<!-- Do not use the "dated prod" template directly; the above line is generated by "subst:prod|reason" -->

Acidhead is a word, often derogatory, for someone who regularly uses the substance Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, which to many is known as LSD or acid. Its connotations depend on the sense of its use. The derogatory sense generally conjures someone who is out of touch with reality, (sometimes) unable to speak or think coherently (or, less extremely, dreamy or unfocused in speech or embracing supernatural or magical thinking for example), unpredictable in their actions; in this sense the focus is on the 'abnormal' aspects or those which seem in opposition to expected social norms of thought and behavior. In a more positive usage (generally among users of acid or other drugs) it is a term of respect and can represent a badge of honor which distinguishes someone of particular insight and character from casual or inexperienced users. The term has appeared in the psychological literature, most notably in the Sept. 3, 1968 American Journal of Psychiatry, in an article titled "Chronic Users of LSD: The 'Acidheads'". Coming as it did at a time much attention was being paid to LSD and the larger 'drug culture', the piece is perhaps one of the best condensations of the attributes which characterize acidheads as a group.

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, is a drug which some consider hard to abuse, claiming that it is difficult to use in the same manner as the familiar substances of abuse such as alcohol or opiates. Because of its rapid onset of tolerance it is virtually impossible to use on an every day basis. In addition, its effects are not of a character which encourage frequent use - its duration is long and while the effects can be said to be euphoric in some cases in general the experience be shattering, particularly in large doses. Paradoxically, and because of this tolerance, some users are drawn to take the drug regularly in order to better condition themselves to deal with these challenging aspects of the experience. At those large doses the user can experience what some refer to as, "great insights", "blinding truths", "revelations", "perfect clarity","epiphanies", or "ego death". It is largely this characteristic which gave the drug successes in its trials as a tool in psychotherapy. Many of the insights deal with language and its relationship to reality - often users report insights which they they feel would be difficult or impossible to put into words, and in many cases the insight is into the nature of language itself (one might be made to realize the inadequacy of language to express love, for example). This aspect is also a contributor to its perceived potential for therapeutic use - in some cases users are able to break down existing psychological barriers to honesty and more clearly understand their own patterns of communication, both of which can facilitate constructive dialogue.

Given the properties of LSD which detract from its potential for chronic use the existence of 'acidhead' as a term and as a cultural trope is perhaps surprising. No comparable term with such wide usage exists for users of other, even similar drugs - for example, there is no term for someone who takes Psilocybin-containing 'magic mushrooms' frequently, though undoubtedly such people exist. Such a comparison raises the question of whether there are significant differences in patterns of use between the two drugs, or whether simply by chance one group of users gave themselves or acquired a particular label. The answer is probably somewhere in between, or a qualified 'yes' to both. Anecdotally it seems that the phenomenon of explicit chronic use (i.e., someone decides to ingest acid continually and indefinitely) is more common with LSD than any other psychedelics. Such distinctions are difficult to verify rigorously because of the illegality of the substances involved and the lack of clinical research.

An acidhead will sometimes appear unable to interact with their surroundings because of the psychedelic and hallucinogenic effect of the drug.

At one time (late 1960's) the term had some wider cultural currency, but now the term is most frequently, indeed almost exclusively, used among acid users themselves.

See also

LSD