Hallucinogens

Hallucinogenic drugs, also known as "psychedelics", are drugs that change the way a person perceives the world. Hallucinogens affect all the senses, altering a person's thinking, sense of time and emotions.

They can cause a person to hallucinate—to see or hear things that do not exist or are distorted.

There are many different kinds of hallucinogens. Some occur naturally, in trees, vines, seeds, fungi and leaves. Others are manufactured in laboratories.

Some examples of hallucinogens include:

• LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)
• magic mushrooms (psilocybin)
• mescaline (peyote cactus)
• PCP (phencyclidine)
• ketamine
• ecstasy (MDMA and related drugs, in high doses)
• cannabis (in high quantities).

How are they used?

Naturally occurring hallucinogens have been used since ancient times, by various cultures throughout the world, for their mystical and spiritual associations.

Hallucinogens became fashionable in the United States and Europe in the 1960s, when many young people were pursuing greater personal freedom and questioning old values and ideas.

Generally, people who use hallucinogens don't take them on a regular basis, but on occasions that may be weeks or months apart. This may be because the effects require a long recovery time or because the pleasurable effects are unpredictable.

LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)

LSD is produced by processing a substance found in ergot, which is a fungus that infects rye. It is a highly potent drug, so only very small doses are usually taken.

Street names 
Acid, trips, microdots, dots

What does it look like?
In its pure state, LSD is a white, odorless powder. It usually comes in the form of squares of gelatine or blotting paper that have been impregnated with the drug. LSD is also sold in liquid form, or as tablets or capsules.

How is it used?
LSD is usually swallowed, sniffed, injected or smoked.

PCP (phencyclidine)

PCP is a dissociative anesthetic. It was originally trialed with humans before being limited to use as an anesthetic in veterinary medicine.

Street names
Angel dust, peace pill.

What does it look like?
In its pure state, PCP is a white crystalline powder. It usually comes in the form of pills, capsules or powders of various colors.

How is it used?
PCP is usually swallowed, sniffed or injected. It is sometimes also sprinkled onto tobacco or cannabis and smoked.

Magic mushrooms (psilocybin)

There are several varieties of magic mushrooms: "golden tops", "blue meanies" and "liberty caps" are some of the types found in Australia that have the active ingredient psilocybin.

Street names
Shrooms, mushies, magic’s, golden tops, blue meanies, liberty caps.

What does it look like?
Magic mushrooms look much like ordinary dried mushrooms, or they come as a powdered material in capsules. Synthetic psilocybin appears as a white crystalline powder that may be formulated into tablets or capsules, or dissolved in a liquid.

How is it used?
Magic mushrooms are usually eaten fresh, cooked or brewed into a "tea". Occasionally, they may be mixed with tobacco or cannabis and smoked.

It is easy to mistake poisonous mushrooms for those containing psilocybin. Certain kinds of poisonous mushrooms can cause death or permanent liver damage within hours of ingestion.

Ketamine

Ketamine hydrochloride is a dissociative anesthetic that is sometimes used in medical and veterinary settings. Dissociative anesthetics can make a person feel as though they are detached from reality.

Street names
Special K, K, ket, kitkat, super K

What does it look like?
Ketamine is a white crystalline powder that can be made into tablets or pills, or dissolved in liquid.

How is it used?
Ketamine is usually swallowed, snorted or injected. It is also sometimes smoked with other substances such as cannabis or tobacco.

Mescaline

Mescaline is a naturally occurring hallucinogen that comes from the peyote cactus, Lophophora williamsii. It can also be produced synthetically.

What does it look like?
In its pure state, mescaline sulphate is a white crystalline powder. Synthetic mescaline may appear in powder form and in various colors. Dried, ground peyote buttons are usually in the form of capsules.

How is it used?
Mescaline is usually swallowed. Peyote buttons are sometimes chewed, or ground and smoked.

Other hallucinogens

Cannabis
In low doses, cannabis is a depressant drug that slows down the body's systems. Very strong cannabis preparations or larger quantities of cannabis can cause mild hallucinogenic effects. 

Ecstasy (MDMA and related drugs)
The drug known as ecstasy is similar to both amphetamines and hallucinogens in chemical structure and effect. Ecstasy can have hallucinogenic properties when used in high quantities.

Effects of hallucinogens

The effects of any drug (including hallucinogens) vary from person to person. How hallucinogens affect a person depends on many factors, including the person's size, weight and health, how much and how the drug is taken, whether the person is used to taking it and whether other drugs are taken.

More than any other drug, the effects of hallucinogens vary greatly from person to person, and from occasion to occasion. It is hard to know how the hallucinogenic experience, will turn out and if someone will experience the adverse effects of hallucinogens.

Immediate effects

The effects of hallucinogens can last several hours and vary considerably depending on the specific type of hallucinogen. Some of the typical effects of hallucinogens include:  

• blurred vision
• increased breathing rate
• hallucinations and distorted sensory processing, including visual, auditory, body, time and space perception
• confusion and difficulty concentrating, thinking or maintaining attention
• anxiety, agitation, paranoia and feelings of panic
• dizziness
• impaired coordination
• increased heart rate and blood pressure
• nausea and vomiting
• increased body temperature and sweating; may alternate with chills and shivering
• numbness 

Long term effects

The most consistent long-term effect of hallucinogen use is the flashback. Days, weeks or even years later, some people re-experience the effects of the drug. The person may see intense colors and experience hallucinations. 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 producing severe feelings of anxiety. They are usually visual and last for a minute or two.

Long-term, frequent use of some hallucinogens impair aspects of memory and selected cognitive functions. It may also be linked to personality and mood changes.

Some people may experience a "drug-induced" psychosis after using hallucinogens. This can occur after a single dose or after chronic use, and is characterized by hallucinations, delusions and bizarre behavior. These episodes may last several hours, or longer for some people.

Higher doses and overdose

Higher doses of hallucinogens can increase the immediate negative effects.
Deaths exclusively from acute overdose of LSD, magic mushrooms and mescaline are extremely rare. Deaths generally occur due to suicide, accidents and dangerous behavior, or due to the person inadvertently eating poisonous plant material.

A severe overdose of PCP and ketamine can result in respiratory depression, coma, convulsions, seizures and death due to respiratory arrest.

Tolerance, dependence and withdrawal

Tolerance to the euphoric and psychedelic effects of hallucinogens develops rapidly if taken repeatedly over several days. Any tolerance developed quickly goes away once regular use is stopped.

People who regularly use hallucinogens may develop a psychological dependence. They may find they feel compelled to use hallucinogens to function effectively or feel good in certain situations.

Generally, there is little evidence that people experience physical withdrawal symptoms if they suddenly stop taking hallucinogens.

Hallucinogens, hepatitis and HIV

Sharing needles, syringes and other injecting equipment can greatly increase the risk of contracting blood borne viruses such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus—the virus that causes AIDS).

What to do in a crisis

If someone has an adverse reaction while using hallucinogens, it is very important that they receive professional help as soon as possible. A quick response can save their life.

• Call an ambulance. Dial 000. Don’t delay, because you think you or your friend might get into trouble. Ambulance officers are not obliged to involve the police.
• Stay with the person until the ambulance arrives. Find out if anyone at the scene knows mouth-to-mouth resuscitation or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
• Ensure adequate air by keeping crowds back and opening windows. Loosen tight clothing.
• If the person is unconscious, don't leave them on their back - they could choke. Turn them on their side and into the recovery position. Gently tilt their head back so their tongue does not block the airway.
• Provide the ambulance officers with as much information as you can - what hallucinogens were taken, how long ago, and any pre-existing medical conditions.

•  For more information on the risks of hallucinogen-related harm, contact the alcohol and drug information service in your state or territory.