Tuesday, September 3, 2019
LSD :: essays research papers
     The book I chose is titled, â€Å"The LSD Controversy.†The author is Maurice S. Trashes, Ph.D. The call number is 615.78 and I read pages 1-50.      The first section of the book I read about deals with terminology. The other section I read about involves the general chemical characteristics of LSD. LSD’s complete name is D-lysergic acid diethylamide tartrate. Its abbreviation comes from the German Lyserg Sà ¤ure Diethylamid. The author goes on to define numerous terms for LSD such as hallucinogen, illusinogen, and fantastica. He then attempts to find the proper term for it. He believes that the term hallucinogen is inappropriate because real hallucinations are very rare. Although it is very widely used, he prefers illusinogen because according to S. Cohen, â€Å"hallucinations†are actually illusion.      As for the general characteristics of LSD, the author asks the question, â€Å"What is LSD?†From a chemical standpoint, LSD is a semisynthetic diethylamide that is prepared from lysergic acid. This is a naturally occurring chemical of the parasitic fungus called ergot. This grows in the seeds of rye and other grasses. Stoll and Hoffman were the first to synthesize it in 1938. Hoffman discovered its effects in 1943 when he accidentally sniffed a few micrograms; he thought he was going nuts.      LSD in a pure form is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless powder that is soluble in water and alcohol. Though it may be hard to detect, it is known as one of the most potent psychedelic drugs in existence. Roughly two pounds of the drug in powder form can supply ten million doses of 100 micrograms each which is sufficient for just about anyone. 100 micrograms is barely even visible!      Once it is has been taken by an individual, it is absorbed rapidly and distributed throughout the body. It has no problem passing through the blood-brain barrier and is almost completely metabolized by the body. It is excreted by the liver in the form of 2-oxy-LSD.      The case of whether or not LSD is addictive is argued in the book next. The reason it is so hard to determine if LSD is addictive or not is because there is no settled definition of addiction. Psychologists speak of psychic or emotional dependence while doctors talk about physical dependence. Then there’s a distinction to be made on whether it’s the drug or the person that is addictive or addicted. To make it easier, the World Health Organization has recognized the ambiguity of the word â€Å"addiction†and came up with the term â€Å"drug dependence in 1965.
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