Cassi Gatzke
Physiological Complications
Learning Plan 10
Hallucinogens
What are Hallucinogens? (About.com)
Hallucinogens are drugs that cause hallucinations. They are profound distortions in a
person’s perceptions of reality.
How do people act under the influence of this drug?
People see images, hear sounds, feel sensations that seem real but don’t exist, and
some produce rapid, intense emotional swings.
How do Hallucinogens work?
Hallucinogens get their effect by disrupting the interaction of nerve cells and
neurotransmitter serotonin. The serotonin system, distributed throughout the brain and
spinal cord, is involved in the control of behavioral, perceptual, and regulatory systems.
This includes mood, hunger, body temperature, sexual behavior, muscle control, and
sensory perception.
What are some types of Hallucinogens?
 LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide) (LSD)
o Street names: Acid, Blotter, Microdot, and Yellow Sunshine
o How it’s taken: Usually orally, but can be injected or inhaled
o High can last for 8-10 hours
o Not considered an addictive drug, but it is illegal to possess it in the United
States
 DMT (Dimethyltryptamine) (DMT)
o Street names: Businessman’s trip and Fantasia
o How it’s taken: Sniffed, smoked, and injected
o High can last for 45 minutes-one hour
o Not considered an addictive drug
 PCP (Phencyclidine) (PCP)
o Street names: Angel Dust, Supergrass, Killer Weed, Embalming Fluid, and Rocket
Fuel
o How it’s taken: White crystalline powder that dissolves in water
o High can last from 6-12 hours
o Is considered addictive and the U.S. DEA considers PCP one of the most
dangerous drugs of abuse. Can cause users to harm themselves.
Cassi Gatzke
Physiological Complications
Learning Plan 10
 Peyote & Mescaline (Peyote)
o Street names: Buttons, Mesc, and Peyote
o How they’re taken: Chewed or soaked in water to produce an intoxicating liquid
o High can last up to 12 hours
o Not considered addictive drugs, but they can cause a chemically induced model
of mental illness.
 Psilocybin (Psilocybin)
o Street names: Magic mushrooms or Shrooms
o How it’s taken: Eaten raw, cooked in food, brewed in tea, or dried and ingested
o High can last for 5-6 hours
o Not considered an addictive drug, but it is illegal to possess in the United States
What are some effects of Hallucinogens? (Effects)
 Physiological Effects
o Elevated heart rate
o Increased blood pressure
o Dilated pupils
 Sensory Effects
o Perceptual distortions that vary with dose
o Setting and mood
 Psychic Effects
o Disorders of thought associated with time and space
o Time may appear to stand still
o Forms and colors seem to change and take a new meaning
Works Cited
About.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/lsd/f/lsd_faq01.htm
DMT. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.pamf.org/teen/risk/drugs/hallucinogens/dmt.html
Effects. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.pamf.org/teen/risk/drugs/hallucinogens/
LSD. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.pamf.org/teen/risk/drugs/hallucinogens/lsd.html
PCP. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.pamf.org/teen/risk/drugs/hallucinogens/pcp.html
Peyote. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.pamf.org/teen/risk/drugs/hallucinogens/peyote.html
Psilocybin. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.pamf.org/teen/risk/drugs/hallucinogens/psilocybin.html
Cassi Gatzke
Physiological Complications
Learning Plan 10