Navigation: Hallucinogens Overview, Hallucinogens: Dependence and Addiction, Types of Hallucinogens: PCP, LSD, Mushrooms, Mescaline and Peyote, Bath Salts, GHB, Salvia divinorum
Psychoactive drugs are widely abused in the US. Also known as hallucinogens, psychoactive drugs, are substances with alarming side effects and a high potential for abuse. Hallucinogens are known for their mind-altering properties—which is why they are popular in recreational settings.
It is important to know all the different types so that people can take a more proactive approach in terms of avoiding these substances.
Hallucinogens Overview
People have been using psychoactive substances to alter their perception of reality for hundreds of years. There are many different kinds of mind-altering drugs that are prime targets for abuse across every demographic.
Because of their potential health risks, most of these drugs are illegal or heavily regulated. Any amount of use should be a cause for concern. Abuse of psychoactive drugs can cause serious harm not only to the user, but also to those around them. In fact, continued abuse can lead to physical and psychological addiction in some cases, which further affects other aspects of the person’s life.
Regardless of their legal status and perceived level of safety, it is important to keep in mind that all of these substances can cause a physical dependence if abused.
Hallucinogens: Dependence and Addiction
Addiction to hallucinogens is less common compared to other substances. But people can still develop physical and psychological dependence. Physical dependence is marked by tolerance to the drug. This means that the person needs to take larger doses to achieve the same high that they used to enjoy.
A psychological dependence is marked by cravings or the desire to take the drug more frequently to cope with stress or just for recreational purposes. Dependence is also recognized by the presence of withdrawal symptoms when stopping use.
A person may be dependent on a drug if they are going through extremes just to get it. They may start neglecting their responsibilities or avoiding their loved ones in favor of using the drug. They will begin to feel the need to take the drug more frequently, and their day will revolve around it.
Some people continue to use drugs even though they are already struggling with the consequences: this is a sign of addiction. Addiction to mind-altering substances is less common, but a person who gets addicted anyway may be suffering from other conditions, such as depression.
Types of Hallucinogens: PCP
PCP or Phencyclidine is a dissociative anesthetic that was discontinued for human use in 1965. When taken, the drug creates an “out of body” feeling. Coming down from PCP’s anesthetic effect can make people agitated and irrational.
When taken in high doses, PCP causes hallucinations, seizures, and coma. PCP-related fatalities often involve suicide or an accident of some kind, caused by their altered state of mind. Street names for PCP include angel dust, embalming fluid, killer weed, zoom, super grass, and peace pills.
Additionally, PCP is commonly used as an additive to many other street drugs such as LSD, methamphetamine, and marijuana to enhance their psychedelic effects. Recreational users of PCP typically snort, smoke, or inject the drug.
LSD
LSD, or lysergic acid diethylamide, is more commonly known as acid. It is a highly potent synthetic hallucinogen that is often abused by people in their late teens or early twenties as a “club drug” along the same lines as MDMA and ketamine.
However, LSD was originally used in psychiatric therapy and research. It was in the 1980s that its value as a therapeutic drug was largely debunked. Nowadays, LSD is a Schedule I drug, meaning it has no accepted medical use and is not considered safe to use, which is why it is heavily regulated.
LSD affects the neurotransmitter serotonin, which plays a part in the control of behavioral, perceptual, and regulatory systems. This is why a person who has taken LSD will experience hallucinogenic effects. They lose touch with reality and feel a “blending” of the senses.
Mushrooms
Magic mushrooms are mushrooms that contain psychedelic drugs psilocybin and psilocin. These substances are chemically similar to LSD.
Just like LSD, Psilocybin is classified as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. Psychedelic mushrooms can create effects ranging from impaired judgment to heightened sensory experiences. Users typically become unable to distinguish between reality and fantasy. “Bad trips” are fairly common and involve depression, frightening hallucinations, panic attacks, and terror.
Mescaline and Peyote
Peyote is a cactus containing a naturally psychedelic substance called mescaline. Peyote has been used in Native American tradition as one of the oldest psychedelic agents known. Its use played a central role in their culture, and the Native American Church was founded in 1918 to preserve their right to use the drug.
Mescaline has been suggested to be an effective treatment for depression and alcoholism. However, its negative effects outweigh the potential benefits in the eyes of the government, which is why it is a Schedule I drug.
The emotional and mental effects of mescaline may vary depending on the user’s body type, drug history, personality, and expectations for the experience. Users may feel a distorted sense of self while experiencing altered perception of space and time. Just like other hallucinogens, mescaline can make users lose their sense of reality while seeing vivid mental images.
Bath Salts
Bath salts are concoctions made of synthetic stimulants—therefore they don’t have a specific chemical makeup. Each batch of bath salts may vary slightly, with the primary ingredient being a man-made form of cathinone.
Many drug labs slightly alter the drug’s chemical makeup to bypass federal regulation of the substances—which further adds to the inconsistency of its chemical makeup.
In 2012, bath salts were at the center of many bizarre and disturbing incidents. The most publicized example was a 31-year old Miami man who attacked a homeless man by ripping his clothes off and chewing on the victim’s face. Other emergency room visits involving bath salts saw users claiming to have seen demons and monsters.
GHB
GHB or Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid is found in human cells and synthesized for its intoxicating and sedative effects. It works as a central nervous system depressant, meaning large doses of this drug can slow down heart rate and breathing to the point of failure.
The most commonly reported side effects of GHB use include euphoria, sleepiness, disorientation, loss of coordination and decreased heart rate.
Salvia divinorum
This is a psychoactive plant that can induce visions and hallucinations. It is sometimes referred to as Safe of the Seers, or the Diviner’s Sage. It can produce a sensation of traveling through time and flying or floating above the ground.
Other physical effects include dizziness, chills, nausea, and loss of coordination. Salvia divinorum is currently legal in the United States.
If someone in the family is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, it is important to seek help. A combination of medical detox and behavioral therapy can go a long way in the fight against substance abuse. But because every individual is affected by addiction differently, a comprehensive program tailored to their specific needs is necessary. Look for a nearby addiction treatment facility today and find out how drug treatment programs work.
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