Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens are groups of drugs that differ from one another in chemical structure but generally cause changes in one’s thoughts, moods, or perceptions. Although these drugs do not always cause hallucinations, they usually do change thought processes and mood.

For many centuries, the use of hallucinogenics has been incorporated into or is a vital part of mystical or religious practices in many cultures. The ancient Aztecs used a natural product called teotlaqualli to eliminate fear in soldiers and to enhance a priest’s mental state to one better able to serve the culture’s gods. The Hindu holy book mentions a mushroom called soma that induced hallucinations. Mexican people and Native Americans used peyote, or mescaline, in religious ceremonies.

Albert Hoffman, a Swiss chemist, accidentally discovered the mind-altering attributes of lysergic acid diethylamide in 1938 and developed the first synthetic hallucinogenic drug LSD 25. When first marketed to psychiatrists in 1947, the drug was named Delysid and was used as a means of access to a patient’s repressed emotions. LSD was used by the CIA in America as an interrogation tool and as a potentially mind-controlling drug. LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide) became illegal in 1966 and is listed today as a Schedule 1 drug, one without any medical use and with a potential for high abuse. Since there are so many kinds of drugs that can cause changes in perception, they have been grouped according to their chemical structures. The five main groups are lysergamides, phenylethylamines, piperidines, indolealklamines, and cannabinols.

LSD and lysergic acid hydroxyethylamide (found in morning glory seeds) are included in the lysergamides group. Commonly sold as gelatin squares, tiny tablets or liquid-impregnated blotter paper, LSD hasn’t had any deaths associated with it. It is known by more than 80 street names such as acid, blaze, sid, sugar cubes, star and lucy. Lysergamides affect serotonin and dopamine receptors in the brain. Sound distortions, hallucinations, diminished sense of reality, and a sense of clarity are the effects of the drug. Occasionally, negative side effects like paranoia, panic reactions, or severe anxiety occur. Those with undiagnosed schizophrenia may develop acute psychosis. Other rare negative symptoms include flashbacks that may occur months to years after ingestion. Physical symptoms can include increased heart rate, temperature, and blood pressure, as well as dilated pupils.

Phenylethylamine derivatives like mescaline and several hallucinatory amphetamines have been used in Shamanic rituals for centuries. Due to the high cost of the peyote buttons as well as attempts to avoid the US Drug Enforcement Agency, a product called PCP (Phenylcyclidine, a piperidine) began to be substituted, along with other “designer drugs” that imitated the action of the peyote. These drugs include Ecstasy, which can cause permanent mood disorders and neural disease.

The piperidines include PCP and ketamine, both dissociative anesthetic and analgesic agents. PCP was found to produce unpredictable and bizarre effects. Among those negative effects, risk of death was higher than with other hallucinogens, not only from its effects on the sympathetic nervous system, but also because its dissociative nature permitted self-induced injury because pain was not perceived. Ketamine, though similar to PCP, is currently used as a dissociative anesthetic and is called “Special K.” It too is commonly abused.

The indolealkylamines include two mushrooms often grown on cow dung. They act on the serotonin receptors and produce fewer adverse reactions than LSD. Hallucinations are common among this group that includes psilocybin, psilocin, DMT and butotenine.

Cannabinols, or marijuana, contains psychoactive ingredients, but rarely produces hallucinations unless laced with other drugs.

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