An acid trip can be among the most transcendent and significant experiences of a person’s life. There are some who do acid as frequently as a few times a month, and others who do it once a year, or even once a decade or once in a lifetime. Whether you’re tripping to heal a mental health condition, to have fun or bond with friends, or to seek out spiritual insights, there are nonetheless best practices regarding how to do acid. 

For starters, know your dose! A standard dose of LSD is 100 micrograms, which most often correlates to one tab of acid. But dosing LSD can be tricky, since it often comes in the form of a liquid that is placed with a dropper onto blotter paper, a gummy bear, or sometimes straight into someone’s mouth. LSD may also come in the form of gel tabs, in which the dose correlates similarly to blotter. 

Acid is active at doses of 15 micrograms or higher. Hence the threshold dose of LSD is 15 micrograms, while a light dose is considered to be between 25 and 75 micrograms, a common dose between 75 and 150, a strong dose between 150 and 300, and a heavy dose upwards of 300 micrograms. In a study on microdosing, researchers found that the most ideal dose for a microdose of acid is between 13 and 26 micrograms. 

An LSD trip can last for about eight to twelve hours, depending on how much someone takes and what their tolerance is to acid. During an acid trip, time can feel distorted, sometimes as if it’s dragging on forever. 

Before you take the acid, be sure to set an intention, as this may guide your trip and provide a sense of grounding, should you happen to feel disoriented or hit a challenging moment. Intention setting does not need to be complicated: Choose a word or a phrase to give a theme to your trip, such as “to work on self-confidence,” or “to be here now.”

Next, you’ll need to curate your set and setting. That is, you’ll want to be sure that you are in a headspace that will be conducive to a beneficial trip, and that your environment is safe and secure. If you are new to acid, you’ll want to have a friend or trip sitter on hand to offer support. You may also want to have some water, snacks, and activities prepared in advance, such as instruments, painting supplies, a music speaker, yoga mat, or hula hoop. 

Chances are, if you feel safe, supported, and comfortable going into your trip, you’ll experience smooth sailing, but even so challenging experiences may sometimes happen to the best of us. If you hit bumpy waters, take a deep breath, and try exhaling for longer than you inhale. Accept what’s happening and invite in any insights, as difficult as they may be. Know that the moment will pass, and that you’ve taken a substance that will wear off. If it helps, change up the scenery: If you’re inside, go outside, or vice versa. And let your trip sitter or a friend know that you’re going through a tough moment and allow them to hold space for you. 

If you have any underlying mental conditions, such as schizophrenia, you will want to heed caution before taking acid, and consider abstaining. LSD can trigger or magnify whatever is going on below the surface, so you’ll want to make sure that you have ample support before you dive into the psychedelic waters. 

For those who choose to trip, also take note of the number 6-2FIRESIDE, a peer support line to help people during or after their psychedelic experience.