Any substance or a group of substance that alter consciousness; also

called psychotomimetic (mimicking psychosis) mind expanding or

psychedelic drug. The group includes mescaline or peyote which comes
from the cactus, and LSD synthesized from lysergic acid found in the
fungus claviceps purpurea. These alkaloids have also been produced
synthetically. Hallucinogens such as PCP (Phencyclidine or angel dust) a
drug originally used as an anesthetic, and MDMA (ecstasy) an
amphetamine derivative were common in 1980’s. Marijuana has
hallucinogenic properties but is pharmacologically distinct.
Hallucinogens have been used by centuries by certain people. The
Hindus and Aztecs used them to facilitate medication, cure illness and
enhance mystical powers. Many North American people still use
hallucinogenic mushrooms and peyote in tribal rituals.
Hallucinogen is any one of a large number of natural or synthetic
psychoactive drugs that produced marked distortions of the senses and
changes in perception. Hallucinogens generally alter the way time is
perceived, making it appear to slow down.
 I.Introduction
A preparation made from the dried flower clusters and
leaves of the cannabis plant is usually smoked or eaten to
induce euphoria.
Marijuana drug is obtained from the flowering tops, stems
and leaves of the hemp plant. Cannabis sativa or the latter
species can withstand colder climates.
It is one of the most commonly used drugs in the world
following only caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol beverages in
popularity.
In the United States, where it is usually smoked, it also has
been called weed, grass, pot or reefer.
II. History of Marijuana
 It was described in a Chinese medical compendium
traditionally considered to date from 2737 BC. Its use spread
from China to India and then North Africa and reached
Europe at least as early as 500 BC.
 A major crop in colonial North America, marijuana (hemp)
was grown as a source of fiber. It was exclusively cultivated
during World War II, when Asian sources of hemp were cut
off.
 Marijuana was listed in the United States Pharmacopoeia
from 1850 until 1942 and was prescribed for various
conditions including labor pains, nausea and rheumatism.
 1950’s – it was an accessory of the beat generation.
 1960’s – it was used by college students and “happies” and
became symbolic as rebellion against authority.
 1975 – the Mexican government agreed to eradicate the crop
by spraying it with herbicide paraquat, raising fears of toxic
side effects.
 1982 – the Drug Enforcement Administration turned
increased attention to marijuana farms in the United States,
and there was a shift to indoor growing of plants specially
developed for small size and high yield.
 After over a decade of decreasing use, marijuana smoking
began an upward trend once more in the early 1990’s,
specially among teenagers. But by the end of the decade, this
upswing had leveled off well below former peaks of use.
III. Discussion
 Medical Use:
 It is used on treating pain, nausea and vomitting, the side
effects of cancer chemotherapy, and for restoring the
appetite of people with AIDS.

 Street names:
 pot, herb, weed, grass, jane, reefer, dope, ganja.

 Side Effects:
 Marijuana lowers testosterone levels and sperm counts in
men and it raises testosterone in women.
 Short term effects:
 Distortion perception
 Difficulty in thinking and problem solving
 Problems in memory and learning
 Loss of coordination

 Long term effects:

 Changes in brain
 Fertility implications
 Respiratory problem
 Changes in blood pressure
 Emotional problems
 I.Introduction
It is also called lysergide potent synthetic hallucinogenic
drug that can be derived from the ergot alkaloids.
It is a hallucinogenic drug that intensifies sense perception
and produces hallucinations, mood changes, and changes in the
sense of time.
It is one of the most powerful drugs known. It is 5,000 times
as potent as the hallucinogenic drug mescaline and 200 times as
potent as psilocybin.
 II. History of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide

1967 – the federal government classified it as a Schedule I

drug, having a high abuse potential and accepted in medical use,
along with heroin and marijuana.
1938 – was developed by Arthur Stoll and first synthesized
by Albert Hofmann, a Swiss chemist working for Sandoz
Laboratories in Switzerland, hoping to create a headache cure.
There is a foundation named after him and many websites are
dedicated to him for inventing this drug.
1990’s – it again became popular because of its low-cost
 During the 15 year period beginning in 1950, research in LSD
and other hallucinogens generated over 1,000 scientific papers,
several dozens books and 6 international conferences, and LSD
was prescribed as treatment to over 40,000 patients.
 LSD is the most potent hallucinogen known with only
micrograms amounts required to produce overt hallucination.
(It can also be rubbed against the skin.)
 It is available throughout the US, its availability has declined
significantly since 2001.
III. Discussion
 Medical Use:
 Used as a research tool in studies of mental illness
 Sandoz marketed LSD as a psychiatric care and hailed it as a
cure for everything from schizophrenia to criminal behavior,
sexual perversions and alcoholism.
 Street names:
Acid, Battery Acid Microdots
Sunshine Blotter
Window pane Cid
Trips Dosses
Zen Loony toons
 Physiological effects:
 Heart rate
 Blood pressure
 Body temperature

 Side effects:
 It will induce a heightened awareness of sensory input that is
accompanied by an enhanced sense of clarity, but reduced
ability to control what is experienced.
 Pupil dilation
 Sweating
 Grinding of jaw
 Restlessness
 Dosage:
 It is measured in micrograms or millionths of a gram.
 The dosage level that will produce a hallucinogenic effects in
human generally is considered to be 25 micrograms.
 The average effective oral dose is from 20 to 80 micrograms.
 The effect occur within 30 to 60 minutes and last to 10 to 12
hours.

 Other importance:
LSD is embedded in candies such as:
 Gumy worms
 Sweet tarts
 Smartie
 Pez
 I.Introduction
It is also called mescal-button either of the two species of the
cactus genus lophophora, family cactaceae, native to North
America, almost exclusively to Mexico.
It contains at least 28 alkaloids, the principal one of which is
mescaline.
Peyote is a small, spineless cactus, lophophora williamsi,
whose principal active ingredient is the hallucinogen mescaline..
In ancient times it was used by natives of Northern Mexico
and Southwestern United States as a part of their traditional
religious rites.
 II. History of Peyote
From earliest recorded time, peyote has been used by
indigenous people, such as the Huichol of Northern Mexico and
by various Native American tribal groups, native to or relocated
to the Southern Plains, states of Oklahoma and Texas. Its usage
has been also recorded among various Southwestern Athabaskan
tribal groups, with the Mescalero and Kiowa (or plains Apache)
having the dubious honor of being named or identified as a
source of practitioners of peyote religion in the regions north of
present-day Mexico.
Peyote and its associated religion, however, are fairly recent in
terms of usage and practice among the Navajo in Southwestern
United States. To date, however, the Navajo nation holds the
largest membership within the confines of the Native American
Church.
 As a result of such a large percentage, some estimate as much
as 20% or higher of the Navajo populace are practitioners, and
there is a very real detrimental influx and change taking with
regard to the traditional ceremonial practices and beliefs of the
Navajo in 21st century. The native American Church is one
among several religious organizations that use peyote as part of
their religious practice.
Don Juan Matus, the name of Castaneda’s teacher in the use of
peyote, used the name “Mescalito” to refer to an entity that
purportedly can be sensed by those using peyote to gain insight in
how to live one’s life well, but only if Mescalito is accepted by
the user. Later works of Castaneda asserted that the use of such
psychotropic substance was not necessary to achieve heightened
awareness, although his teacher advised that its use was
beneficial in helping to free some people’s minds.
III. Discussion

 Medical use:
 Combats alcoholism
 Spiritual
 Physical
 Social ills
 The native American church is one among several religious
organizations that use peyote as a part of their religious
practice.
 The flesh may also be applied topically to promote milk
production.
 Side effects:
Nausea Terrifying thoughts
Heart rate Anxiety
Blood pressure Fear of insanity
Loss of appetite Death
Sleeplessness Losing control
Numbness Dilation of pupils
Weakness Changes in mood
Tremors Feeling of empathy
Deeply moving Profound spiritual
experience
Increased body temperature
 Long term effects:
 Some users experience flashbacks or hallucinogen persisting
perception disorder, which are reoccurrences of hallucinations
long after ingesting the drug. The causes of these effects which
in some users occur after a single experience with the drug are
not known.

 Dosage:
 The effective dose for mescaline is about 300 to 500 mg,
equivalent to roughly 5 grams of dried peyote and the effect
lasts about 10 to 12 hours.
 The effect occurs 2 – 3 hours after ingestion and lasts for 12
hours.