Psychedelics also known as hallucinogens are a class of psychoactive substances that produce changes in perception, mood and cognitive processes. They can also cause a person to hallucinate—seeing or hearing things that do not exist or are distorted. There are many different kinds of psychedelics. Some occur naturally, in trees, vines, seeds, fungi and leaves. Others are made in laboratories.
Psychedelics have been used since ancient times by various cultures throughout the world for their mystical and spiritual associations.
Occasionally, they may be mixed with tobacco or cannabis and smoked. Mescaline is usually swallowed. Peyote buttons may be ground into a powder and smoked with cannabis or tobacco. The buttons can also be chewed or soaked in water to produce a liquid. Most forms of NBOMe are inactive if swallowed, and the most common methods of taking them are under the tongue, held in the cheek or snorted.
There is no safe level of drug use. Use of any drug always carries some risk. The effects of psychedelics can last several hours and vary considerably, depending on the specific type of psychedelic.
The following may be experienced during this time:. This can lead to panic and unpredictable behaviour, like running across a road or attempting suicide. If you take a large amount or have a strong batch, you are likely to experience negative effects of psychedelics. Flashbacks are a re-experience of the drug and can occur days, weeks, months and even years later.
Flashbacks can be triggered by the use of other drugs or by stress, fatigue or physical exercise. The flashback experience can range from being pleasant to causing severe feelings of anxiety.
There are no FDA-approved medications to treat addiction to hallucinogens. While behavioral treatments can be helpful for patients with a variety of addictions, scientists need more research to find out if behavioral therapies are effective for addiction to hallucinogens.
Some hallucinogens are being studied for possible therapeutic benefits in treating mental disorders such as depression. Ketamine was approved many years ago as an anesthetic for painful medical procedures. Esketamine is closely related to the drug ketamine which is used illicitly and so there are concerns about the potential for misuse of this newly approved medication.
In response, esketamine will be limited to administration in medical facilities. Unlike a prescription that can be taken home and might be diverted into recreational use, esketamine will be administered in a medical office as a nasal spray. Patients must wait at least 2 hours under medical supervision to ensure proper management of potential side effects. It is a rapid acting medication, so improvements may be seen immediately or within the first few weeks of treatment unlike most other antidepressants which can take weeks to begin to show an effect.
Traditional antidepressants target the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine or dopamine. Esketamine affects the receptor for a different brain chemical called glutamate and so it represents a new approach to treating depression.
There is also some evidence that psilocybin may be effective in treating depression and anxiety. This publication is available for your use and may be reproduced in its entirety without permission from NIDA. Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. Drug Topics. More Drug Topics.
Quick Links. About NIDA. Hallucinogens DrugFacts. What are hallucinogens? Effects on a Developing Fetus While the effects of most hallucinogens on the developing fetus are unknown, researchers do know that mescaline in peyote may affect the fetus of a pregnant woman using the drug.
Tolerance vs. Dependence vs. Points to Remember Hallucinogens are a diverse group of drugs that alter perception, thoughts, and feelings. They cause hallucinations, or sensations and images that seem real, but they are not. Hallucinogens are split into two categories: classic hallucinogens and dissociative drugs.
Usually, people decide when and how they want to use psychoactive drugs. In some situations, however, psychoactive drugs are used to alter someone's mental state in order to exploit the person.
A common example of this is the date-rape drug Rohypnol , which is illegal in the U. You should also be aware that taking prescribed psychoactive drugs in ways other than intended, for example, taking drugs that have been prescribed for someone else, even if they have been given to you, is illegal.
Natural substances, such as hallucinogenic mushrooms and cacti, and the leaves, flowers, and buds of certain plants may also be psychoactive. However, that is not the case. For example, someone who uses a psychoactive plant to alter their mental state may have a higher risk of overdose or poisoning.
The reason for this is because the person taking the substance has no control over the strength of the plant's psychoactive substance or toxicity, as there is in manufactured drugs. The same is true of street drugs purchased from a drug dealer, which are typically cut with a variety of other psychoactive and filler substances, some of which may be harmful.
A drug or medication that's termed "psychoactive" isn't necessarily addictive, although many are. There are several ways in which psychoactive drugs are classified:. Groups of psychoactive drugs include stimulants, depressants , narcotics opioids , hallucinogens, and marijuana cannabis. Examples of effects include heightened alertness, greater energy, excitability, improvement in mood that can reach euphoria, and bodily responses such as increased heart rate and blood pressure.
Examples of stimulants include caffeine, nicotine , amphetamines , and cocaine. Examples of the effects of excessive use of cocaine may include irritability, mood swings, hallucination, heart palpitations, chest pain, and even death. Examples of effects include reduced feelings of tension, relief of anxiety, and muscle relaxation. With excessive use, effects may include clammy skin, slow and shallow breathing, a rapid and weak pulse, coma, and death.
Examples of depressants include alcohol and tranquilizers such as benzodiazepines. These are derived from the poppy plant opiates or synthetically produced opioids. Examples of their effects include pain relief, drowsiness, euphoria, confusion, and respiratory depression. With excessive use, effects may include nausea and vomiting, convulsions, respiratory arrest, coma, and death.
Examples of opioids include some painkillers , such as codeine, morphine, oxycodone, and the street drug heroin. Examples of effects include paranoia, depersonalization a sense of not being real , hallucinations, erratic behavior, and increased blood pressure and heart rate. Effects of excessive use may include problems thinking and speaking, memory loss, and depression. Examples of hallucinogens include psilocybin from mushrooms, "acid" LSD , ketamine, phencyclidine PCP , dextromethorphan, and peyote mescaline.
Examples of the psychoactive effects of marijuana include changes in sensory perception; euphoria; relaxation; appetite changes; impaired memory, concentration, and coordination; and changes in blood pressure.
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