What Happens When You Mix LSD & Alcohol?
But, in part, because alcohol is so widely accepted in our society, one of the exceptions to that is alcohol. Many people mix alcohol with other drugs, including very dangerous combinations, often without realizing how much that can add to their overall risk.
Alcohol is often one of the first drugs people try, and is one of the most widely accepted and normalized drugs in our society.
But that doesn’t mean it’s safe or that it’s okay to mix alcohol and other drugs.
But what about LSD and alcohol? These two drugs have very different effects. They are both party drugs, which many people think are okay to use as long as you only use them occasionally.
There are big problems with those assumptions, and combining LSD and alcohol probably isn’t as safe as you think it is.
Let’s look at LSD and alcohol together, the effects of using these drugs together, and what you need to know if you’re thinking about combining these drugs.
Why Do Some People Take LSD And Drink Alcohol At The Same Time?
There are a lot of reasons that people might consider taking LSD and drinking alcohol at the same time. For one thing, it might seem like the thing to do. If other people around you are drinking while you’re on LSD, you might be tempted to join in.
One of the side effects of LSD is lowered inhibitions and abnormal behavior. So even if social drinking isn’t something you would normally do, taking LSD might make that more likely.
Another reason people might mix alcohol and LSD is that they might have heard that LSD is being studied as a potential treatment for alcoholism. They might be tempted to take LSD to see if that helps them stop drinking and then wind up drinking because of their pre-existing addiction.
If you have access to alcohol while taking LSD, you might be less likely to benefit from LSD as a treatment for the addiction. Remember that the limited studies of LSD as a potential therapeutic drug are only being done in controlled and monitored settings, with coaches helping guide patient experiences positively.
Taking a recreational dose of LSD at home, especially if you take it alone and without anyone to stop you from drinking, isn’t the same as the drug trials being done.
Another reason, and potentially the most common reason, that people might take LSD and alcohol simultaneously is that they think it sounds like fun. But that doesn’t mean that your experience will be fun or that taking LSD and alcohol together is a good idea.
What Does Mixing LSD And Alcohol Do?
One of the first things people often do when they consider taking a drug while they are drinking alcohol or drinking alcohol while they are already on another drug is to try and find out how mixing the two has affected other people who have done it.
In the case of LSD and alcohol, however, the results probably aren’t what you would expect.
Most people report that mixing alcohol and LSD makes both drugs less effective.
That means that if you take LSD and are drinking alcohol simultaneously, the alcohol might reduce the LSD effects, and the opposite is also true. If you are drinking alcohol and take LSD while you are drinking, you won’t feel the effects of the alcohol, or the LSD, as strongly.
That might seem like a good way to deal with taking too much or reacting badly to one of these drugs, but that isn’t true.
For one thing, taking LSD and alcohol together, while they can reduce symptoms, can also make your symptoms much harder to predict or control than expected.
Some people also think that mixing alcohol and LSD makes it more likely for them to have a bad trip or some of the negative side effects that can happen when you take LSD. They report more extreme behavior, intense mood swings, and other potential problems due to mixing the two drugs, even as they noticed the intoxicating feeling of the two less than usual.
Others report that mixing the two made them vomit and vomit more than either drug alone could explain.
Unsurprisingly, since LSD is illegal, there aren’t a lot of studies on combining the two drugs, but it does make sense that mixing LSD and alcohol could have a variety of strange effects and that you wouldn’t notice the feeling of either as strongly when taking both.
Why does that make sense?
Well, for one thing, the two drugs produce their effects in different ways. LSD is an upper, which means it works a little like a stimulant and can give the people who take it more energy while also making it harder to sleep and changing your quality of sleep if you do sleep while under the effects of the drug.
Technically, LSD has characteristics of both stimulants and depressants. Still, it’s more properly classified as a hallucinogen, and most users report feeling the stimulant-like effects of LSD rather than the depressant ones.
Alcohol, on the other hand, is a downer, technically known as a depressant, which means it slows things down in your body and can make you more tired or lower your reaction time. LSD, or Acid, speeds things up.
So, when you take both drugs at the same time, it makes some sense that the more overt symptoms, at least for the user, are reduced. This is because the drugs are having opposing interactions in your body.
Is Mixing LSD And Alcohol Dangerous?
Taking any drug can be dangerous, and mixing them is doubly so.
Generally, the risks associated with taking alcohol are considered socially acceptable, even though they can be fairly severe.
LSD, on the other hand, isn’t generally considered safe to use, medically or socially, which is one of the reasons that the drug is illegal.
Toxicity isn’t necessarily the problem in the case of LSD, unlike many other drugs, but using LSD can have a significant and impairing impact on your life, social interactions, profession, and quality of life, depending on where, when, and how you use the drug.
It’s unknown whether taking LSD and alcohol together increases the risks of either drug, but neither drug is safe, to begin with, so mixing them certainly isn’t.
Side Effects Of LSD
Common side effects of LSD include:
- Feelings and emotions that change rapidly
- Different emotions than you would normally expect with certain stimuli
- Crossover between sensations (tasting color, smelling sounds, etc.)
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
- Panic attacks
- Unusual behavior
- Euphoria
- Altered senses
- Altered sense of self
- Altered sense of time
- Altered sense of space
- Intense feelings
Side Effects Of Alcohol
Common side effects of alcohol include:
- Relaxation
- Drowsiness
- Euphoria
- Changes in mood
- Lowered inhibitions
- Impulsive behavior
- Slurred speech
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Loss of coordination
- Trouble focusing
- Loss of memory
- Loss of consciousness
Can Mixing LSD And Alcohol Be A Sign Of Addiction?
Yes, unfortunately.
Both drugs can have profound effects on your mind and body, and there aren’t any good reasons to combine them, especially if you understand how they work.
That means that being tempted to combine them, especially if you take both drugs with the intent to combine them, could indicate an underlying problem or loss of control motivating your behavior, i.e., an addiction.
It’s important to consider your behavior and any other signs and symptoms if you are tempted to combine LSD and alcohol or have already combined them.
Can You Get Addicted To LSD?
Yes, though LSD is a little different from other drugs and doesn’t generally cause physical dependence or a constant need to take a drug. Instead, psychological dependence on and preoccupation with LSD are more typical signs of an LSD addiction.
Can You Get Addicted To Alcohol?
Yes, absolutely. Alcoholism is the most common name for alcohol addiction or alcohol substance use disorder, and it’s relatively common for people who drink, especially people who drink heavily, to develop some form of addiction to alcohol.
That said, there are a lot of treatment options and supports available for people dealing with alcoholism or any addiction.
How To Get Help Overcoming Addiction
If you are dealing with an addiction and want to get help overcoming that addiction so you can reclaim your life and live the way you want to, Epiphany Wellness is here to help you make that happen.
Having an addiction doesn’t have to be the end of your life or even a major speed bump. With the right support and science-informed addiction treatment, you can overcome even the most severe addictions and go on to do great things.
So give yourself and us a chance. Call Epiphany Wellness today!
Sources:
- Frood, A. Nature Journal. LSD helps to treat alcoholism. (2012, March 9). Retrieved from https://www.nature.com/articles/nature.2012.10200 on 2023, January 5
- Santos-Longhurst, A. Healthline. (2020, January 28). LSD and Alcohol: What Happens When They Mix. Published January 28, 2020. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/lsd-and-alcohol on 2023, January 5
- Hwang KAJ, Saadabadi A. Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD). In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482407/ on 2023, January 5
- T B. VeryWellMind. LSD: Effects, Risks, and How to Get Help. (2022, March 5). Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/the-effects-of-lsd-on-the-brain-67496#toc-common-side-effects-of-lsd on 2023, January 5
Medical Content Writer
Amanda Stevens, B.S.
Amanda is a prolific medical content writer specializing in eating disorders and addiction treatment. She graduated Magnum Cum Laude from Purdue University with a B.S. in Social Work. As a person in recovery from disordered eating, she is passionate about seeing people heal and transform. In her spare time she loves learning about health, nutrition, meditation, spiritual practices, and enjoys being a mother to two beautiful children.
Last medically reviewed February 24, 2023