Genie in a blotter: A comparative study of LSD and LSD analogues' effects and user profile
Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental – May 01, 2017
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
An impressive 91% of users of LSD analogues like AL-LAD and 1P-LSD had also tried traditional LSD. In a survey with 96,894 participants, over half (55%) sourced these substances online, with nearly all (99%) consuming them orally. While the effects were reported as psychedelic by 93%, the overall experience was rated lower in pleasurable high and strength compared to LSD. Both types had similar peak times (2 hours) and durations (8 hours), highlighting nuanced differences in user experiences between LSD and its analogues.
Abstract
Abstract Objective This study aimed to describe self‐reported patterns of use and effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) analogues (AL‐LAD, 1P‐LSD, and ETH‐LAD) and the characteristics of those who use them. Methods An anonymous self‐selected online survey of people who use drugs (Global Drug Survey 2016; N = 96,894), which measured perceived drug effects of LSD and its analogues. Results Most LSD analogue users (91%) had also tried LSD. The proportion of U.K. and U.S. respondents reporting LSD analogue use in the last 12 months was higher than for LSD only. LSD analogue users described the effects as psychedelic (93%), over half (55%) obtained it online, and almost all (99%) reported an oral route of administration. The modal duration (8 hr) and time to peak (2 hr) of LSD analogues were not significantly different from LSD. Ratings for pleasurable high, strength of effect, comedown, urge to use more drugs, value for money, and risk of harm following use were significantly lower for LSD analogues compared with LSD. Conclusions LSD analogues were reported as similar in time to peak and duration as LSD but weaker in strength, pleasurable high, and comedown. Future studies should seek to replicate these findings with chemical confirmation and dose measurement.