HallucinogensHallucinogens

HallucinogensHallucinogens

A group of mind-altering drugs that A group of mind-altering drugs that affect the brain and nervous system, affect the brain and nervous system, bringing about changes in thought, bringing about changes in thought, self-awareness, emotion, and self-awareness, emotion, and sensation. sensation.

The term psychedelic was coined by The term psychedelic was coined by scientist Humphrey Osmond in 1956. scientist Humphrey Osmond in 1956. It means “revealing the mind.”It means “revealing the mind.”

HallucinogensHallucinogens These drugs create These drugs create

a distorted a distorted perception of perception of reality, irrational reality, irrational thinking patters, thinking patters, and modified states and modified states of consciousness. of consciousness.

True to their name, True to their name, they produce they produce hallucinations.hallucinations.

This happens This happens because of the because of the blood vessels in the blood vessels in the brain to constrict, brain to constrict, limiting the amount limiting the amount of blood that of blood that reaches the brain reaches the brain and thus depriving and thus depriving the normal amoung the normal amoung of oxygen. of oxygen.

HallucinationsHallucinations

Some Some hallucinations are hallucinations are pleasant. pleasant.

Others are bad Others are bad trips or bummers. trips or bummers.

Others may cause Others may cause panic attacks. panic attacks.

Another common Another common reaction is a reaction is a flashback, flashback, recurrence of the recurrence of the trip, which can trip, which can happen happen unexpectedly unexpectedly during drug-free during drug-free times.times.

LSDLSD

During the 1960s During the 1960s and 1970s, LSD and 1970s, LSD and PCP became and PCP became the major drug of the major drug of use. use.

1938 the Swiss 1938 the Swiss scientist Albert scientist Albert Hofmann, while Hofmann, while searching for a searching for a cure of headaches, cure of headaches, created LSD.created LSD.

Although it did not Although it did not cure headaches, cure headaches, his researched his researched turned to that of turned to that of mental illness. mental illness.

Scientists Scientists discovered that discovered that LSD could cause LSD could cause severe psychosessevere psychoses

LSDLSD

In 1960, Harvard In 1960, Harvard psychologist psychologist Timothy Leary Timothy Leary began to publicize began to publicize the attractiveness the attractiveness of LSD. of LSD.

LSD is colorless, LSD is colorless, tasteless liquid. tasteless liquid.

For many years a For many years a drop of liquid was drop of liquid was placed on a sugar placed on a sugar cube, now it cube, now it appears in tablet appears in tablet or soaked into or soaked into heavy blotter heavy blotter paper. paper.

LSD takes effect in LSD takes effect in 40 minutes to an 40 minutes to an hour or more. The hour or more. The effects continue effects continue 12 hours or more. 12 hours or more.

Physical EffectsPhysical Effects

Physical reactions include dilation Physical reactions include dilation of the pupils, sometimes trembling of the pupils, sometimes trembling and shaking, a rise in blood and shaking, a rise in blood pressure, and dry mouth. pressure, and dry mouth.

Some experience nausea, aching Some experience nausea, aching body, tingling, and sweating. body, tingling, and sweating.

LSDLSD

PCPPCP

An anesthetic that blocks nerve An anesthetic that blocks nerve receptors from pain and temperature receptors from pain and temperature without producing numbness. without producing numbness.

PCP PCP

Harmful side Harmful side effects include effects include confusion, confusion, delirium, intense delirium, intense anxiety, and anxiety, and depression. depression.

Taken in small Taken in small doses it induces doses it induces feelings of feelings of euphoria. euphoria.

Moderate doses Moderate doses cause blurred cause blurred vision, slurred vision, slurred speech, speech, sleepiness, heavy sleepiness, heavy sweating, and sweating, and rapid breathing.rapid breathing.

Higher doses Higher doses cause intoxication cause intoxication accompanied b accompanied b mental confusion, mental confusion, hallucinations, hallucinations, and trouble and trouble speaking. speaking.

Higher doses can Higher doses can produce serious produce serious mental illness.mental illness.

PCPPCP

One of the most serious One of the most serious consequences is the loss of consequences is the loss of inhibitions and ensuring threat of inhibitions and ensuring threat of harm to others. harm to others.

PCP can cause extreme, PCP can cause extreme, unpredictable rages. unpredictable rages.

How users feelHow users feel

The effects The effects depend greatly on depend greatly on the dose, the the dose, the individual’s individual’s expectations and expectations and personality, and personality, and the setting for the the setting for the drug use. drug use.

Some become Some become convinced that convinced that they have lost they have lost their minds. their minds.

Many users report Many users report religious or religious or mystical imagery mystical imagery and thoughts; and thoughts; some feel they some feel they are experiencing are experiencing profound insights. profound insights.

RisksRisks

Someone who already is depressed Someone who already is depressed may take a hallucinogen to lift his may take a hallucinogen to lift his or her spirits, only to become more or her spirits, only to become more depressed. depressed.

Suicide is a real danger. Suicide is a real danger.