What is LSD?

What does it look like?

How is LSD abused?

What are the risks?

Who uses LSD?

What is it called?

What is LSD?

What does it look like?

How is LSD abused?

LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) is a 

synthetic (man-made) drug that has 

been abused for its hallucinogenic 

properties since the 1960s. If consumed in a sufficiently large dose, 

LSD produces delusions and visual 

hallucinations that distort the user’s 

sense of time and identity. 

LSD typically is sold as a liquid 

(often packaged in small bottles 

designed to hold breath freshening 

drops) or applied to blotter paper, 

sugar cubes, gelatin squares, and 

tablets.

LSD generally is taken by mouth. 

The drug is colorless and odorless but 

has a slightly bitter taste.

Who uses LSD?

What are the risks?

Individuals of all ages use LSD. Data 

reported in the National Household 

Survey on Drug Abuse indicate that an 

estimated 20.2 million U.S. residents 

aged 12 and older used LSD at least 

once in their lifetime. The survey also 

revealed that many teenagers and 

young adults use LSD—742,000 individuals aged 12 to 17 and 4.5 million 

individuals aged 18 to 25 used the drug 

at least once. 

LSD use among high school students 

is a particular concern. More than 8 

percent of high school seniors in the 

United States used the drug at least 

once in their lifetime, and nearly 4 

percent used the drug in the past year, 

according to the University of 

Michigan’s Monitoring the Future 

Survey.

The effects associated with LSD use 

are unpredictable and depend upon the 

amount taken, the surroundings in 

which the drug is used, and the user’s 

personality, mood, and expectations. 

Some LSD users experience a feeling 

of despair, while others report terrifying 

fears—of losing control, going insane, 

or dying. Some users have suffered fatal 

accidents while under the influence of 

LSD.

LSD users often have flashbacks, 

during which certain aspects of their 

LSD experience recur even though they 

have stopped taking the drug. In addition, LSD users may develop longlasting psychoses, such as schizophrenia or severe depression.

LSD is not considered an addictive 

drug—that is, it does not produce 

compulsive drug-seeking behavior as 

cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine do. However, LSD users may 

develop tolerance to the drug, meaning 

that they must consume progressively 

larger doses of the drug in order to 

continue to experience the hallucinogenic effects that they seek. 

The most common names for LSD 

are acid, boomers, and yellow sunshine. (Please see the Street Terms 

text box below for additional names.)

What is it called?

What is LSD?

What does it look like?

How is LSD abused?

What are the risks?

Who uses LSD?

What is it called?

What is LSD?

What does it look like?

How is LSD abused?

LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) is a 

synthetic (man-made) drug that has 

been abused for its hallucinogenic 

properties since the 1960s. If consumed in a sufficiently large dose, 

LSD produces delusions and visual 

hallucinations that distort the user’s 

sense of time and identity. 

LSD typically is sold as a liquid 

(often packaged in small bottles 

designed to hold breath freshening 

drops) or applied to blotter paper, 

sugar cubes, gelatin squares, and 

tablets.

LSD generally is taken by mouth. 

The drug is colorless and odorless but 

has a slightly bitter taste.

Who uses LSD?

What are the risks?

Individuals of all ages use LSD. Data 

reported in the National Household 

Survey on Drug Abuse indicate that an 

estimated 20.2 million U.S. residents 

aged 12 and older used LSD at least 

once in their lifetime. The survey also 

revealed that many teenagers and 

young adults use LSD—742,000 individuals aged 12 to 17 and 4.5 million 

individuals aged 18 to 25 used the drug 

at least once. 

LSD use among high school students 

is a particular concern. More than 8 

percent of high school seniors in the 

United States used the drug at least 

once in their lifetime, and nearly 4 

percent used the drug in the past year, 

according to the University of 

Michigan’s Monitoring the Future 

Survey.

The effects associated with LSD use 

are unpredictable and depend upon the 

amount taken, the surroundings in 

which the drug is used, and the user’s 

personality, mood, and expectations. 

Some LSD users experience a feeling 

of despair, while others report terrifying 

fears—of losing control, going insane, 

or dying. Some users have suffered fatal 

accidents while under the influence of 

LSD.

LSD users often have flashbacks, 

during which certain aspects of their 

LSD experience recur even though they 

have stopped taking the drug. In addition, LSD users may develop longlasting psychoses, such as schizophrenia or severe depression.

LSD is not considered an addictive 

drug—that is, it does not produce 

compulsive drug-seeking behavior as 

cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine do. However, LSD users may 

develop tolerance to the drug, meaning 

that they must consume progressively 

larger doses of the drug in order to 

continue to experience the hallucinogenic effects that they seek. 

The most common names for LSD 

are acid, boomers, and yellow sunshine. (Please see the Street Terms 

text box below for additional names.)

What is it called?

Back breaker

Battery acid

Doses

Dots

Elvis

Loony toons

Lucy in the sky with diamonds

Pane

Superman

Window pane

Zen

Street Terms for LSD

PA Bureau of Narcotics Investigation

Bottle containing liquid LSD.
NDIC

L

Fas

S

t Fa

D

cts

Call 814-532-4541 

to request NDIC products

For more information on illicit drugs 

check out our web site at:

Other products of interest:

Is LSD illegal?

Check out Fast Facts on:

www.usdoj.gov/ndic

Other products of interest:

For more information on illicit drugs 

check out our web site at:

www.usdoj.gov/ndic 

Call 814-532-4541 

to request NDIC products

, Huffing—The Abuse of Inhalants

, Prescription Drug Abuse and Youth

, Drugs,Youth, and the Internet

National Drug Intelligence Center

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Johnstown, PA 15901-1622

Telephone: 814-532-4601

FAX: 814-532-4690

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McLean, VA 22102-3840

Telephone: 703-556-8970

FAX: 703-556-7807

NDIC publications are available on the following web sites:

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LEO home.leo.gov/lesig/ndic

RISS ndic.riss.net

INTERNET www.usdoj.gov/ndic

Is LSD illegal?

Yes, LSD is illegal. LSD is a 

Schedule I substance under the 

Controlled Substances Act. 

Schedule I drugs, which include 

heroin and MDMA, have a high 

potential for abuse and serve no 

legitimate medical purpose. 

Cover photo: NDIC

Check out Fast Facts on:

, Crack cocaine

, Crystal methamphetamine

, GHB and analogs

, Heroin

, Inhalants

, Jimsonweed

, Ketamine

, Khat

, Marijuana

, MDMA

, Methamphetamine

, PCP

, Powdered cocaine

, Prescription drugs

, Yaba NDIC Product No. 2003-L0559-007

National Drug Intelligence Center

a component of the 

U.S. Department of Justice

051503

LSD blotter paper.

LSD blotter paper.

Questions 

and 

Answers