Fact Sheet
Kristine Mitchell: Moraine Park Technical School Student
Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens, also referred to as psychedelics are drugs that alter an individual’s thinking, selfawareness, perceptions, sensations, and emotions. The term psychedelic has its origin in the Greek word
psychedelic meaning “mind-revealing”. They can cause a person to hear or see things that are not real
or have hallucinations. Hallucinogens were widely used in the 1960’s and advocated by Timothy Leary as
a means to get in touch with the inner self and experience a peaceful existence. Native Americans used
natural hallucinogens in rituals enhancing the spiritual experience. Currently, LSD is a schedule I drug
and has no current medical uses. However, in the 1950’s LSD was used in psychiatric experiments and
was thought to be a modality for understanding psychotic mental disorders and possible treatment of
these mental disorders.
Types of hallucinogens
Classification of hallucinogens is still somewhat arbitrary. Below are listed 3 ways of classifying these
drugs.
Chemical structure
Indole alkaloids: LSD, psilocin, psilocybin
Piperidines: Atropine, cocaine, phencyclidine (PCP), ketamine
Phenylethylmines: Mescaline, 3,4-methylene dioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methylene
dioxyamphetamine (MDA), 3-meethoxy-4,5-methylene dioxyamphetamine (MMDA), 3,5-dimethoxy-4methylamphetamine (STP), 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM).
Cannaboinoids: Delta-0-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the active substance in marijuana)
Common Types of Hallucinogens
Dissociative: Include PCP, DXM, psilocybin, ketamine. Effects of dissociative hallucinogens cause the
brain to loose sensory capability allowing the mind to develop and create its own perceptions devoid of
external stimuli.
Psychedelics: Include LSD, mescaline and peyote. These drugs allow the mind to perceive totally that
which is around you. It causes the mind to see everything.
Deliriants: Include mandrake, deadly nightshade (atropa belladonna) and high doses of Benadryl and
Dramamine like medications. These drugs cause actual hallucinations which include false perceptions
not based on reality.
Hallucinogenic Agents
Traditional Hallucinogens: LSD Types, mescaline
Phenylethylamine Hallucinogens (CNS stimulants effects): Dimethoxymethylamphetamine (DOM or
STP), Designer smphetamines, 3,4,-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA),
methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA).
Anticholinergic Hallucinogens (occurring in plants and hers): Atropa belladonna (the deadly nightshade
plant), mandragora officinarum (the mandrake), hyoscyamus niger: henbane, datura stramonium
(jimsonweed).
Other Hallucinogens: Phencyclidine (PCP), Ketamine, dextromethorphan, marijuana.
Street names for various hallucinogens
LSD: Window panes, blotter acid, acid, bartman, bart simpson, microdots, gelatin chips, battery acid,
boomers, California sunshine, cid, doses, dots, golden dragon, heavenly blue, hippie, loony toons, lucy in
the sky with diamonds, pane, purple heart, superman, tab, yellow sunshine, zen
Psilocybin: magic mushrooms, caps, shrooms, mushrooms, flower flipping and hippieflip (MDMA mixed
w/mushrooms), sacred mushroom, sherm (PCP and mushrooms), boomers (psilocybin and LSD), god’s
flesh (LSD and psilocybin, little smoke (marijuana, LSD & psilocybin), Mexican mushrooms, musk, silly
putty, simple simon, golden tops, bule meanies, liberty caps.
Ketamine: special K, K, kit kat, cat valium, k-hole, baby food, super acid, special la coke, purple, jet.
Phencyclidine: PCP, angel dust, supergrass, boat, tic tac, zoom. Killer joints, super grass, fry lovelies,
wets, and waters (PCP combined with marijuana).
Mescaline: Beans (crack cocain, mescaline, amphetamine, depressants), buttons, cactus, cactus buttons,
cactus head, chief (LSD and mescaline), love flipping (mescaline and MDMA), love trip (mescaline and
MDMA), mesc, mescal, mese, mezc, moon, peyote, snackies (MDMA and mescaline), topi.
Neurological effects of hallucinogen abuse
There are two “on” positions for the receptor serotonin 2A. LSD causes this receptor to be in the “on”
position. The cerebral cortex is the location in which the serotonin 2A receptor is acted on. In addition,
serotonin and its delicate communication system is directly affected by hallucinogens.
LSD can cause delusions and visual hallucinations if taken in large doses. Users may feel emotional
swings or many emotions at one time. An altered sense of time can be experienced as well as the notion
of self. It has been said that users often hear colors or see sounds. In addition fear of death, loss of
control, despair, fear of insanity and other feelings of terror can occur when using LSD. After use, an
individual may experience “flashbacks” that resemble experienced when under the influence of the
drug. They may occur 1 month to one year after use or even persist, causing HPPD (hallucinogeninduced persisting perceptual disorder). Psilocybin can cause altered perceptions and an inability to
distinguish between reality and fantasy. Other side effects can be panic or psychosis with large doses.
Physiological effects from hallucinogen abuse
LSD: One percent of an oral dose of LSD is received by the brain. It is absorbed and distributed
throughout all tissues in the body. Also, it crosses the blood-brain barrier and into the fetus because it
passes through the placenta. LSD is concentrated in the limbic system hypothalamus and the auditory
and visual reflex areas. It also causes an individual to experience dilated pupils, increased heart-rate and
blood pressure, increase in body temperature, and sweating. LSD lasts for about 12 hours and takes
about 30 to 90 minutes for its effects to start. Repeated dosing cause’s tolerance to develop quickly.
Physical dependence does not occur because there are no withdrawal symptoms.
Mescaline: Pupil dilation, body temperature increase, visual hallucinations, anxiety, alteration of body
images. My induce vomiting and relation of muscle (sedation). Low does cause a feeling of a drug
hangover while higher doses cause intestinal contraction, coordination difficulties, dry skin and itching,
slow respiration and heart and hypertension.
Psychedelic effects of hallucinogen abuse
Psychedelic effects include altered states of consciousness when using hallucinogens. They can be
compared to other ontological state of being like a mystical experience, enlightenment, ego death, a
religious experience, or ecstasy. The effects could be described as liberating the mind form ordinary
restraints creating a transcendent experience. Psychedelic states include hallucinations, delusions,
changes in perception, illusions. Psychedelic experiences can be mentally overbearing and can cause a
“bad trip” or psychedelic crisis, which include panic attacks, hysteria, dysphonia, and depersonalization.
These psychedelic effects of hallucinogens suggest there might be medical applications to the use and
research into certain mental illnesses.
Health risks of the abuse of hallucinogens
Short term use can cause slowing of the heart rate and breathing. Superman like feelings may cause an
individual to engage in dangerous activities. If harmed on PCP, muscle damaged could release myoglobin
in mass quantities causing renal failure and death. Deliriant drugs have a higher risk of causing health
problems like dehydration, confusion, dilated pupils and anger. These drugs are toxic and overdose is
resulting in death could occur. In addition, during use, heavy sweating, increased heart rate and blood
pressure, tremors, coma, and loss of appetite can occur. A “bad trip” can occur when taking
hallucinogens. The occurrence is very unpredictable and can happen on the first dose or may never
happen to an individual. A “bad trip” includes paranoia, severe hallucinations, and fear.
Long term health risks include brain damage, trouble thinking, confusion, memory loss, and flash backs.
Birth defects were suggested from experiments in the 1960’s. This was found not to be true. In addition,
the carcinogenic or mutagenic effects from LSD are not evident. Long-term use can also include
hallucinogen persisting perception disorder and psychosis. It can affect a person’s ability to reason and
think clearly and even have trouble communicating with others. Mood swings, violent behavior and
paranoia can occur after one dose or long term use. Although LSD is not seen as an addictive drug, it
does produce tolerance. Users may seek higher doses which can be dangerous because of the
unpredictability of the drug. Long term use of psilocybin has produced flashbacks, impaired memory,
tolerance, and psychiatric illness.
High doses of PCP can cause overdose causing violence or suicide ideation. It can also cause coma,
seizures, and death (often associated with an accident due to the high dose of PCP and negative
psychological effects that cause violence).
Signs and symptoms of hallucinogen abuse
Abuse signs can include: dilation of pupils, perspiration to excess, body odor, self- image distortion, skin
is warm and clammy to the touch, mood swings, repeated and unpredictable flashbacks, disturbance of
the senses. Because hallucinogens cause an individual to experience reality in an unreal way, they are
often taken in seclusion where others cannot see odd behavior and report the activity. Other signs can
include, inattentive, daydreaming, staring for extended time at body part, or object, conversations can
be esoteric, overly interested in common objects, hallucinations, anxiety. Objects that might be found
around the house are cold medicine bottles, colorful blotter tabs, and temporary tattoo pages.
References
http://www.well.com/user/woa/fshallu.htm
http://www.mydr.com.au/addictions/hallucinogens-what-are-they
http://www.about-mental-disorders.com/Hallucinogens.html
http://www.thegooddrugsguide.com/drug-types/types-of-hallucinogens.htm
http://www.psychpage.com/learning/library/assess/streetdrugs.htm
http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/lsd/street-names-for-lsd.html
http://www.drugfree.org/drug-guide/mushrooms
http://www.soberrecovery.com/alcoholdrugtreatment/article/drug-street-names/psilocybin.html
http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drugs_concern/ketamine/ketamine.htm
http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drugs_concern/pcp.htm
http://soberrecovery.com/articles/78.html
http://www.tripzine.com/listing.php?id=928
http://www.thecyn.com/club-drug-addiction/long-term-effects-lsd.html
http://www.addictions.org/lsd.htm
http://drugabuse.gov/infofacts/hallucinogens.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychedelic_experience
http://www.drugsno.com/identify-drug-abuse/lsd-hallucinogens-abuse/
Hanson, Glen R., Venturelli, Peter J. & Fleckenstein, Annette, E. (2012). Drugs and society (11th
ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones& Bartlett Learning.