a few thoughts on this post:
1. the lsd issue.
Some users of LSD experience what is clinically referred to as LSD psychosis, schizophrenic-like disorders that seem to be triggered by using the drug. However, in careful analysis of LSD psychosis patients, it appears that those who have strong family histories of major psychosis or psychopathology are more vulnerable than those who do not (Tsuang et al., 1982). Vardy et al. (1983) reported similar findings, as well as that LSD psychotics have significantly higher rates of parental alcoholism than control groups. In a survey of five-thousand individuals who had used LSD a total of twenty-five-thousand times, Cohen (1960) found 1.8 psychotic episodes per thousand ingestions, 1.2 attempted suicides, and 0.4 completed suicides -- figures consistent with the those of the general population.
Bad reactions to LSD are almost certainly dependent on the user. It is becoming increasingly easier to diagnose schizophrenics clinically as patients suffering physical disorders -- these people should be very cautious, if not completely avoidant of truly powerful psychoactive drugs like LSD. There are another class of people who use LSD irresponsibly, ignoring important factors like set and setting -- bad reactions, more acute then chronic, are likely to occur here as well.
The phenomena of LSD flashbacks has been over-sensualized by the media for many years. Flashbacks are associated with highly emotional experiences and often happen to people who have never used psychedelic drugs. A frightening war memory, being raped, or even getting married, can all trigger flashbacks quite some time later. Thus, an emotional experience on LSD can also cause flashbacks. Flashbacks also occur due to post-traumatic stress disorder, associated with victims of disaster and extreme violence -- it is estimated that 1% of the general population suffers from this ("Journey for Better Life," 1992).
i took these excerpts from an article on the psychological effects of lsd. you can read the full text here.
http://nepenthes.lycaeum.org/Drugs/LSD/LSD.psych.html2. general comments
i had a similar experience as a teen. i did a *lot* of drugs, drank, smoked, cut school, got in trouble, acted out sexually etc, etc. my parents sent me to a wilderness and then a tbs. did i get something out of it? sure. it was a better option than winding up in the legal system. do i attribute my "turnaround" to my experiences at a tbs? nope. i can tell you that most of the growth i did there i attribute to my *individual* work with ONE counselor there (who was subsequently fired)...my family and i were discussing this a month back or so...i had asked them numerous times to remove me from the tbs and put me in a regular boarding school and have me see a therapist weekly, which they did not do because they had been convinced that i could not survive without "completing the program." personally, i think that would have been a much better route. i had a really tough time adjusting to the "real world" after my experience and i often felt very estranged and crazy. i still did a lot of the same shit when i got out as i did while i was there...however, i am now in my mid-20s, have repaired my relationship with my parents, and am doing pretty damn well in grad school. i think that the waning of my drug use and my ability to drink responsibly are a direct result of a very common process: maturing. i have seen a therapist off and on in the 7 years since i left the tbs, but i find the therapy (with a licensed *professional*) i have done on the outside to be much more helpful - i am not expected to follow a particular formula or path in order to grow as a person, and no therapist i have seen has ever screamed at me or mindfucked me or taken a perverse interest in my sexual past. i understand why my parents sent me away but i still do not feel that it was the best solution...and at this point in time, neither do they. we have discussed this extensively and both of my parents regret it. they feel that they were betrayed and misled by the school (although they admit to willful blindness) and have expressed deep regret about their decision. i think that the best thing about me going to a tbs is that when my little brother started acting out they realized that they needed to deal with the situation differently. they both made a concerted effort to be home a lot more, found a therapist (a *professional* woman who had extensive experience working with teens and substance abuse) that he could connect with, took weekend "bonding" trips with him, found out what his hopes and dreams were and took him to look at universities where he could study and be passionate and had him talk to admissions counselors who told him what he needed to do to get into those kinds of programs. he is an honors student at the university of michigan now...that *sensible*hands-on* and *caring* approach seems to have worked very well for him. and i can guarantee you it was much cheaper and less painful that way.
On 2005-04-13 13:16:00, Anonymous wrote:
"I just read this post and would like to write to the original poster. I too was in an extremely similar situation to your daugter 5 years ago. I was extremely depressed, suicidal, I didnt take a shower for weeks on end, I dressed in ratty old cloths, got involved in witchcraft and the whold goth scene, did drugs, drank, smoked cigarettes, basically dropped out of school, had insomnia, ect. I was wondering if she has done LSD. I have had expereinces and have had friends who have had expereinces with LSD where even after months after doing it, you still hear voices, have hallucinations, ect. It could be a possibility.
First off, let me say that I think you are very brave and smart to be trying to get your daugter some help. Whatever method you choose, I think you are a good parent and I can understand your concern. My parents tried everything to help me. Therapy, prescription drugs (antidepressants, antibuse, ect) mental hospitals, grounding me, taking privliges away, ect. I ended up going to Cross Creek Manor. Granted it was 5 years ago, but I know it helped me. Alot of people hate these wwasp programs and for good reason. Some of them are horrible. But I expereinced no abuse there, and I really feel it helped me. I have not been suicidal since, I have been sober since, and I am basically a happy person now. I am married and have a daugter, I am in the process of going back to school, and I have a much better relationship wiht my parents now. I havnt been in the program for a while, so if you consider CCM, do research (unbiased) and they would of course let you go there and check it out. I am only aware of how my program was so I cant give any advice on any of the other ones. If you want to ask me questions feel free. I hope you keep faith in your daughter. She loves you but probably has a hard time lovign herself right now. I know when I was like that, I pretended not to care, but truly deep down I loved my parents, I just took most of my anger out on them because I loved them the most. I know that sounds odd, but true. I hope you can find a place, method, whatever that works for her and you. My heart truly goes out to you. I know if my daughter wsa doing that, I would be beside myself. It is hard. You can do everything "right" and still you kids can become unhappy and unbelieveble embarrased by you. I know the program worked for me because I knew I needed help. I was so unhappy in my life, I didnt even cry about leaving my friends, my home, going to a new place, leavign my family, ect. I cried because I knew my life was so out of control that this was the only way for me. I had tried it all and it didnt work. All I know is when I tried the program, it did work. b
The best of luck to you.
Amanda"
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