LSD Evaluation 2020
In 2020, 147 blotter papers labeled as LSD[1] were submitted for analysis at the Drug Information Center (DIZ) in Zurich. During a mobile drug-checking[2] conducted in the city of Zurich in 2020, eight blotter papers labeled as LSD were submitted and analyzed. The results published here are not representative of the entire drug market in the city of Zurich.
Risk assessment
The effects of LSD are always strongly dependent on the user's state of mind (set) and the environment (setting), in addition to the dose. When using LSD blotter paper, there is a risk of ingesting mislabeled substances, pharmacologically active adulterants, and/or high-dose blotter paper. The highly variable active ingredient content of LSD blotter paper can lead to the unintentional ingestion of high doses, increasing the risk of a negative experience (bad trip). High doses increase this risk even for experienced users. Extremely intense psychedelic experiences can be induced, which can be disturbing and frightening. In recent years, the DIZ (Drug Information Center) has repeatedly dispensed mislabeled LSD blotter paper (blotter paper containing a different psychoactive substance instead of LSD). Depending on the substance, such mislabeling can pose a significant health risk. Information and recommendations for the safest possible use can be found at saferparty.ch under LSD Safer Use.
LSD content
In 2020, the LSD blotters analyzed at the Drug Information Center (DIZ) contained an average of 79.3 μg of LSD. This is 18.9 μg less than in the previous year [3]. The range was from 3.7 μg to 205.5 μg of LSD per blotter. 72% of the LSD blotters contained less than 100 μg of LSD (-12%) and 18% contained between 100 and 150 μg (-7%). A warning was issued for 10% of the blotters because they contained more than 150 μg of LSD (-5%).
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[1] In 2020, an additional 98 liquid LSD samples were analyzed. These were not included in the evaluation.
[2] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only mobile drug checking could be carried out in 2020.
[3] The differences compared to the previous year are shown in parentheses below.
Unexpected substances and impurities
In 2020, 12.8% of the samples (-1.8%) contained unexpected, potentially pharmacologically active substances. These were due to mislabeling or unintentional contamination (smear contamination in mini-grips already used with other substances). Two blotters (1.2% of the samples) were mislabeled; one of these contained an NBOMe compound and the other DOC. In 2020, 26.9% of the analyzed LSD blotters contained the non-psychoactive iso-LSD
(-12.3%).
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NBOME compounds
DOC (2,5-dimethoxy-4-chloroamphetamine)
Iso-LSD