Do the "Blue Star" tattoos exist?
| No. LSD is not packaged in the form of lick-and-stick tattoos, and
I have seen no evidence that LSD has ever been found in this
form. The rumors are the result of confusion: LSD is commonly
packaged as small squares of blotter-paper that have been soaked in
a solution containing LSD. These blotter-paper squares are
sometimes marked with an identifying trademark (e.g. blue unicorns,
Bart Simpson) printed on the blotter-paper. In 1980,
a police report of a bust by the Narcotics
Bureau of the New Jersey State Police referred to this marking
of blotter acid as "stamps" and claimed that "children may be
susceptible to this type of cartoon stamp believing it [to be] a
tattoo transfer."
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(Examples of blotter acid)
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Can LSD be absorbed through the skin?
| Yes, but in the circumstances described in the warning flyers -
casual handling of blotter acid, or "tattoos" - this is extremely
unlikely.
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What about the stamps, the "micro dot," or the "window pain?"
| LSD, as well as being packaged as blotter-paper, is also sold in a
liquid solution, in a gelatin medium (known as "windowpane") and as
pills or capsules (known as "microdot"). Some flyers insist that
there are "stamps" or "tattoos" with pictures of multi-colored
"micro dots" or "window panes" on them. This is just more
confusion.
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And the red cardboard box wrapped in foil?
| These were details included in the police
report from 1980 mentioned above. They have been commonly
included in the flyers ever since, but just happen to be where one
unlucky set of LSD users hid their stash. Heat and light degrade
LSD, so some users use foil to wrap their blotter acid as
protection from the elements.
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Are the cartoon characters used to lure kids into the drug scene?
| Cartoon characters are sometimes used as the trademarks printed on
blotter acid, but I doubt this is like "Joe Camel" being used to
target a younger audience, although the motivations of those who
pick the trademarks aren't public knowledge. I have seen pictures
of blotter acid marked with Bart Simpson (from the cartoon "The
Simpsons") and Mickey Mouse (in his role as the sorcerer's
apprentice from the movie "Fantasia"), but note that these
characters are popular with both adults and children. There is
not much advantage for a drug dealer or manufacturer to get a
child to inadvertantly try LSD. The child isn't likely to want
to repeat what will probably be a frightening and baffling
experience, he or she doesn't have as much cash to pay for drugs as
do adults, and a frying child will certainly catch the eyes of the
authorities.
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But if they try it once, they might get hooked, right?
| LSD is not an addictive drug. In fact, there is a temporary
tolerance built up to the effects of LSD (meaning that subsequent
doses, if taken within a few days, will have a substantially
blunted effect) which makes it, if anything, anti-addictive.
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Does LSD in fact react quickly?
| Depends on what you mean by quickly. Blotter acid usually starts
showing effects between 45 and 75 minutes after the dose is
taken.
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And is it laced with strychnine?
| Blotter acid is not laced with strychnine. This is another
urban legend, taken as gospel truth even by many LSD users. This
deserves its own FAQ, but until then, check out
these
three
explanations
at The Vaults of Erowid (but see also
this analysis
from alt.folklore.urban).
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Might the accidental ingestion of LSD be fatal?
| The amount of LSD required for a fatal overdose is fairly enormous
compared to the active dose. The drug is active in the hundreds of
micrograms range (a dose that conveniently fits on a small piece of
blotter paper). The only fatalities or near-fatalities from LSD
overdose that I know about happened when a quantity of purified LSD
in crystal form was mistaken for another drug (cocaine or speed,
probably) and was snorted, probably giving the unfortunate user
hundreds of doses. In the circumstances described in the warning
flyers, an overdose would be extremely unlikely.
However, even a mild but active dose, if given to an unprepared or
unwilling person, could cause enough disorientation to make it
dangeous for that person in situations where hand-eye coordination
or attention are necessary for survival (driving a bicycle in
traffic, for instance). The emotional upheaval occasionally caused
by "bad trips" can possibly lead to suicide, and this risk is
heightened if the user doesn't know what to expect, isn't
accompanied by people who have had experience with psychedelics, or
has been dosed without knowing about it.
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What are the symptoms associated with LSD use?
| This is too complex a question to answer here, try searching around
the web for the many sites devoted to this question. A good start
is the Lycaeum's
LSD page.
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Have any children died from these tattoos?
| No. Haven't you been paying attention? The tattoos don't exist.
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What about the authorities who issued the warning?
| A lot of them prove hard to track down. Mr. Guy Chaillé
and J. O'Donnel, for instance, don't exist, or at least they can't
be found at the institutions they allegedly sent the warnings from.
Beth Israel Medical Center, Danbury Hospital, and other sources
deny having issued the warnings. This isn't to say that all of
these authorities are just fabricated. Police departments and
hospitals get fooled by this legend just like the rest of us. And
some of the people who deny having had anything to do with it may
just be trying not to look foolish.
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Should I contact the police if I see these tattoos?
| No. You should contact me! I want to hear about it!
For that matter, I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know if you see
a warning flyer. And if you could pick one up and mail it to me,
that'd be an extra thrill for me. I love this stuff!
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Should I spread the warning far and wide?
| Please do! It keeps me busy.
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