By "messes with your brain", I mean it alters what your "normal" conscious state is. I don't think you can really argue with this, but have at it. You mention

By "messes with your brain", I mean it alters what your "normal" conscious state is. I don't think you can really argue with this, but have at it. You mention reading, studying, etc. This is all well and good, but your approach to these problems comes from a state of mind that while dynamic, is quite predictable. A + B = A + B. What a drug like LSD does is allow you to use your mind differently. It isn't really worth explaining and is better left to experience, but I consider myself pretty well educated and I still consider taking LSD to be one of the best things I ever did in my life. It breaks down your ego and lets you see things in a completely different way. It's probably not for everyone. Bottom line is: If you've never had the urge to explore what a significant change in consciousness provides, then it's not for you.