Are LSD and Psilocybin addictive?

[sbrettt]

This will be a public poll.

 

[specklebang]

They are contra-addictive. Do some people get lost in the moment? Yes, sadly. But addictive in the traditional sense - no, not at all.

Only opiates and nicotine are truly addictive. Pot and Meth are "psychologically addictive" but not at all physically addictive.

Cocaine. Strange, stupid drug. I've seen people get so psychologically addicted they throw their lives away but it is not addictive per se.

(the above is only an opinion. Please consult with your drug dealer before investing)

 

[ecofarm]

They are contra-addictive. Do some people get lost in the moment? Yes, sadly. But addictive in the traditional sense - no, not at all.

Only opiates and nicotine are truly addictive. Pot and Meth are "psychologically addictive" but not at all physically addictive.

Cocaine. Strange, stupid drug. I've seen people get so psychologically addicted they throw their lives away but it is not addictive per se.

(the above is only an opinion. Please consult with your drug dealer before investing)

Isn't caffeine physically addictive?

 

[sbrettt]

They are contra-addictive. Do some people get lost in the moment? Yes, sadly. But addictive in the traditional sense - no, not at all.

Only opiates and nicotine are truly addictive. Pot and Meth are "psychologically addictive" but not at all physically addictive.

Cocaine. Strange, stupid drug. I've seen people get so psychologically addicted they throw their lives away but it is not addictive per se.

(the above is only an opinion. Please consult with your drug dealer before investing)

Cocaine is technically addictive as it activate the reward center in the brain. Personally, it's pretty easy to do twice and never touch again.

 

[sbrettt]

Isn't caffeine physically addictive?

I get headaches from it? Not sure if that counts. :lol:

 

[Gardener]

The last time I ingested any l.s.d. was in 1974, and psilocybin 1976.

I can assure you, they aren't addictive.

 

[sbrettt]

The last time I ingested any l.s.d. was in 1974, and psilocybin 1976.

I can assure you, they aren't addictive.

I know. I'm waiting for someone to try to argue that they are.

 

[specklebang]

Isn't caffeine physically addictive?

Cocaine is technically addictive as it activate the reward center in the brain. Personally, it's pretty easy to do twice and never touch again.

It's true that caffeine is addictive but it's pretty easy to get off it (tylenol). I didn't include it because it's a harmless addiction, like Manga or DP.

Cocaine is kind of weird. I've seen people lose it but once they ran out of money, they didn't really show withdrawal symptoms per se.

 

[Gardener]

I know. I'm waiting for someone to try to argue that they are.

A pox on these evil, addictive drugs, then! :soap:soap:

Just look what they've done to me!!

 

[Neomalthusian]

I said I wasn't sure. I am guessing they are not inherently addictive, but I also assume that some people who are Polysubstance Dependent would use them habitually if available, though that probably speaks more to the person's indiscriminate substance addiction tendencies than the psychoactivity of the substances themselves.

 

[marduc]

If one was to consider them addictive, then it would be addictive in the sense that sex, or skydiving is addictive. In this sense virtually anything pleasurable could be construed as addictive, but the reality is that pleasure itself is the addiction. As far as developing a dependency for the drugs themselves, no they are not addictive.

 

[falcata]

I meant to vote no, but in some cases they can become psychologically addictive.

 

[APACHERAT]

Cocaine. Strange, stupid drug. I've seen people get so psychologically addicted they throw their lives away but it is not addictive per se.

[/SIZE]

That is one heavy psychological addicting drug. I've also seen scores of individuals lose everything because of cocain.

 

[specklebang]

That is one heavy psychological addicting drug. I've also seen scores of individuals lose everything because of cocain.

I watched someone come unglued on cocaine and I just couldn't figure it out. The same bitch was also addicted to nitrous. Its more of a personality defect than a true addiction though.

I've seen people lose everything from alcohol. Go figure.

 

[MaggieD]

This will be a public poll.

Physically addictive? I don't think so. Psychologically addictive? Absolutely.

 

[sbrettt]

It's true that caffeine is addictive but it's pretty easy to get off it (tylenol). I didn't include it because it's a harmless addiction, like Manga or DP.

Cocaine is kind of weird. I've seen people lose it but once they ran out of money, they didn't really show withdrawal symptoms per se.

I wouldn't really even call it a withdrawl. It's really just exhaustion from being so hyped up in my opinion.

 

[sbrettt]

Physically addictive? I don't think so. Psychologically addictive? Absolutely.

Well I don't know what you consider psychologically addictive. I would say they can be habit forming, but not even remotely addictive in a medical sense. They have zero effect on the reward center of the brain. They primarily effect Serotonin which is why they have shown to be highly successful in treating depression. The kicker is the results. With SSRI's you have to take them for months, even years to alleviate a depression. Psilocybin has shown to have those same results, except they occur after one or two treatments... Pretty incredible stuff.

 

[sbrettt]

If one was to consider them addictive, then it would be addictive in the sense that sex, or skydiving is addictive. In this sense virtually anything pleasurable could be construed as addictive, but the reality is that pleasure itself is the addiction. As far as developing a dependency for the drugs themselves, no they are not addictive.

Well Sex activates the reward center in the brain. That is inherently what addiction is. Pretty much anything that binds to, or promotes the release of dopamine is addictive. Psilocybin and LSD do not have an effect on the reward center and they do not interact with dopamine. This comparison is inaccurate. In fact, Heroine, Meth, and Cocaine are addictive in much the same way as sex.

 

[Hard Truth]

From both my reading and personal experiences, most people do not desire to use those drugs on a regular basis, even after using them several times, so they are not addictive. I did know on guy who used LSD everyday for a few months, but he had existing mental issues and seemed to be wanting to avoid doing anything with his life.

There is a theory that people who use XTC and other psychedelics often for a long time tend to get into speed abuse later on, because they no longer get the same effect from the psychedelics. (they don't get the same effects from the speed as they did with XTC, but it does provide a consistent high)

 

[MaggieD]

Well I don't know what you consider psychologically addictive. I would say they can be habit forming, but not even remotely addictive in a medical sense. They have zero effect on the reward center of the brain. They primarily effect Serotonin which is why they have shown to be highly successful in treating depression. The kicker is the results. With SSRI's you have to take them for months, even years to alleviate a depression. Psilocybin has shown to have those same results, except they occur after one or two treatments... Pretty incredible stuff.

In the APA Dictionary of Psychology, psychological dependence is defined as "dependence on a psychoactive substance for the reinforcement it provides." Most times psychological dependence is classified under addiction. They are similar in that addiction is a physiological "craving" for something and psychological dependence is a "need" for a particular substance because it causes enjoyable mental affects.

A person becomes dependent on something to help alleviate specific emotions. Psychological dependence begins after the first trial which a person then becomes satisfied and the satisfaction increases with each use. This constant feeling leads to psychological reinforcement which eventually leads to dependence. Of the various things that a person can be psychologically dependent on, "opiates, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, alcohol, and nicotine" are among them. Along with substances, people can also become dependent on activities as well; such as shopping, pornography, self-harm, and many more. While a psychologically dependent person attempts to recover, there are many withdrawal symptoms that one can experience throughout the process.Some of the withdrawal symptoms are: headache, poor judgement, trembling hands, and loss of attention span and focusing. When trying to over come psychological dependence on a drug, one can go to a substance abuse program.

I'd say anything that gives someone pleasure can become psychologically addictive. Don't know whether anyone would agree with me or not, but . . . there it is.

 

[sbrettt]

From both my reading and personal experiences, most people do not desire to use those drugs on a regular basis, even after using them several times, so they are not addictive. I did know on guy who used LSD everyday for a few months, but he had existing mental issues and seemed to be wanting to avoid doing anything with his life.

There is a theory that people who use XTC and other psychedelics often for a long time tend to get into speed abuse later on, because they no longer get the same effect from the psychedelics. (they don't get the same effects from the speed as they did with XTC, but it does provide a consistent high)

Actually, where I come from XTC's are a street name for fake Ecstasy. I'm thinking you were referring to real Ecstasy. I don't think it's accurate to lump MDMA with Psilocybin/LSD when talking about addiction. Yes, they both have hallucinogenic properties, but LSD and Psilocybin do not interact with the reward center. MDMA on the other hand, heavily interacts with the reward center.

 

[marduc]

Well Sex activates the reward center in the brain. That is inherently what addiction is. Pretty much anything that binds to, or promotes the release of dopamine is addictive. Psilocybin and LSD do not have an effect on the reward center and they do not interact with dopamine.

LSD is a partial agonist towards dopamine (and seratonin) receptors in the brain. So while it may not contribute to a release of dopamine itself, it does bind to the same receptors, and "mimics" dopamines role in the brain to some degree.

I would not classify LSD (or psilicobyn) as an addictive substance, but for some usage does bring pleasure, and pleasure itself is a result of activation of the reward centers of the brain.

My comment still stands, pleasure itself (if anything) is the addictive thing here, and to some (including myself many, many times in my past) a good hard trip is extremely pleasurable. For others it might be ice cream, or sex, or skydiving.. regardless all of these examples do activate the rewards system of the brain, which is why they are pleasurable to begin with.

 

[sbrettt]

LSD is a partial agonist towards dopamine receptors in the brain. So while it may not contribute to a release of dopamine itself, it does bind to the same receptors, and "mimics" dopamines role in the brain to some degree.

I would not classify LSD (or psilicobyn) as an addictive substance, but for some usage does bring pleasure, and pleasure itself is a result of activation of the reward centers of the brain.

My comment still stands, pleasure itself (if anything) is the addictive thing here, and to some (including myself many, many times in my past) a good hard trip is extremely pleasurable. For others it might be ice cream, or sex, or skydiving.. regardless all of these examples do activate the rewards system of the brain, which is why they are pleasurable to begin with.

Oh okay, you're talking an indirect activation?

 

[sbrettt]

I'd say anything that gives someone pleasure can become psychologically addictive. Don't know whether anyone would agree with me or not, but . . . there it is.

Sure, in the same way donuts can be addictive. :lol:

 

[MaggieD]

Sure, in the same way donuts can be addictive. :lol:

Oh, God, Brett. Your avatar's going to drive me batty!!! Ha!