Hallucinogens are drugs that alter a person’s awareness of their surroundings as well as their thoughts and feelings. They can cause hallucinations, hence the name, or sensations and images that appear to be real but are not real. It is a dissociative drug that causes its users to feel out of control or disconnected from their body or environment.
Some are extracted from plants or mushrooms and some are man-made. In history, these drugs have been used for religion or healing rituals, but over time people have started using them recreationally. Hallucinogens are typically split into classic hallucinogens and dissociative drugs.
LSD/Acid
This is one of the most powerful mind-altering chemicals. Lysergic acid diethylamide, also known as acid, is a clear white odorless material made from lysergic acid found in a fungus that grows on rye and other grains. It was originally used in psychiatric therapy and research, but its use as a therapeutic drug was debunked in the 1980s. LSD affects the neurotransmitter serotonin which involves control of behavioral, perceptual, and regulatory systems in the body. An LSD user loses touch with reality, has visions and their senses are blended.
Mushrooms
These mushrooms contain the psychedelic drug psilocybin and psilocin, which are chemically similar to LSD, so the effects are similar. Also referred to as magic mushrooms, they can cause a heightened sensory experience, impaired judgment, and inability to distinguish between reality and fantasy. Bad trips are common with the use of magic mushrooms and those include terrifying hallucinations, depression, panic attacks, and terror.
Peyote And Mescaline
This is a naturally occurring psychedelic substance found in the peyote cactus and has been used in Native American tradition. It has been suggested to effectively treat depression and alcoholism, but the side effects of this drug are dependent on the user’s body time, personality, drug history, and expectations for the experience. Those side effects include a distorted sense of body, vivid mental images, altered space, altered perception of time, and loss of a sense of reality.
PCP
Phencyclidine was developed in the 1950s as a general anesthetic for surgery, but due to its serious side effects, it is no longer used for that reason. This drug creates an “out of body” feeling. It is commonly added to other street drugs like LSD and methamphetamine to enhance its psychedelic effects. It can cause hallucinations, seizures, and coma. Deaths caused by PCP are commonly caused by the user committing suicide or having an accident due to their altered state of consciousness.
Ketamine
This drug is used as a surgery anesthetic for humans and animals and is commonly referred to as the date-rape drug. It comes in a powder or pill form but it can also be an injectable liquid. It can either be snorted or added to a drink.
If you are someone you love is abusing hallucinogens, seeking help and contacting our facility is a great first step. We have a 24-hour confidential helpline that you can call.