Hallucinogens: A Brief Introduction

Like other illicit drugs, hallucinogens affect the brain and cause hallucinations. Hallucinogens can be either organic or they can be man-made. Hallucinogens include drugs such as Psilocybin, LSD, Ketamine, Phencyclidine, Mescaline, Ecstasy/MDMA, and Cannabis. These are the formal names of these drugs. 

Magic Mushrooms

Psilocybin, a hallucinogen, is better known as magic mushrooms or shrooms for short. These are organic dried mushrooms that can be eaten, used in recipes, or brewed in tea. Magic mushrooms will impair bodily functions and reflexes but it also impairs behavior and distorts perception. It causes hallucinations, it alters time and makes it very difficult for the user to distinguish reality from fantasy. It can also cause panic and psychosis. 

LSD 

Better known on the streets as Acid, Bart Simpson, microdots, window panes, or paper, this hallucinogen comes in squares of a gelatin form or blotter paper, most commonly. It is usually swallowed. LSD causes the user to have hallucinations, alteration of time and can cause terror, panic, and extreme agitation. 

Phencyclidine

Phencyclidine is angel dust, Embalming Fluid, Wack and PCP on the streets. This hallucinogen is generally a white or colored powder but can come in capsules. Most people swallow this drug but some do snort, smoke, or inject it as well. Angel dust causes the user to feel very disconnected from reality, a distortion in vision, aggressiveness, and psychotic episodes. 

Ketamine

Ketamine goes by the street names of Special K, jet, K, or Vitamin K. It comes in a white powder that is crystal like. Some dealers will use this powder to make capsules. This hallucinogen can be taken orally, snorted, smoked, or injected. The effects of Ketamine include visual distortions, distorted time and senses, a loss of one’s self, euphoria, loss of taste and smell, confusion, numbness in the limbs, and sense of touch is heightened. 

Mescaline

Usually on the streets Mescaline, a hallucinogen, is a tiny micro dot pill that is swallowed. One who uses mescaline may experience symptoms of visual hallucination, euphoria, vomiting, headache, dizziness, anxiety, panic or irrational thinking. 

Ecstasy/MDMA

Ecstasy or MDMA is more commonly known on the streets as E, X, Adam, or clarity. This hallucinogen comes in a tablet form that can take on many different looks. Usually the tablet will have an imprint on it with some type of logo such as a smiley face or a cartoon character. Ecstasy is usually swallowed. It makes the user feel empathetic and accepted, surroundings are clouded and unreal, time is distorted, a lack of concentration, a loss of boundaries, and sexual heightening. 

Cannabis

Cannabis, much more commonly known as weed, pot, or ganja on the streets is actually considered to be a hallucinogen. Parts of the cannabis plant are generally smoked but can also be used in recipes or brewed in tea. This causes the user to feel euphoria, relaxed, it impairs memory, impairs motor control, and can cause anxiety and panic. 

Man Made

This group of drugs, which are classified as hallucinogens can cause the user to display behavior that often mirrors schizophrenia. The exact results depend on many variables including how much of the substance is taken. Even more dangerous is the fact that these drugs are synthetic hallucinogens. This means that no one really knows what is in them because they are created in man-made labs and have no regulation whatsoever. This fact can increase the side effects that can include coma, heart failure, lung collapse, or convulsions. 

Big Risks

Since no one can accurately predict the real outcome of taking a hallucinogen it is also very possible and even probable that a user will do things that they would not do normally. Hallucinogens affect senses and motor skills so operating a vehicle could very well result in a traffic fatality. Other accidents are known to happen too such as drowning or falls. The reason for this unpredictable behavior is that hallucinogens tamper with the communication system within the brain by disrupting neurotransmitters and neurons.  

Call KLEAN 

There has been an increase in hallucinogen abuse recently. This could be because of the new and growing fad of designer drugs. Hallucinogen abuse must be handled promptly and professionally. At KLEAN Treatment Center there are affiliated physicians who specialize in detox and treating hallucinogen abuse. Call for help before it is too late!