Lexi Webster
LSD, or Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, is a hallucinogenic drug that can cause both audio and visual hallucinations. It is a Schedule 9 substance in Australia, meaning it is a prohibited substance at the federal level, and its use, possession, supply, or manufacture is criminalised. Despite the illegality, the use of LSD in Australia has been on the rise in recent years. In 2022-2023, about 500,000 people in Australia, or 2.4% of the population, had used hallucinogens in the previous 12 months, with LSD being the second most commonly used hallucinogen after mushrooms/psilocybin.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Proportion of Australians who used hallucinogens in the previous 12 months | 0.6% in 2007, 1.6% in 2019, 2.4% in 2022–2023 |
| Proportion of people who had used hallucinogens at least once in their lives | 6.7% in 2007, 10.4% in 2019, 12.2% in 2022–2023 |
| Number of people who had used hallucinogens at least once in their lives | 1.1 million in 2007, 2.6 million in 2022–2023 |
| Most commonly used hallucinogen in 2022–2023 | Mushrooms/psilocybin (1.8%) |
| Proportion of people who used LSD in the previous 12 months | 1.1% in 2019, 1.5% in 2022–2023 |
| Proportion of people in their 20s who had used LSD in the previous 12 months | 71% |
| Proportion of people in their 30s who had used LSD in the previous 12 months | 56% |
| Proportion of people over 40 who had used LSD in the previous 12 months | 41% |
| Proportion of people who disapprove of the regular use of hallucinogens | 74% |
| Proportion of people who approve of the use of hallucinogens | 5.6% in 2019, 9.5% in 2022–2023 |
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What You'll Learn
Penalties for LSD possession and supply in Australia
In Australia, LSD is a Schedule 9 substance and is considered a 'prohibited substance'. The possession and supply of LSD are criminalised across each Australian state and territory, with each state and territory having its own laws on LSD.
Possession
In Queensland, possession of LSD is criminalised under the Drugs Misuse Act 1986 (QLD), with a maximum penalty of 25 years' imprisonment if the amount of lysergide exceeds 0.4 grams. If the amount is below this, the maximum penalty is 15 years' imprisonment. In South Australia, the maximum penalty for possession is 2 years' imprisonment and/or a $2,000 fine. In Victoria, the maximum penalty is a $3,000 fine, 1 year's imprisonment, or both. In New South Wales, police have the discretion to issue an on-the-spot fine of $400 for possession of a small quantity of LSD.
Supply
Supplying LSD to another person or possessing LSD with the intent to supply is an offence in South Australia, with a maximum penalty of 2 years' imprisonment and/or a $2,000 fine. In Queensland, the maximum penalty for supplying LSD is 20 years' imprisonment if the offence is not considered 'aggravated'. The circumstances of aggravation include supplying a minor, an intellectually impaired person, or supplying within an educational institution or correctional facility. In the Northern Territory, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1990 (NT) prohibits the supply of LSD, with maximum penalties dependent on the amount of the drug involved. A commercial quantity carries a maximum penalty of 25 years' imprisonment, while a large commercial quantity carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and/or a $1,000,000 fine.
Trafficking
Trafficking LSD carries different penalties depending on the quantity of LSD involved. For a commercial quantity, the maximum penalty is 25 years' imprisonment. For a large commercial quantity, the maximum penalty is life imprisonment and/or a $1,000,000 fine.
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LSD usage in Australia is rising
LSD, or Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, is a hallucinogenic drug that can cause both audio and visual hallucinations. It is a Schedule 9 substance in Australia, meaning it is a prohibited substance at the federal level. Despite this, LSD usage in Australia is rising.
The National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) found that the use of hallucinogens in Australia is on the rise. The proportion of Australians who had used hallucinogens in the previous 12 months increased from 0.6% in 2007 to 1.6% in 2019, and this number rose to 2.4% in 2022-2023. This increase is also reflected in the lifetime use of hallucinogens, with 12.2% of Australians having used hallucinogens at least once in their lives in 2022-2023, compared to just 6.7% in 2007.
LSD is the second most commonly used hallucinogen in Australia, with 1.5% of people using it in the last 12 months. This is a notable increase from 1.1% in 2019. The use of LSD is particularly prevalent among younger age groups, with 71% of people in their 20s having used it, compared to 56% in their 30s and 41% over 40.
The rise in LSD usage in Australia is concerning due to the potential risks associated with the drug. LSD is not considered a highly toxic drug, but deaths have been linked to accidental consequences of perceptual distortion, such as falls and car crashes. Additionally, users may experience residual psychological effects such as feelings of anxiety, flashbacks, and, in rare cases, hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD).
While the use of LSD for therapeutic purposes in a controlled setting has shown positive results in treating some mental health conditions, it is important to note that it is still illegal to use, possess, supply, or manufacture LSD in Australia. The penalties for these offences can include imprisonment and/or substantial fines.
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Australians' approval of hallucinogens is increasing
LSD, or Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, is a hallucinogenic drug that can distort a person's perception of reality. It is a prohibited substance in Australia, with criminal penalties for possession and supply. Despite this, the use of LSD and other hallucinogens in Australia is on the rise.
According to the National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS), the proportion of Australians who had used hallucinogens in the previous 12 months increased from 0.6% in 2007 to 1.6% in 2019, and further increased to 2.4% in 2022-2023. This equates to about 500,000 people in 2022-2023. The lifetime use of hallucinogens has also increased, rising from 6.7% in 2007 to 12.2% in 2022-2023, or about 2.6 million people.
Among hallucinogens, mushrooms/psilocybin were the most commonly used in 2022-2023, with 1.8% of Australians having used them in the last 12 months. LSD/acid/tabs were the second most common, with 1.5% of Australians having used them in the past year. It is worth noting that LSD use was more prevalent among younger age groups, with 71% of users in their 20s, compared to 56% in their 30s and 41% over 40.
While LSD is illegal in Australia, the approval of hallucinogen use is increasing. Between 2019 and 2022-2023, disapproval for hallucinogen use decreased, and the use of hallucinogens showed the largest increase in approval of any drug, rising from 5.6% to 9.5%. As a result, hallucinogens are now the second-most approved-of illegal drug in Australia, after cannabis.
The increasing approval of hallucinogens in Australia may be influenced by emerging evidence of their potential medical uses. For example, prescriptions of psilocybin, a type of hallucinogen, were introduced in Australia in July 2023. Additionally, research has shown positive results in using LSD in a safe, therapeutic setting to treat depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety in patients with life-threatening diseases.
Despite the potential benefits, it is important to consider the risks associated with LSD and other hallucinogens. These substances can have negative psychological impacts, such as disturbing hallucinations, flashbacks, and increased anxiety or paranoia. In rare cases, long-term use can lead to personality disruption, depression, and poorer memory. Furthermore, driving under the influence of hallucinogens is extremely dangerous due to distorted sense perceptions, poor coordination, and impaired judgment.
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LSD's effects on users
The National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) found that the proportion of Australians who had used hallucinogens in the previous 12 months ranged from 0.6% in 2007 to 1.6% in 2019. This increased to 2.4% in 2022–2023. The proportion of people who had used hallucinogens at least once in their lives also rose from 6.7% in 2007 to 10.4% in 2019, and then to 12.2% in 2022–2023.
LSD, or Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, is a hallucinogenic drug that can distort the senses and cause intensified emotions, senses, perception, and thoughts. It is usually taken orally, either by swallowing or sublingually (under the tongue). The effects of LSD are typically felt 20-60 minutes after ingestion and can be influenced by factors such as dosage, individual mindset, surroundings, stress level, expectations, thoughts, and mood.
The effects of LSD can vary widely and are often referred to as \"trips," which can be "good" or "bad." A good trip may involve feelings of well-being, an out-of-body experience, enhanced creativity, and mystical insights. On the other hand, a bad trip can be terrifying and similar to psychosis, with symptoms including extreme fear, paranoia, panic attacks, psychotic episodes, disturbing anxiety, paranoia, pain, and a sense of dying or going insane.
Visual effects of LSD include vivid colours, blurred vision, distorted shapes and colours, and halos of light. It can also cause changes related to touch, such as shaking, pressure, and lightheadedness. Mood alterations are common, with possible euphoria, bliss, peacefulness, dreaminess, heightened awareness, despair, anxiety, confusion, and rapid mood swings. LSD also affects thinking, leading to a distorted perception of time, accelerated thoughts, unusual insights, or terrifying thoughts.
Long-term risks of LSD use include the rare but serious condition Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD), which involves persistent and distressing hallucinogenic experiences. Prolonged LSD use can also lead to personality disruption, depression, and poorer memory. While there is no apparent link between LSD use and the development of schizophrenia or affective disorders, it can precipitate pre-existing psychiatric illnesses and trigger or worsen conditions such as anxiety, schizophrenia, or psychosis.
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LSD's long-term health risks
According to the 2022-23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS), the proportion of Australians who had used hallucinogens in the previous 12 months was 2.4%0.6% in 2007 and 1.6% in 2019. The survey also found that the proportion of Australians who had used hallucinogens at least once in their lifetime had risen to 12.2% in 2022-23, up from 6.7% in 2007 and 10.4% in 2019.
While LSD may not cause physical withdrawal symptoms, its long-term use can lead to various health risks. Firstly, LSD affects judgment and can lead to irrational and dangerous behaviour, which has resulted in accidental injuries and even deaths. The drug has been known to make people feel invincible, such as believing they can fly or walk through traffic.
Secondly, LSD can cause long-term psychological problems, including "flashbacks" of the drug experience, prolonged anxiety, depression, or psychosis. These reactions typically decrease over time but may continue for years. Flashbacks are spontaneous and unpredictable replays of the LSD trip, which can last from a few seconds to minutes but may recur frequently.
Additionally, LSD can lead to personality disruption, memory impairment, and poorer judgment. A rare but severe long-term risk is hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD), where individuals experience persistent and distressing hallucinogenic episodes long after LSD use has ceased.
It is important to note that LSD is illegal in Australia, and its use, possession, supply, or manufacture can result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment and fines.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2022-2023, 1.5% of people in Australia had used LSD in the last 12 months, which equates to about 500,000 people.
Yes, the use of LSD in Australia is on the rise. The percentage of Australians who had used hallucinogens in the previous 12 months increased from 0.6% in 2007 to 1.6% in 2019, and then to 2.4% in 2022-2023.
The effects of LSD usually occur 20-60 minutes after administration and can last for 6 to 11 hours or longer, depending on the dose. The effects of LSD can range from mild changes in thought, mood, and perception to visual hallucinations and distortions of time and space.
There are several risks associated with LSD use, including the potential for a ""bad trip" involving unpleasant or intense hallucinations, feelings of anxiety, paranoia, panic, and other negative emotions. Taking a large dose of LSD can result in a distorted perception, unstable mood, intense fear, and a depressed mood. Regular use of LSD can lead to flashbacks, which are reoccurrences of LSD experiences, usually as visual distortions.
No, LSD is illegal in Australia. The use, possession, supply, or manufacture of LSD is criminalized, and offenders may face imprisonment and/or fines.
