Download hallucinogens fact sheet

Patricia Beier
Fact Sheet on Hallucinogens
Moraine Park Technical College
Jerry Van Kirk, M.Div., Th.M., ICS
Hallucinogenic substances are characterized by their ability to cause changes in a person's
perception of reality. Persons using hallucinogenic drugs often report seeing images,
hearing sounds, and feeling sensations that seem real, but do not exist. In the past, plants
and fungi that contained hallucinogenic substances were abused. Currently, these
hallucinogenic substances are produced synthetically to provide a higher potency.
LSD: (lysergic acid diethylamide) is one of the major drugs making up the hallucinogen
class of drugs. It was discovered in 1938 and is manufactured from lysergic acid, which
is found in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains.
LSD binds to and activates a specific receptor for the neurotransmitter, serotonin.
Normally, serotonin binds to and activates its receptors and then is taken back up into the
neuron that released it. In contrast, LSD binds very tightly to the serotonin receptor,
causing a greater than normal activation of the receptor. Because serotonin has a role in
many of the brain’s functions, activation of its receptors by LSD produces widespread
effects, including rapid emotional swings, and altered perceptions, and if taken in a large
enough dose, delusions and visual hallucinations.
PCP: (phencyclidine) was developed in the 1950s as an intravenous anesthetic, but its
use in humans was discontinued in 1965, because patients often became agitated,
delusional, and irrational while recovering from its anesthetic effects. PCP is now being
illegally manufactured in laboratories. It is a white crystalline powder that is readily
soluble in water or alcohol. It has a distinctive bitter chemical taste. PCP can be mixed
easily with dyes and turns up on the illicit drug market in a variety of tablets, capsules,
and colored powders. It can be snorted, smoked, or ingested. For smoking, PCP is often
applied to a leafy material such as mint, parsley, oregano, or marijuana.
PCP, which is not a true hallucinogen, can affect many neurotransmitter systems. It
interferes with the functioning of the neurotransmitter, glutamate, which is found
in neurons throughout the brain. Like many other drugs, it also causes dopamine to be
released from neurons into the synapse. At low to moderate doses, PCP causes altered
perception of body image, but rarely produces visual hallucinations. PCP can also cause
effects that mimic the primary symptoms of schizophrenia, such as delusions and mental
turmoil. People who use PCP for long periods of time have memory loss and speech
difficulties.
Peyote: is a small, spineless cactus, Lophophora williamsii, whose principal active
ingredient is the hallucinogen mescaline (3, 4, 5-trimethoxyphenethylamine). From
earliest recorded time, peyote has been used by natives in northern Mexico and the
southwestern United States as a part of their religious rites.
The top of the cactus above ground--also referred to as the crown--consists of discshaped buttons that are cut from the roots and dried. These buttons are generally chewed
or soaked in water to produce an intoxicating liquid. The hallucinogenic dose of
mescaline is about 0.3 to 0.5 grams and lasts about 12 hours. While peyote produced rich
visual hallucinations that were important to the native peyote cults, the full spectrum of
effects served as a chemically induced model of mental illness. Mescaline can be
extracted from peyote or produced synthetically. Both peyote and mescaline are listed in
the CSA as Schedule I hallucinogens.
Psilocybin: is obtained from certain mushrooms found in South America, Mexico, and
the U.S, although the substance can also be produced synthetically. Mushrooms
containing psilocybin are available fresh or dried with long, narrow stems topped by caps
with dark gills on the underside. These mushrooms are usually ingested orally, but can
also be brewed in a tea or added to food to mask the bitter flavor. Once ingested,
psilocybin is broken down in the user's body to produce psilocyn, another hallucinogenic
substance. Mescaline is the active hallucinogenic ingredient in peyote. Peyote is a small,
spineless cactus historically used by natives in Mexico and the southwestern U.S. as part
of religious rites. Mescaline can also be produced synthetically.
DMT: is found in a number of plants and seeds, but can also be produced synthetically.
DMT is usually ingested by snorting, smoking, or injecting the drug. DMT is not
effective in producing hallucinogenic effects when ingested by itself and is therefore used
in conjunction with another drug that inhibits its metabolism.
Foxy: also know as Foxy Methoxy, is available in powder, capsule, and tablet form and
is usually ingested orally (although it can be snorted or smoked). Foxy capsules and
tablets vary in color and logos sometimes appear on tablets. AMT is often found in tablet
and capsule form.
Dextromethorphan: (sometimes called "DXM" or "robo") is a cough-suppressing
ingredient in a variety of over-the-counter cold and cough medications. At the doses
recommended for treating coughs, the drug is safe and effective. At much higher doses,
dextromethorphan produces dissociative effects similar to those of PCP and ketamine.
LSD is synthetically made.

Psilocybin is found naturally in several types of magic mushrooms. Other trees,
seeds and fungi also have hallucinogenic potential.

PCP (Phencyclidine) is an anaesthetic now only used on animals

Ketamine is an anaesthetic used on both humans and animals

Mescaline can be naturally extracted from peyote cactus, or manufactured
synthetically

Ecstasy\MDMA and Cannabis can also be a hallucinogen in high doses
What does it look like?
LSD: Most common form is squares of gelatine or blotting paper. It can also be liquid
form, tablets, capsules or white powder (at its most pure)
Psilocybin: Appear like dried mushrooms or even powdered into capsules. Synthetically
made Psilocybin is a white crystalline powder placed inside capsules, tablets or dissolved
in liquid
PCP (Phencyclidine) White powder (at its most pure) but generally coloured powder,
capsules or pills
Ketamine: A white crystalline powder, placed in pills, tablets or dissolved in liquid
Mescaline: White crystalline powder (at its most pure). Synthetically made as various
colours of powder and capsules
Street Names

LSD is known as acid, trips, microdots, dots, blotters, mellow or tabs may be
named according to the design on the blotting paper e.g. a picture of a yellow star
would attract the name, “yellow stars”

Mushrooms can be called their common botanical names, magic mushrooms,
shrooms, magics, blue meanies, liberty caps, golden tops, mushies

PCP: angel dust, peace pill

Ketamine: Special K, K, ket, kitkat, super K
How They Are Taken?

LSD: Swallowed, sniffed, injected or smoked. As a liquid it can be rubbed onto
the skin.

Psilocybin: Mushrooms can be eaten as they are, used in food recipes, or brewed
in tea

PCP: Swallowed, snorted, injected or smoked

Ketamine: Swallowed, snorted, injected or smoked

Mescaline: Usually swallowed. Also chewed or smoked
How They Work
Hallucinogens affect the central nervous system to drastically alter a user’s sensory
perception
Why Is It Taken? (Desired Side Effects)
• Drastic change in sensory perception
• Distorted sense of visuals, auditory, body, time and space
• Altered perception of oneself
• Hallucinations
• Relaxation
• Happiness and Satisfaction
• Euphoria
Unwanted Side Effects

Increased rapid heart beat

Higher blood pressure

Agitation

Increased body temperature and sweating may lead to chills

Bad hallucinations

Panic attacks

Anxiety

Paranoia

Flashbacks after use
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Dizziness

Impaired coordination

Nausea and vomiting
Bad Trips

The negative unwanted side effects of hallucinogens can result in what are
commonly known as “bad trips”

Many or all of the unwanted side effects can overwhelm a user all at once causing
them to experience severe panic and bad hallucinations

This can all lead to dangerous and risky behavior

The effects generally wear off when the drug wears off but in some cases it can
continue for some time afterwards
Long Term Side Effects
Flashbacks

Are the most common long term effects associated with hallucinogens

Are moments where the effects of the drug are experienced and this can occur
years after use

They can last for a few minutes and can either be pleasant or uneasy

They are usually visual perhaps involving colors and hallucinations
Long term use of hallucinogens could impair memory and other brain functions
Personality and mood changes in people have occurred
Drug-induced psychosis involving hallucinations and delusional behavior can occur,
lasting up to several hours.
Withdrawal
Effects of withdrawal from hallucinogens have not been clearly established because these
drugs do not seem to be physically addictive. They may, however, be psychologically
addictive because users feel emotionally dependent on taking them.
Overdose and Death

Taking large doses of hallucinogens may result in more intense unwanted side
effects

LSD, Mescaline and Magic Mushrooms have not been directly responsible for
deaths. The rare fatalities that have involved the drugs have been a result of
accidents, behavior or plant poisoning.

Taking extremely large doses of PCP and Ketamine can result in coma, seizures,
respiratory arrest and ultimately, death
PREGNANCY
The use of hallucinogens seems to be linked to an increased risk of miscarriage. There
may also be a higher incidence of birth defects among babies born to women using
hallucinogens.
Addiction and Dependency

There have been no reported cases of physical dependency or withdrawal
symptoms from hallucinogens. It is however possible to become psychologically
dependent, using hallucinogens to function optimally, perhaps in social situations.

Frequent use of hallucinogens is not so common, users generally taking the drugs
sporadically with generous time periods between. This is because the experience
can be extremely intense with a long recovery period.
Reference
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/DrugFact/hallucinogens/hallucinogens_ff.html
http://www.ceida.net.au/hallucinogens/
http://www.drugfreeatlast.com/hallucinogens.html
http://www.ctclearinghouse.org/topics/customer-files/hallucinogens-the-brains-responseto-drugs.pdf
http://www.egetgoing.com/drug_rehab/hallucinogens.asp
http://www.justice.gov/dea/concern/peyote.html