Do hallucinogens improve creativity and self-knowledge?
Though some people who have taken these drugs say that they feel more creative, research has failed to show significant changes. New perceptions of the body and self have been reported, but these can be frightening as well as gratifying. What is the source of illicit LSD? Nearly all LSD comes from illegal laboratories, both domestic and abroad. The quality of the drug varies. Some LSD is fairly pure, but most street samples contain impurities and adulterants. The user generally has no way of knowing the quality of LSD or any other street drug. What are the dangers of hallucinogens? Under the influence of LSD, a person loses some control over normal thought processes. Although some perceptions are pleasant, others may cause panic or may make the user believe that he or she cannot be harmed. Either reaction may bring about behavior that can be harmful to the user. Longer-term harmful reactions include anxiety, depression or “breaks with reality” which may last from a few days to months.
