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Hallucinogens
Get the Facts
* What are hallucinogens?
* Hallucinogens are a group of drugs that
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work on the brain to affect the senses
and cause hallucinations - seeing,
hearing, smelling, tasting or touching
things that do not exist. Hallucinogens
are sometimes called psychedelic
drugs, trips, magic mushrooms, LSD or
acid.
* Forms of hallucinogens?
* Some hallucinogens occur naturally in
trees, vines, seeds, fungi (eg
psilocybin or magic mushrooms) and
leaves. Others are made in
laboratories by mixing different
chemical substances (trips, LSD, acid).
Some drugs, such as cannabis and
ecstasy, can cause hallucinogen-like
effects when used in high doses or in
certain ways. Using hallucinogens is
often called tripping.
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LSD (d-lysergic acid diethylamide) is
one of the most potent moodchanging chemicals. It was
discovered in 1938 and is
manufactured from lysergic acid,
which is found in ergot, a fungus
that grows on rye and other grains.
Peyote is a small, spineless cactus
in which the principal active
ingredient is mescaline. This plant
has been used by natives in northern
Mexico and the southwestern United
States as a part of religious
ceremonies. Mescaline can also be
produced through chemical
synthesis.
* Psilocybin (4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-
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dimethyltryptamine) is obtained
from certain types of mushrooms
that are indigenous to tropical
and subtropical regions of South
America, Mexico, and the United
States. These mushrooms
typically contain less than 0.5
percent psilocybin plus trace
amounts of psilocin, another
hallucinogenic substance.
PCP (phencyclidine) was
developed in the 1950s as an
intravenous anesthetic. Its use
has since been discontinued due
to serious adverse effects.
*Types of Hallucinogens
* LSD is known as acid,
trips, microdots, dots,
blotters, mellow or
tabs may be named
according to the design
on the blotting paper
e.g. a picture of a
yellow star would
attract the name,
“yellow stars”
* PCP: angel dust, peace
pill
* Ketamine: Special K, K,
ket, kitkat, super K
* Mushrooms can be called
their common botanical
names, magic
mushrooms, shrooms,
magics, blue meanies,
liberty caps, golden tops,
mushies
*Street Names of
Hallucinogens
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What hallucinogens do to you
depends on:
how much you take
your height and weight
your general health
your mood
your past experience with
hallucinogens
whether you use hallucinogens on
their own or with other drugs
whether you use alone or with
others, at home or at a party, etc.
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The effects of hallucinogens begin within
half an hour of taking the drug, are
strongest in three to five hours, and last
for up to 12 hours.
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They can include:
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intense sensory experiences (e.g. colors
become very bright, sounds become
sharper);
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mixing of the senses (e.g. you 'hear' colors
or 'see' sounds);
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changed sense of time (e.g. minutes can
seem as slow as hours, or you can 're-live'
something that happened a long time
ago);
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space becomes distorted strange bodily
sensations (e.g. as though you are floating
or being pulled down by gravity, or that
you are becoming part of another object);
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changed and intense thoughts emotional
swings (e.g. change from intense
happiness to deep sadness).
seeing, hearing, touching or smelling
things in a distorted way or that don't
exist (you usually know that what you are
sensing is not real);
* Hallucinogenic compounds are
*Neurological
Effects
comprised of alkaloids that mimic
the brain's own chemicals, causing
temporary brain toxicity that
results in altered perceptions,
hallucinations, strong emotions,
impaired thinking and dissociation.
LSD and other triptamines like
DMT and psilopsybe mushrooms
mimic serotonin, while
phenylethylamines like peyote,
mescaline and DOI affect
dopamine levels in complex ways.
These neurotransmitters regulate
many functions of the brain and
body, including appetite, mood,
emotions, sexual behavior and
sleep patterns, according to the
National Institute of Drug Abuse.
* Hallucinogens cause physiological symptoms
such as increased heart rate and blood
pressure, and may induce convulsions and
seizures when used at high doses. The effects
of hallucinogens are more unpredictable than
those of other drugs and vary greatly from
person to person. The range of effects depends
on a variety of factors: the amount ingested;
the user's personality, mood and expectations;
if the person is alone or with others; and
whether more drugs or alcohol are taken.
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* A good trip often involves
visual hallucinations (seeing
things that aren't really there
or that are distorted). These
images may be seen as funny or
inspiring, or just odd. Colors
may be especially intense and
intriguing patterns may emerge
on surfaces, like tables or
ceilings. Distortions of objects,
faces, and other body parts
may be experienced. A
heightened sexual drive — an
aphrodisiac effect — has also
been reported.
* A bad trip on the other hand,
may be set off by similar doses
of drug that in the past
provided a good trip. A bad trip
is a frightening experience with
surging anxiety and fears of
being out of control and
vulnerable. Terrifying images
and hallucinations have been
reported.
*Psychedelic Effects
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Short-term Effects of LSD, Mushrooms
and Mescaline
LSD, mushrooms, and mescaline can
cause these physical symptoms:
Dilated pupils
Dizziness
Dry mouth
Numbness
Tremors
Heavy perspiration
Bad body odor
Chills
"Goose bumps"
Nausea
Muscle weakness
Trembling
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Poor coordination
Lowered body temperature (LSD or
psilocybin mushrooms)
Higher body temperature
(peyote/mescaline)
Rapid heart rate (LSD or psilocybin
mushrooms)
Depressed heart rate and breathing
(peyote/mescaline)
High blood pressure (LSD or psilocybin
mushrooms)
Lowered blood pressure
(peyote/mescaline)
Seizures (LSD or psilocybin mushrooms)
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LSD, mushrooms, and mescaline can cause these effects with heavy or continued
use:
Psychological dependence
Cross-tolerance -- the need for increasing amounts to feel effects; covers various
substances, not just those someone has used
Depression
Anxiety
Increased risk of developing schizophrenia or psychotic episodes
Miscarriages
Birth defects
Fatal liver damage if the wrong mushroom is ingested.
Flashbacks
Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD) -- trailing images, spots, auras, and
other visual disturbances; depression, or panic attacks; long after use or perhaps
permanent
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Short-term Effects of PCP
Phencyclidine/PCP is the most hazardous
and damaging of the hallucinogens. Users
often injure themselves or others, cause
property damage, or become dangerously
ill.
Effects become worse with higher
dosages. They include:
Lower doses:
Elevated breathing and heart rates
Elevated blood pressure
Shallow breathing
Flushing
Heavy perspiration
Numbness
Lack of coordination
Higher doses:
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Distorted speech
Psychosis or catatonia
Low blood pressure
Depressed breathing and heart rates
Nausea and vomiting
Blurred vision
Rapid eye movements
Drooling
Dizziness, loss of balance
Seizures
Coma
Accidental injuries
Suicide attempts
Death
* Long-term Effects of PCP
* Heavy or prolonged use of PCP can cause these
effects:
* Memory loss
* Difficulty speaking
* Impaired thinking ability
* Depression
* Unwanted weight loss
* Mood disorder
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Hallucinations
Greatly reduced perception of
reality, for example, interpreting
input from one of your senses as
another, such as hearing colors
Permanent mental changes in
perception
Rapid heart rate
High blood pressure
Tremors
Flashbacks, a re-experience of the
hallucinations — even years later
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* Hallucinations
* Euphoria
* Delusions
* Panic
* Loss of appetite
* Depression
* Aggressive, possibly violent
behavior
* An exaggerated feeling of great
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happiness or well-being
(euphoria)
* Reduced inhibitions
* A heightened or altered sense
of sight, sound and taste
* Amphetamine-like effects
(with ketamine and Ecstasy)
* Decreased coordination
* Poor judgment
* Memory problems or loss of
memory
* Increased or decreased heart
rate and blood pressure
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http://www.ceida.net.au/hallucinogens/
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/hallucinogens-lsdpeyote-psilocybin-pcp
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/examining-the-effects-ofpsychedelics-and-hallucin.html
http://www0.health.nsw.gov.au/factsheets/drugAndAlcohol/hallucinogens.h
tml
http://www.intheknowzone.com/substance-abusetopics/hallucinogens/health-effects.html
http://www.livestrong.com/article/123460-hallucinogen-drug-effectsbrain/
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drugaddiction/DS00183/DSECTION=symptoms
http://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/hallucinogens