If you or someone you know has problems with using hallucinogenic drugs, Clear Life Recovery offers drug rehab services in Orange County, California to help.
Hallucinogens are psychoactive chemicals that bring auditory or visual hallucinations. Certain hallucinogens are ‘natural,’ such as mushrooms. Others are created synthetically in a lab, such as LSD.
When consumed, hallucinogens may cause a person to see or hear things that do not exist. Even though the experience can be euphoric, people can still harm themselves due to their altered perception. Just as likely, they may experience a “bad trip” with angst, fear, and panic. Hallucinogens can lead to erratic or violent behavior, as well.
Two Types of Hallucinogens
There are two categories of hallucinogens: dissociative drugs and classic hallucinogens. Classic hallucinogens only cause visionary or auditory distortions. Popular drugs in this segment include LSD, mushrooms, and peyote. On the other hand, dissociative drugs may cause a person to feel detached from their body, along with other sensory hallucinations. For example, PCP, DXM, and Ketamine fall into this category.1 People may turn hallucinogens into pills or powders. They may be swallowed, snorted, injected, or inhaled.
How Hallucinogens Affect the Brain
Hallucinogens are believed to temporarily disrupt the connection between a person’s brain chemicals, including serotonin and glutamate. Thus, hallucinogens can affect a person’s:
- Mood
- Sleep
- Hunger
- Sexual behavior
- Emotions
- Memory
Long-Term Effects of Hallucinogens
A person may experience specific long-term effects with regular use of hallucinogens, including:
- Persistent Psychosis, which includes mental issues like paranoia, disorganized thoughts, and visual disturbances.
- Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder, which brings recurring hallucinations.
Short-Term Effects of Hallucinogens
Specific short-term effects may last several hours, depending on the amount of hallucinogen the person consumes. These effects include:
- Coordination Issues
- High Blood Pressure
- Seizures
- Breathing Difficulties
- Amnesia
Why Do People Use Hallucinogens?
For centuries, hallucinogens were used in religious ceremonies to make contact with the spiritual world possible. People believed the out-of-body experiences brought on by the drugs allowed them to escape the worldly environment.
Today, people use these substances for recreational purposes, like going to concerts or parties. Even with the risks mentioned previously, people use hallucinogens in an attempt to enhance fun times, reduce stress, and provide a new perspective on life.
Hallucinogens are being studied by groups like MAPS for certain therapeutic uses.2 However, these use cases occur in a controlled clinical setting, rather than with unknown chemicals in unpredictable environments.
Are Hallucinogens Addictive?
Evidence suggests some hallucinogens can cause substance dependency. For instance, LSD does not cause uncontrollable cravings. However, it does produce a tolerance.3 In other words, an individual must use more of the drug to achieve the desired effect. Therefore, it can be hazardous. In fact, an overdose is possible, especially when using dissociative drugs. In large amounts, a person may experience fatal results. When mixed with antidepressants, a coma may result.4
Get Help for Hallucinogen Misuse at Our Drug Rehab in Orange County
If you or a loved one has a problem with hallucinogen usage, help is available. Though hallucinogens don’t create strong withdrawals like other drugs, they can cause significant harm to a person. At Clear Life Recovery’s drug rehab in Orange County, we will work with you to stop using hallucinogens and find safer ways to have fun, get perspective or deal with stress. We offer dual diagnosis treatment for mental health issues like depression or PTSD.
To get help for issues with hallucinogens or other substances, contact our team of professionals today.
Sources:
[1] https://www.dea.gov/taxonomy/term/321
[2] https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/hallucinogens
[3] https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/814848-overview
[4] https://maps.org/
