LSD Revisited

A follow-up survey of 247 people who had taken LSD in experimental or psychotherapeutic settings found little evidence of lasting changes in personality, beliefs, values, attitudes, or behavior across the whole sample. Twenty-three percent reported later nonmedical use of LSD and attributed more personality changes to the drug, but compulsive patterns of use rarely developed. The drug's effects appear to become less attractive with continued use, making long-term use almost always self-limiting.

Study at a glance

Abstract

A follow-up survey of 247 persons who received d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in either an experimental (nonmedical) or Psychotherapeutic setting was made to determine the lasting effects, if any, related to use of the drug. Information was collected from each by a structured interview and self-administered questionnaire. Some subsequent nonmedical use of LSD was reported by 23%, who attributed more personality changes to the drug's use. There is, however, little evidence that measurable, lasting personality, belief, value, attitude, or behavior changes were produced in the sample as a whole. Compulsive patterns of LSD use rarely developed; the nature of the drug effect apparently is such that it becomes less attractive with continued use and, in the long-term, is almost always self-limiting.