Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens are a category of drugs that produce delusory perceptions. They can be natural or synthetic and come in a variety of forms. Some common hallucinogens are LSD, PCP, peyote and psilocybin. More research needs to be done to discover exactly how hallucinogens produce their effects. It is known, however, that most hallucinogens are similar to naturally occurring neurotransmitters. These drugs interfere with the normal action of the body’s neurotransmitters or receptors, resulting in hallucinations and altered perceptions.
History of LSD
LSD is one of the most commonly used hallucinogens in the United States. It was discovered in Switzerland in 1938 by a chemist working for Sandoz Pharmaceutical. When its hallucinogenic effects were discovered five years later (because the chemist accidentally ingested some) it was then discovered that its properties were similar to chemicals occurring naturally in the brain. Further research brought to light LSD’s ability to produce a state of mind similar to psychosis. This made the drug useful to certain individuals carrying out experimentation on human behavior.
The military viewed LSD as a potential weapon. It could be used to interfere with the thinking and decision making of enemy operatives. The government viewed it as potentially useful. Groups were infiltrated and samples of the drug were handed out to research the potential of LSD as a tool to alter personalities and control populations. It was officially banned in the United States in 1967, but by that time LSD had become a popular street drug.
How LSD is Made
LSD is created from lysergic acid, which is found in mold that grows on grains. It comes in crystal or liquid form. It may also be taken as a capsule, added to absorbent paper and then ingested by placing the paper on your tongue, or in many other forms such as gelatin squares or small tablets.
A person under the influence of LSD will experience a period of time called a “trip” in which reality seems altered and hallucinations can occur. Their emotions will undergo wild swings, or they may experience many emotions all at once. It can even seem to short circuit a person’s senses, so that they think they are seeing sounds or tasting colors. The mental effects of LSD are unpredictable. A user could experience a “good” trip, but could just as easily experience a bad one in which their thoughts are out of control, their hallucinations are terrifying, and there seems to be no escape.
LSD Flashbacks
Flashbacks are a problem for LSD users. A flashback is when a user re-experiences the effects of the drug even though they haven’t taken it again. Flashbacks can happen at any time, even months or years after the last time LSD was taken. This makes it hard for an LSD user to hold down a job or succeed in social relationships. When experiencing a flashback their behavior will be erratic and disruptive to normal activity.
Other Widely-Used Hallucinogens
PCP
PCP is another common hallucinogen. It is a bitter, white crystalline powder, but can be dissolved in a liquid or taken in tablet form. It can also be smoked or snorted. PCP was originally created as an anesthetic, but it was banned in 1965 because of the detrimental mental affects it had on patients as they were recovering from its administration.
Once taken, the effects of PCP usually last 4 to 6 hours. These effects include a distortion of the senses and a feeling of dissociation (being disconnected from the world around you and from yourself.) Side effects include delusions, mood disturbances, memory loss, difficulty thinking, and depression, among others. Unlike LSD, which is not generally considered addictive, PCP brings on cravings and leads to more and more abuse.
Peyote
Peyote is a hallucinogen, which is derived from the disk-shaped “buttons” that form a peyote cactus. They are harvested, then dried and either chewed or steeped in a liquid which is then consumed. Mescaline, the active ingredient in peyote, causes effects that have been described as similar to LSD. People who use peyote can experience flashbacks.
It should be noted that peyote has been used by Native Americans in religious ceremonies for centuries without documented cases of adverse mental reactions. This is potentially due to the difference between using something in a religious ceremony versus using it repeatedly for recreational purposes.
Some of the side effects of abusing peyote include an increased heart rate, trouble controlling the body, and extreme sweating.
Psilocybin
Psilocybin, otherwise known as “magic mushrooms,” is also similar to LSD. It causes hallucinations and the inability to determine what is real and what is not. Psilocybin can cause nausea, weakness, panic, psychosis, and other effects. Users report that their sense of time is altered while under the influence of psilocybin. Long-term use may cause psychological problems. Flashbacks have been reported in users. When using psilocybin, there is always a risk of poisoning, because other poisonous mushrooms many be mistakenly identified as “magic mushrooms.”
The Impact of Hallucinogens
In the United States alone, there are an estimated 1.1 million people over the age of 12 who have used hallucinogens in the past year. LSD is the most prevalent hallucinogen, with 24.8 million people who admit to using it in their lifetime. Compare this to the 6.5 million people who reported using PCP in their lifetime (with 90,000 users within the past year.) The facts are less clear when it comes to peyote and psilocybin use because of a lack of substantiated data. Studies of drug abuse do not often include these two drugs.
Hallucinogens can have long lasting effects upon a person’s mind and body. Treatment is sometimes needed for a person who is experiencing a bad trip. There is a danger that they may hurt themselves or someone else, so it is important to get help for a person you suspect may have taken a hallucinogen. Some facilities exist for the treatment of the effects of hallucinogens, but the treatment mainly consists of providing an environment with as little sensory stimuli as possible while the effects of the drug slowly wear off.
Hallucinogens, like any other type of drug, cause trouble in a person’s life and result in a worsened state, not a bettered one. Even people who claim to reach higher levels of awareness through LSD can’t predict when the drug will suddenly turn on them, sending them into a terrifying altered reality that they can’t escape from. The risks are not worth the rewards. There have been many reported cases of users who overdosed on LSD and never came back to reality, spending the rest of their days in a state of psychosis.
The best solution to hallucinogen abuse is preventing its use in the first place. Effective education campaigns should be sought out and utilized in schools to inform young people of the dangers of drug use, stopping it before it even begins. An informed person is less likely to abuse drugs of any sort, including hallucinogens, because they are aware of the damage they could be doing to their mind and body. They need factual data to counteract what they may be hearing from their uninformed peers. The first person who talks to a child about drugs should be a parent or educator, not a user and definitely not a dealer. With effective education, worldwide drug trends can be reversed, and mankind can move away from its dependence on chemical substances.
