What are Hallucinogens?

Hallucinogens are a class of drugs that cause changes in sensory perception, shifts in mood, and visual or auditory hallucinations. They might also be referred to as psychedelic drugs. Examples of hallucinogenic drugs include lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin mushrooms (magic mushrooms), ketamine, MDMA, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and more.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 7.4 million people in the United States reported abusing hallucinogenic drugs in 2021.[1]

The effects of hallucinogens can vary depending on the specific drug being abused. For example, LSD can cause intense hallucinations while MDMA is associated with feelings of empathy and slight changes in sensory perception.

Addiction to psychedelics comes with a variety of risks. You could have a bad trip, worsen a pre-existing mental health condition, or develop something known as hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPPD). It is also possible to overdose on certain types of psychedelic drugs if you take them in high doses.

What are Hallucinogenic Drugs?

Hallucinogenic drugs cause psychedelic effects like feeling disconnected from your body, sensory changes, shifts in mood, and hallucinations. They alter a person’s reality in a variety of ways. Hallucinogens work by disrupting the connection between different chemical networks in your body, like the serotonin receptor.

While the effects of psychedelic drugs can vary depending on what substance you are using, most of them cause side effects like:[2]

• Changes in sensory perception like touch, sight, smell, and hearing
• Altered patterns of thought and mood
• Changes in the way you perceive yourself and your environment
• Visual and auditory hallucinations
• Changes in heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure, and breathing
• Impaired thought processes that lead to impulsive or risky behaviors
• Confusion, paranoia, and delusional thinking
• Increased empathy or heightened emotions
• Feeling detached from your surroundings or disconnected from your body

Some people might have good experiences when they take psychedelics. However, it is possible to experience something known as a “bad trip.”

For example, a psychedelic drug could cause you to feel paranoid, anxious, and scared. You might have frightening hallucinations and experience intense negative emotions. Some people suggest that bad trips are more likely to occur when you take a drug in a negative state of mind or in an unfamiliar environment.

Types of Hallucinogens

There are several different types of psychedelic drugs, including:

• Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) – This substance is derived from rye and other grains. It can cause intense hallucinations, heightened emotions, and changes in sensory perceptions. The effects of LSD can last for up to 12 hours.

• Mescaline – Mescaline naturally occurs and is the mind-altering ingredient found in peyote. It causes effects similar to LSD and psilocybin. The effects of mescaline can last for up to 8 hours.

• Psilocybin Mushrooms (Shrooms) – Psilocybin mushrooms are naturally occurring fungi that can lead to hallucinations when consumed. The hallucinations experienced are often derived from things in reality. For example, you might see a person’s face begin to melt or think you can see the fibers of a blanket moving. The effects of shrooms can last for up to 6 hours.

• Phencyclidine (PCP) – PCP is a dissociative hallucinogenic drug. It can cause effects like impaired coordination, slurred speech, dissociation, hallucinations, increased energy, and paranoia. The effects can last for up to 4 to 8 hours.

• Ecstasy (MDMA) – Ecstasy or MDMA is a stimulant and a psychedelic. It can increase energy, heighten feelings of empathy, and cause slight hallucinations or changes in sensory perception. The effects can last for 4 to 6 hours.

• Ketamine – Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that was originally used by veterinarians. Now it is used in small doses to treat certain mental health conditions. When abused, you might experience a detachment from reality, slight hallucinations, and changes in sensory perception. The effects usually last about an hour.

• Salvia Divinorum – Salvia is a plant that belongs to the sage family. It can produce effects like intense hallucinations and dramatic time distortions. It lasts for 20 minutes if smoked and 2 hours if chewed.

• Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) – DMT is a psychoactive substance found in some plants and created in a laboratory. It causes extremely intense hallucinations that only last for a short time. People describe the effects of DMT as a near-death experience.

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Risks of Abusing Psychedelics

While some people describe the effects of hallucinogens as a spiritual experience, it is not always enjoyable. You could experience a bad trip, which is characterized by adverse reactions like feelings of fear, scary hallucinations, and more.

Other adverse side effects of psychedelics include:

• Insomnia
• Fast heart rate and chest pains
• Anxiety or paranoia
• Excessive sweating
• Nausea and vomiting
• Symptoms of psychosis

If you abuse psychedelic drugs consistently, you could develop hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPPD).[3] This condition causes you to experience hallucinations even when you are not under the influence of a drug. Unfortunately, it requires long-term medication to manage the symptoms of HPPD.

There is also a risk of experiencing impulsive behavior while under the influence of a psychedelic drug. You could engage in dangerous behaviors like driving, jumping from tall buildings, or other activities that could result in serious injury.

Lastly, while some hallucinogens do not cause addiction, others do. You could become addicted to drugs like ketamine or MDMA. If you have a hard time controlling how much of a substance you abuse, you should seek treatment for hallucinogen addiction.

Find Help for Hallucinogen Abuse and Addiction

If you or a loved one abuse psychedelic drugs, it’s time to seek professional help. Drug rehab centers like The South Carolina Addiction Treatment Center can offer the tools and support you need to recover. We offer a combination of medical detox, evidence-based behavioral therapies, and relapse prevention planning.

South Carolina Addiction Treatment is a state-licensed and CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) accredited substance abuse treatment facility. We are a dual-diagnosis facility with a primary focus on substance abuse. We offer individualized, extended-term treatment in an intimate setting located in Greenville / Simpsonville, SC.

Contact us today for more information on our hallucinogen rehab center.

References:

1. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): Psychedelic and Dissociative Drugs
2. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA): Hallucinogens
3. Frontiers: The “Endless Trip” among the NPS Users