Hallucinogen

Hallucinogens are a diverse group of drugs that alter perception, thoughts, and feelings. They cause hallucinations, or sensations and images that seem real though they are not. Hallucinogens can be found in some plants and mushrooms (or their extracts) or can be human-made. People have used hallucinogens for centuries, mostly for religious rituals.

Types of Hallucinogens

There are many different kinds of hallucinogens. Some of the most common include LSD, psilocybin, and DMT.

LSD

LSD (D-lysergic acid diethylamide) is one of the most powerful mood-changing chemicals. It is a clear or white odorless material made from lysergic acid, which is found in a fungus that grows on rye and other grains.

Psilocybin

Psilocybin (4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine) comes from certain types of mushrooms found in tropical and subtropical regions of South America, Mexico, and the United States.

DMT

DMT (N,N-dimethyltryptamine) is a powerful chemical found in some Amazonian plants. Manufacturers can also make DMT in a lab.

Effects of Hallucinogens

The effects of hallucinogens can begin within 20 to 90 minutes and can last as long as 6 to 12 hours. Hallucinogen users refer to the experiences brought on by these drugs as "trips," calling the unpleasant experiences "bad trips."

Health Effects

Along with hallucinations, possible health effects can include:

• Increased heart rate
• Nausea
• Intense sensory experiences (e.g., brighter colors)
• Changes in sense of time (events can seem to last longer than they do)
• Psychological distress (can occur while using hallucinogens or days after)
• Persistent psychosis and HPPD (hallucinogen persisting perception disorder), which involve ongoing mental health problems

Treatment

There are no government-approved medications to treat addiction to hallucinogens. While inpatient and outpatient therapy programs for hallucinogen abuse exist, they are not always effective. More research is needed to find out if behavioral therapies can be used to treat addiction to hallucinogens.

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