The emergence of a community that passes the drugs between users on the basis of friendship, support and need – with money rarely involved – comes amid a resurgence of research into the possible therapeutic benefits of psychedelics.

a growing optimism among those using the drugs that soon they may be able to obtain medicines based on psychedelics from their doctor...

She fears that without an occasional dose she will go back to the drinking problem she left behind 14 years ago with the help of the banned drug."Then I took a hit of LSD one day and didn't feel alone any more.

Many others are using the drugs to deal with chronic anxiety attacks

Now, though, distinguished academics and highly respected institutions are looking again at whether LSD and other psychedelics might help patients.

Professor Colin Blakemore, a former chief executive of the Medical Research Council, said the class-A status of psychedelics such as LSD should not stop them being explored as potential therapies. "No drug is completely safe, and that includes medical drugs as well as illegal substances," he said.