The DNA Legal drug testing series covers everything you need to know about drug testing in the UK. So far, we've covered ketamine, spice, GHB, opioid drug testing, and many more; see our blog for our recent posts.
Today, we'll be looking at LSD. LSD is a Class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The legal consequences of cases involving a Class A substance are severe. Anyone charged with possession of the Class A drug LSD can face up to 7 years in prison and an unlimited fine or both. Anyone producing or selling a Class A drug can face life imprisonment and an unlimited fine or both.
What's LSD?
With the chemical and less commonly known name of Lysergic acid diethylamide, LSD is one of the most common and potent psychedelic drugs.
Also known as acid or tabs, it's a popular party drug or a street drug people take for its euphoric, hallucinogenic effects.
Users report feeling energised, excited, giggly, and in awe of their surroundings because of the hallucinogenic effects. Known to intensify thoughts, emotions, and sensory perception, it can also have negative effects like anxiety, confusion, and being overwhelmed.
Will LSD Show on a Drug Test?
Yes, LSD will show on drug tests.
LSD won't show on a standard 5- or 10-panel drug test, but a court can request a drug test that will specifically detect LSD consumption.
There's evidence that on some urine tests, the metabolite 2-oxo-3-hydroxy-LSD can appear higher than the actual levels of LSD consumed, but that doesn't discount the authenticity of the drug test.
A drug test isn't testing for the level of drug in the system, as no amount of LSD detected classifies as acceptable in a legal situation.
How Long is LSD Detectable in Your System?
How long LSD is detectable in your system depends on numerous factors and the drug test used. Here is a table showing how long LSD is detectable in your system depending on the drug test:
| Body System | Detection Time |
|---|---|
| Urine | Up to 5 days |
| Blood | 6 to 12 hours |
| Saliva | Up to 12 hours |
| Hair | As long as the hair - 12 months if 12 cm |
| Fingernails | Up to 6 months |
What Tests Will Detect LSD?
The table highlights what drug tests will detect LSD misuse. With five options, it's easy for legal and healthcare professionals to detect recent and ongoing LSD misuse.
Here are some specifics about how the different LSD drug tests work:
Urine
A urine drug test is one of the most common drug tests legal or healthcare professionals will order in a court scenario for detecting ongoing and consistent LSD misuse. With a detection window of up to 5 days, it's useful for detecting recent misuse and is one of the most simple samples to collect.
As we said above, sometimes urine tests can show a higher concentration of LSD in the system, but legal professionals are rarely ever looking for the concentration of LSD in the system; they're looking for any traces.
Blood
A blood test isn't commonly detected for LSD misuse in a court case because of its short detection window of 6 to 12 hours. However, a blood test may be performed in the case of a road traffic accident, for example, in the police station, if LSD misuse is detected.
Saliva
As with the blood test, a saliva test isn't commonly requested as part of a court case as it has a short detection window of up to 12 hours. Again, it could be used for incidents like road traffic accidents. Police officers can perform the test in the police station close to the time of the offence.
Hair
Hair drug testing is one of the most efficient methods for detecting LSD misuse for an ongoing court case. It's one of the most accurate drug tests legal and healthcare professionals can use. LSD metabolises in the system, binds to the keratine fibres in the hair, and remains detectable for as long as the hair, so if the hair is 12cm long you would detect 12 months, if its 3cm it would be 3 months.
Note: the drug test only works 2-3 weeks after LSD consumption, after which it will become detectable in the keratine fibers. From that point, every 1 cm of hair represents one month, so it's easy to almost accurately predict when an individual last consumed LSD.
Fingernails
As with hair drug tests, fingernail drug testing is just as effective at detecting ongoing spice misuse for up to 6 months. It's also one of the most accurate drug tests available to legal professionals. LSD metabolises in the blood system and attaches to keratine fibres in the fingernails in the same way it does to the hair.
What Factors Influence LSD Detection?
There are many factors that can influence LSD detection. Some of the most common include:
- Time of consumption
- Amount of LSD consumed
- Height and weight of the individual
- Individual metabolism
- Hydration levels
- Overall health
Why Might a Court-Ordered LSD Test Be Necessary?
A court will order an LSD drug test if they suspect LSD misuse that relates to a case, such as a child custody case. A child's well-being and welfare are seriously at risk if a parent or designated carer is under the influence of LSD.
Other reasons for a court-ordered LSD drug test could be any offence committed where an individual is suspected to have been/is under the influence of LSD, like a road traffic accident.
What Happens if an LSD Test Comes Back Positive?
The legal consequences of a positive LSD test can be severe and depend on the reason for the court order. If it's for a child custody case, a positive LSD drug test result could mean reduced or terminated visitation rights and the removal of custody of the child.
If it's for any other legal case (and including a child custody case), the consequences could be the stated imprisonment of up to 7 years and an unlimited fine or both for possession or up to life in prison and an unlimited fine or both for the supply and production of LSD.
How DNA Legal Can Help
DNA Legal is here to help with all aspects of court-ordered drug testing.
With global experience since 2004 and established in the UK in 2013, we have years of experience helping individuals and legal and healthcare professionals with the drug testing process.
We provide industry-leading, accurate drug testing to assist with a variety of court cases. Contact us today to start the process!