drugs may have important medical uses, including, for example, the alleviation of cluster headaches."
Yet another Schedule 1 drug with actual medical applications. Is there any part of the war on drug users that isn't based on lies?
Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
Placebo? Really? What possible placebo can you give somebody that they won't figure out it wasn't LSD?
Yes, all those hordes of LSD addicted people are just another problem. Oh wait....
Man, those were the good old days, when acid was plentiful (the 80's). I really miss taking acid. They said I'd get flashbacks when I got older, which I am still waiting for. I mean, free acid trips? I'm down. Except they aren't happening.
I want some mother loving acid, LSD, shit, i'll even eat the brown acid from woodstock. Prefer liquid, but I'll take blotter, 4 way, gels, whatever you got.
Tune in, Turn on, Drop out.
One of my best trips was when I took some liquid acid, 2 drops, and 20 mins later, i'm watching these crab aliens rip up my ceiling, while blood was dripping down the wall. Not only was I not scared, I was loving it. I don't lose reality on acid, and this was by far the best show ever. I kept thinking my roommate wanted to sleep with (like I really want to have sex on acid, not!), she thought I was the devil, and we were really fucked up.
I would love to take acid again, but I have no idea where to get it. Guess I can go find some hippies somewhere...
While acid isn't for everyone, 'cause some of you are crazy upstairs, most everyone should take it. It opens your mind to other ways of thinking, and honestly, most the world needs to open their minds and wake the fuck up.
Be seeing you...
Sadly, further research was abandoned due to the difficulties of getting permission from the government.
"To those who are overly cautious, everything is impossible. "
Why would they have to do the experiment in a sterile lab environment?
You can minimize the chances of a bad trip by conducting the test in a more comfortable environment and have a counselor guide the patient through the experience. It will probably be much more positive and effective treatment than giving a guy a lot of acid and locking him in the room for 12 hours.
Oh come on, regular expressions aren't like LSD. You don't get long term damage from an LSD experience.
xkcd is not in the sudoers file. This incident will be reported.
Damn, I wish.
I did lots of acid in my twenties.. For example, LSD has 100% tolerance increase, but it only lasts for a few days, if that. For example, in those days I had lots of it around.. and it was quality. trip on 1 hit on day 1. On day 2 it takes 2 for the same level of trip. (everyone knows every trip is different, but the same perceived strength). 3rd day it took 4, then 8, etc...I routinely went to 8, 16, as high as 32 more than once and I never have had a flashback. I have had similar feelings here and there when exposed to marijuana, but never what could be called a "flashback" as I've heard them described. And it already has a built-in prevention for long-term abuse, as if that is even a real possibility to begin with..
These days I wouldnt trip, just because it such an intense experience and requires such a commitment of time and emotion that I am just not willing to go there.. As far as the benefits of LSD, I would put it this way.. "it forces introspection.". Whatever is bugging you, small concerns needling you, particularly issues if self-consciousness, are brought out and you have no choice but to face them. You can't hide from yourself.. I think in this way it makes sense that it could treat alcoholism.. as could any number of psychadelics..
I truly believe that psychadelics should be something that is embraced by a society and its culture. There should be people experimenting, documenting, and prescribing them. Bad trips are REALLY REALLY bad, but in the proper setting, completely manageable.. just remind yourself that the trip is temporary, and talk them down.. if there were people around who acted as the equivalent of shamen, we could take all of these psychadelic substances and properly utilize them. Aren't we mature enough yet as a civilization that we can quit pretending like psychadelic substances are so dangerous that just possession of them can be punishable by decades in a penitentiary?!
It's fscking ridiculous.. we cant even legalize marijuana, but sell cigarettes and alcohol on every corner. I suspect that many would agree with me, but until we can get out and vote and put people with similar rational and open minds in our government nothing will change.
I left AA after my court-appointed time ended, but I have to say that AA has many good elements. I found a group that really focused on living life rather than fearing alcohol, loving Jesus, or comparing drunk stories. Unfortunately, AA was developed at a point when Christianity and it's moral teachings were a fact of life in America, so too much nonsense is infused and no one is prepared to make the necessary modifications.