Hallucinogens are psychoactive alkaloid drugs that distort sense and perception. They can severely alter one’s mood because they disrupt how nerve cells and the neurotransmitter serotonin interact throughout the brain and spinal cord. Hallucinogens can be unpredictable, and so can its users; one user may react completely different from another. Because of their unpredictable nature, hallucinogens can be very dangerous.
Hallucinogens can cause high anxiety, fear and paranoia, and even psychosis, which puts users and those around users at risk for accidents and violence.
Common Hallucinogens
LSD, also known as acid, is an odorless, colorless chemical that comes from the fungus ergot.
PSP, also known as angel dust, is a sedative with anesthetic effects.
“Magic” Mushrooms have a hallucinogenic chemical called psilocybin.
Effects of Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens can cause flashbacks, hallucinations and visuals of being on the drug long after taking it. Hallucinations of any kind damage the brain, and chronic users risk long-lasting psychoses or mental disorders.
Side effects include:
- Excessive sweating
- Nausea, vomiting
- Limb numbness
- Panic attacks, hallucinations, distorted illusions
- Depression, suicidal thoughts
- Seizures
- Weight and memory loss
- When combined with alcohol, it can lead to coma and death.