Drug abuse is a common issue among individuals living in the United States. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, “114 million Americans age 12 or older (46% of the population) reported illicit drug use at least once in their lifetime.”[1]
There are many illicit substances that people abuse, from opioids like heroin and oxycodone to stimulants like methamphetamine and crack cocaine. However, there are a certain group of substances that have been coined “party drugs” or “club drugs” because of the setting in which people tend to abuse them as well as the effects they provide. The term party drugs include substances like lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), ketamine, gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), and other dissociative or hallucinogenic substances.
Oftentimes, people who abuse party drugs find ways to combine substances to create a desired effect. One of the most popular combinations among club and rave attendees is referred to as “candy flipping,” which is a mixture of MDMA and LSD.
What is MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine)?
MDMA is a shortened term for the substance 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine. This substance is synthetic, causing both stimulant and hallucinogenic effects that increase energy levels and enhance sensory perception.
MDMA is also considered an entactogen, which means it can increase your self-awareness and empathy for others. When you combine this effect with enhanced sensory perception, it’s easy to see why MDMA is often used by couples or individuals who are attending parties and looking to become physically or emotionally connected with others around them.
Common side effects of MDMA include:[2]
- An enhanced sense of wellbeing
- Increased extroversion
- Emotional warmth
- Increased empathy toward others
- Willingness to discuss emotions
- Enhanced sensory perception
- High blood pressure
- Panic attacks
- Increased body temperature
- Dehydration
MDMA comes in many different forms. When MDMA is referred to as ecstasy, it tends to come in tablet form. Ecstasy tablets are often cut with other substances like ketamine, cocaine, or methamphetamine, making them dangerous to abuse.
Sometimes MDMA comes in a crystalline powder, which is referred to as “molly.” Molly can also contain other substances that can cause you to experience adverse side effects or life-threatening experiences like overdoses.
What is LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide)?
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), also known as “acid,” is a synthetic drug derived from ergot, a fungus that grows on rye. LSD belongs to a class of drugs referred to as psychedelics, which includes other substances like psilocybin, ayahuasca, and dimethyltryptamine (DMT). LSD can cause a range of effects, including changes in perception, auditory or visual hallucinations, and a distorted sense of space and time.
Common effects of LSD abuse include:[3]
- Seeing, smelling, or hearing things that aren’t real
- Increased senses
- Distorted sense of time and space
- Strange feelings in the body, like floating
- Rapidly changing or intense emotions
- An altered state of thinking
- Dilated pupils
- Confusion
- Headaches
- Twitching of muscles
- Increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure
- Insomnia, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting
- Being flushed, sweating, or chills
When it comes to LSD, you can experience something known as a “bad trip.” While most people take LSD to experience visual hallucinations and even spiritual experiences, the effects of LSD can become scary or unsettling. Having a bad trip can lead to feelings of panic, paranoia, scary hallucinations like spiders crawling on you, and extreme anxiety or fear.
The Effects of Candy Flipping
People who attend parties, clubs, or raves often do so to enjoy the visuals provided by laser light shows, dance with their friends, enjoy experimental electronic music, or meet new people to hook up with. Oftentimes, this experience includes the use of substances like MDMA and LSD because these drugs can increase sensory perception, heighten your libido, and lead to visual hallucinations. Both of these substances are common party drugs, which has led individuals to begin mixing the two drugs to create a new effect.
The mixture of LSD and MDMA is referred to as “candy flipping.” Side effects of candy flipping include:
- Euphoria
- Increased energy
- Elevated heart rate and blood pressure
- Dehydration
- Distorted sense of time and space
- Visual and auditory hallucinations
- Mood swings
- Paranoia
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Fear and anxiety
- Increased empathy
- Impaired judgment
- Increased sensitivity to touch
- Muscle cramping
- Chills
- Excessive sweating
- Involuntary teeth clenching
- Sweating
- Elevated body temperature
Does Candy Flipping Cause a “Comedown”?
While both LSD and MDMA can produce either an extremely pleasurable experience or a frightening one, mixing the two drugs often leads to a nasty comedown. The term “comedown” describes the effects you experience after a drug has begun to wear off. Both MDMA and LSD are known to have difficult comedowns on their own, and candy flipping can lead to after-effects that are challenging to cope with.
When you are coming down off of acid, you may experience symptoms like depression, paranoia, or anxiety. Some people have reported experiencing lasting visual hallucinations for a day or two after tripping.
When it comes to MDMA, the comedown tends to be more severe because MDMA depletes natural serotonin levels, causing you to feel extremely depressed or emotionally numb.
The comedown associated with candy flipping can include:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Problems with memory
- Irritability and aggression
- Decreased appetite
- Depression
- Panic
- Paranoia
- Cravings for MDMA
- Reduced libido
Mixing LSD and MDMA can cause you to experience increased mental health issues, especially if you already suffer from depression or anxiety. Additionally, there is no way to tell whether your LSD or MDMA has been tainted with other drugs, meaning you could receive a bad batch and accidentally overdose. It is best to avoid mixing these substances, especially if you have a history of mental health conditions.
Find Help for Club Drug Abuse and Addiction Today
If you or a loved one frequently abuse MDMA, LSD, or a combination of the two, recovery is possible. While there is not sufficient evidence to determine whether MDMA or LSD can result in physical addiction, the effects of these drugs can cause mental health issues when abused long-term. But a professional drug addiction rehab program can provide you with the tools and support you need to maintain sobriety and regain control over your life.
To learn more about your addiction treatment options in South Florida, contact Mandala Healing Center today.
References: