Walkner, Renee
Physiological Comp.
May 1, 2011
Hallucinogens: Fact Sheet
The types of drugs that cause people to have hallucinations, whether auditory or visual, are called
hallucinogens. “These drugs can cause people to see and hear things that aren’t real, such as colored
lights or images, strange sounds and music. Hallucinogens can also cause users to have intense mood
swings, jumping back and forth between happiness, sadness, anger, depression and so on.
Hallucinogens cause their effects by disrupting the interaction of nerve cells and the neurotransmitter
serotonin. Distributed throughout the brain and spinal cord, the serotonin system is involved in the control
of behavioral, perceptual, and regulatory systems, including mood, hunger, body temperature, sexual
behavior, muscle control, and sensory perception”.
(http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=24170)
Types of Hallucinogens:

DMT is (found in a variety of plants and seeds; it can also be produced synthetically), LSD (the
most potent hallucinogen known to man.

LSD is derived from a fungus that grows on rye and other grains; however, it is also semisynthetic and is chemically manufactured in illegal laboratories. It is also the most potent
hallucinogen known to man.

PCP - invented as a medical anesthetic.

Peyote - Mescaline is a hallucinogenic substance found within the Peyote cactus.

Psilocybin - a chemical obtained from certain mushrooms found in Mexico and Central America.
Street Names of Hallucinogens:

DMT – “businessman’s trip” and “fantasia”

LSD – “acid”, “blotter acid”, “window pane”, “dots”, “mellow yellow”, “Lucy in the sky with
diamonds”, “tabs”, “paper acid”, “barrels”, “Bart Simpsons”, “Sid”, “twenty five”, “heavenly
blue”, “L”, “Liquid A”, “liquid”, “mind detergent”, “microdots”, “wedding bells”, “blue
unicorns”, “hits”, “orange cubes”, “sunshine”, “ticket”, and “sugar lumps”.
Walkner, Renee
Physiological Comp.
May 1, 2011

PCP – “angel dust”, “supergrass”, “killer weed”, “embalming fluid”, and “rocket fuel”, “ozone”,
and “wack”

Peyote – “buttons”, “mesc”, and “peyote”

Psilocybin – “magic mushrooms” and “shrooms”
(http://www.pamf.org/teen/risk/drugs/hallucinogens/)
Neurological effects of hallucinogens: “LSD, peyote, psilocybin, and PCP are drugs that cause
hallucinations, which are profound distortions in a person’s perception of reality. Under the influence of
hallucinogens, people see images, hear sounds, and feel sensations that seem real but are not. Some
hallucinogens also produce rapid, intense emotional swings. LSD, peyote, and psilocybin cause their
effects by initially disrupting the interaction of nerve cells and the neurotransmitter serotonin.1 Distributed
throughout the brain and spinal cord, the serotonin system is involved in the control of behavioral,
perceptual, and regulatory systems, including mood, hunger, body temperature, sexual behavior, muscle
control, and sensory perception. On the other hand, PCP acts mainly through a type of glutamate receptor
in the brain that is important for the perception of pain, responses to the environment, and learning and
memory.” (http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/hallucinogens.html)
Physiological effects of hallucinogens: “The psychedelics are capable of producing a wide range of
subjective and objective effects. However, there is apparently no reaction that is distinctive for a
particular drug. Subjects are unable to distinguish among LSD, mescaline, and psilocybin when they have
no prior knowledge of the identity of the drug ingested. These drugs induce a physiological response that
is consistent with the type of effect expected of a central-nervous-system stimulant. Usually there is
elevation of the systolic blood pressure, dilatation of the pupils, some facilitation of the spinal reflexes,
and excitation of the sympathetic nervous system.”
(http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/172024/drug-use/40516/Physiological-and-psychologicaleffects-of-hallucinogens)
Walkner, Renee
Physiological Comp.
May 1, 2011
Psychedelic effects of hallucinogens: Hallucinogens are “psychedelic” drugs. “Hallucinogens, also
called psychedelic drugs, create a range of perceptual distortions and various psychological symptoms.
Under the influence of hallucinogens, the senses seem to be enhanced, and brilliant hallucinations occur.
Many users experience synesthesia, in which various forms of hallucinations occur simultaneously. Many
also describe feeling disconnected from their bodies or other altered states of reality.”
(http://www.egetgoing.com/drug_rehab/hallucinogens.asp)
Short term health risks from abuse of hallucinogens: Individuals who abuse hallucinogens may
become delirious or psychotic. Depressive disorders often occur following the use of these substances. In
a few individuals, a single, extremely frightening experience can cause severe long-term problems with a
dramatic decrease in their ability to function normally.
Long term health risks from abuse of hallucinogens:
Long term effects include HPPD (Hallucinogen
Persisting Perception Disorder), which produces repeated flashbacks to previous events. Psychosis is
another long term risk. Psychosis may trigger the inability to think rationally and the inability to
communicate with people. In addition, unpredictable mood swings, paranoia, behavior changes and
violent behavior can occur. (http://www.thecyn.com/club-drug-addiction/long-term-effects-
lsd.htm)
Signs and symptoms of hallucinogen abuse:

Extremely dilated pupils.

Warm skin, excessive perspiration, and body odor.

Distorted sense of sight, hearing, touch; distorted image of self and time perception.

Mood and behavior changes, the extent depending on emotional state of the user and
environmental conditions.

Unpredictable flashback episodes even long after withdrawal.
Walkner, Renee
Physiological Comp.
May 1, 2011
(http://www.drugd-tech.com/signs_and_symptoms.html#Signs of Hallucinogen Abuse)
References
1. http://www.drugfree.org/drug-guide/lsd
2. http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/lsd.html
3. http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/hallucinogens
4.
http://www.justice.gov/dea/concern/lsd.html
5. http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=24170)
6. http://www.pamf.org/teen/risk/drugs/hallucinogens/
7. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/172024/drug-use/40516/Physiological-andpsychological-effects-of-hallucinogens
8. http://www.egetgoing.com/drug_rehab/hallucinogens.asp
9. http://www.thecyn.com/club-drug-addiction/hallucinogen-abuse-fact.html
10. http://www.drugd-tech.com/signs_and_symptoms.html#Signs of Hallucinogen Abuse
Walkner, Renee
Physiological Comp.
May 1, 2011
Walkner, Renee
Physiological Comp.
May 1, 2011
References
11. http://www.drugfree.org/drug-guide/lsd
12. http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/lsd.html
13. http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/hallucinogens
14. http://www.justice.gov/dea/concern/lsd.html
15. http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=24170)
16. http://www.pamf.org/teen/risk/drugs/hallucinogens/
17. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/172024/drug-use/40516/Physiological-andpsychological-effects-of-hallucinogens
18. http://www.egetgoing.com/drug_rehab/hallucinogens.asp
19. http://www.thecyn.com/club-drug-addiction/hallucinogen-abuse-fact.html
20. http://www.drugd-tech.com/signs_and_symptoms.html#Signs of Hallucinogen Abuse