LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide)
LSD was originally created for medicinal purposes by Albert Hoffman. Hofmann and his scientific colleagues hoped LSD would make an important contribution to psychiatric research possibly being used as treatment for schizophrenia or other mental illnesses[1].
In the 50s and 60s LSD was occasionally used as a treatment for anxiety, depression and addiction. But a backlash against LSD – owing to concerns that the powerful hallucinogen was becoming widespread as a recreational drug, and fear that excessive use could trigger mental health conditions such as schizophrenia – led to prohibition of research in the 1970s. Under the UK 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act it is classified as a Class A, schedule 1 substance – which means not only is LSD considered highly dangerous, but it is deemed to have no medical research value[2]. There is no evidence LSD is addictive[3].
Notes
- ↑ David Batty, 'Father of LSD' dies aged 102, The Guardian, 30-April-2008
- ↑ Denis Campbell, Scientists study possible health benefits of LSD and ecstasy, The Guardian, 23-October-2009
- ↑ Frank, LSD, Frank, Accessed 03-February-2010
