HALLUCINOGENS

DEFINITION
 Hallucinogen – A drug that causes hallucinations, or
profound distortions in the person’s perceptions of
reality.

 *Under the influence of hallucinogens, people see

images, hear sounds, and feel sensations that seem real
but do not exist.
Memirize TYPES OF
HALLUCINATIONS
TRIP
 Trip - An instance or period of being under the influence of a
hallucinogenic drug.

 No one can predict when a hallucinogen user will have a bad trip.
Dosage, the specific drug, and the setting in which it’s taken all
affect the user’s experience.
 Hallucinogens are unpredictable! This makes them extremely
dangerous!

 There is no effective treatment for a bad trip. Only having the drug
wear off will make imagined demons go away. Books and articles
recommend trying to calm distressed users in a quiet, un-crowded
spot. But, friends who are high themselves can’t be counted on for
help.
FLASHBACK
 Flashback – An unexpected relived experience from a
hallucination.

 A flashback occurs suddenly, often without warning, and may

occur within a few days or more than a year after hallucinogen
use.

 Both frequent users and one-time experimenters can find

themselves on another trip when they least expect it.
 While driving a car, swimming, playing sports.

 One young woman’s flashback was so intense she jumped out the
window in a high-rise apartment building. The flashback came 6
months after her only use ever with LSD.
INTRODUCTION
 Human beings have used hallucinogens for centuries,
primarily in ancient cultural and religious ceremonies.
As a part of their religion, for example, certain American
Indian tribes used the hallucinogen peyote to experience
"spiritual visions.”

 Hallucinogen abuse soared in the 1960’s and 70’s.

 During the 1990’s and in present day abuse rates are on
the rise.
INTRODUCTION CONT.
 Hallucinogens are among the oldest known drugs that
have been used for their ability to alter human
perception and mood. For centuries, many of the
naturally occurring hallucinogens found in plants and
fungi have been used for medical, social and
religious practices.

 In recent years, a number of synthetic hallucinogens

have been produced, some of which are much stronger
than their naturally occurring counterparts.
LABORATORIES
 LSD
 PCP

 DMT

 These drugs are synthetically produced.

LSD
 LSD – A crystalline compound derived from lysergic acid and used
as a powerful hallucinogenic drug.

 *LSD is an acronym for lysergic acid diethylamide.

 LSD is manufactured from lysergic acid, which is found in ergot, a

fungus that grows on rye and other grains.

 *A common nickname for LSD is “acid”.

 Best known and most commonly used hallucinogen in the United

States
LSD CONT.
 LSD is odorless, colorless, and has a slightly bitter taste.

 Usually taken orally, although it can be placed on blotter

paper, and then divided up for multiple uses. Also sold in
gelatin squares and pills.

 Less than .001 gram of LSD produces extreme

hallucinations!

 LSD takes effect within 30 minutes, and it can last up to

12 hours.
LSD EFFECTS CONT.
 The physical effects include dilated pupils, higher body
temperature, increased heart rate and blood pressure,
sweating, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, dry mouth, and
tremors.

 The psychological effects of LSD; users

experience severe, terrifying thoughts and feelings, fear
of losing control, fear of insanity and death, and despair
while using LSD. Some fatal accidents have occurred
during states of LSD intoxication.
PCP
 *PCP is short for Phencyclidine.

 *PCP - A drug used in veterinary medicine as an

anesthetic and illegally as a hallucinogen.

 PCP was developed in the 1950s as an intravenous

anesthetic but, due to the side effects of confusion and
delirium, its development for human medical use was
discontinued.
PCP CONT.
 Street names:
 *Angel dust
 Hog
 Lovely
 Wack
 Embalming fluid
 Rocket Fuel
 Ozone

 PCP is produced in liquid, powder, and tablet form.

There are numerous methods of taking it. It is smoked
(in a powdered form), snorted, injected, or swallowed.
PCP EFFECTS
 A moderate amount of PCP often causes users to feel detached,
distant, and estranged from their surroundings. Auditory
hallucinations, image distortion, severe mood disorders, and
amnesia may also occur.

 High doses can cause seizures, coma, and even death. Illusions
occur, and unlike LSD, the likely-hood of having visual
hallucinations is very low.

 Like LSD it is highly unpredictable. Some users feel out of touch

with their bodies and surroundings. Others get so revved up they
become violent.
PCP HEALTH HAZARDS
 PCP is addictive and its use often leads to psychological
dependence, craving, and compulsive PCP-seeking
behavior. Users of PCP report memory loss, difficulties
with speech and learning, depression, and weight loss.
These symptoms can persist up to a year after cessation
of PCP use. PCP has sedative effects, and interactions
with other central nervous system depressants, such as
alcohol and benzodiazepines, can lead to coma or
accidental overdose. Use of PCP among adolescents may
interfere with hormones related to normal growth and
development.