Chapter 6
Hallucinogens.
Hallucinogens (also called hallucinogenic drugs or psychedelics) are drugs that cause sensory distortions (mainly seeing and hearing things that do not exist in reality) and hallucinations. Hallucinations are perceptions a person may have in the absence of sensation that are confused with reality. The most widely used hallucinogen is LSD, or acid. Hallucinogens are a diverse group of substances including lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), phenylalkylamines (mescaline, STP), MDMA, also called Ecstasy, and DMT. Hallucinogens are usually taken orally, although DMT is smoked, and use by injection does occur. LSD ("acid?) is a synthetic hallucinogenic drug. Some users of acid claim that it expands consciousness and opens up new worlds to them. Sometimes people believe they have achieved great insights while using LSD, but when it wears off, they do not seem able to apply or recall these discoveries. As a powerful hallucinogenic, LSD produces vivid and colourful hallucinations. Some LSD users experience flashbacks- distorted perceptions or hallucinations that mimic the LSD trip, but occur days, weeks, or longer after usage. High doses may induce frightening hallucinations, impaired coordination, poor judgement, mood changes, and paranoid delusions. As in all drugs, tolerance occurs with the use of psychedelics. And with hallucinogens, tolerance occurs rapidly due to its euphoric and hallucinogenic effects. Hallucinogen use is often limited to only a few times a week. Again, as with all drugs, craving after stopping hallucinogens is well-documented. Hallucinogens may continue to be used despite the knowledge of adverse effects (for example, bad trips, which are usually panic reactions or flashbacks). Some individuals who use MDMA (Ecstasy) experience a hangover the day after use that is characterized by insomnia, fatigue, drowsiness, sore jaw-muscles from teeth clenching, loss of balance and headaches. Because substitutes are often sold as acid or other hallucinogens, some of these effects may be due to other substances mixed in such as PCP or amphetamine.
Some individuals can manifest dangerous behavioural reactions such as jumping out of a window under the belief that they can fly, due to lack of insight and judgement while intoxicated. These kinds of effects appear to be more common among those who have pre-existing mental disorders. Individuals who misuse hallucinogens may or may not become dependent on them. However, whatever the level of dependence, hallucinogenic intoxication has negative consequences on the user's social life, causing interpersonal problems due to the user's behaviour while intoxicated, isolated lifestyle, or arguments with friends or relatives. Additionally, they may repeatedly fail to fulfil major obligations at school, work or at home. The essential feature of hallucinogenic intoxication is the presence of maladaptive behavioural or psychological changes (for example, anxiety or depression, fear of losing one's mind, paranoia) that develop during or shortly after (within minutes or a few hours) hallucinogen use. Perceptual changes are a central part of intoxication, occurring while awake and alert. These include depersonalization, losing sense of what is real, illusions and hallucinations. Physical symptoms also develop such as tachycardia, sweating, palpitations, blurred vision and tremors. Hallucinogen intoxication usually begins with some stimulant effects such as restlessness and nausea. A sequence of experiences then follows, with higher doses producing more intense symptoms. Feelings of euphoria may alternate rapidly with depression, fearfulness or anxiety so intense that there is a dread of insanity or death. Initial visual illusions or enhanced sensory experience may give way to hallucinations. At low doses, the perceptual changes frequently do not include hallucinations. Synsesthesias (a blending of senses) may result in sounds being seen. The hallucinations are usually visual, for example, figures, persons and objects. In most cases, the individual knows that the effects are substance induced. As we mentioned earlier flashbacks occur in long-term use of hallucinogens. These may include images, flashes of colour, intensified colours, trailing images (images left suspended in the path of a moving object), after-images (a shadow of an object remaining after removal of the object), and halos around objects. These usually subside after several months but can last longer. It is often the case that the person realizes that these are due to the drug and does not represent external reality, if this is not the case, the individual will likely be suffering from a psychotic disorder. The drug group hallucinogens may be used as part of established religious practices. It appears that it is three times more common among males than among females with use starting in adolescence, with younger users tending to experience more disruptive emotions. The two most commonly used hallucinogens are LSD and MDMA (Ecstasy). Ecstasy pills can lead to death from dehydration because the user is continuously on edge through buckets of energy (usually dancing for hours on end).
