1. Hallucinogens (Psychedelics) Chapter 12

2. Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens are substances that alter sensory processing in the brain, causing perceptual disturbances, changes in thought processing, and depersonalization.
Sometimes described as causing a spiritual-like experience.

3. History of Hallucinogens
The Native American Church:
The American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978
Timothy Leary and the League of Spiritual Discovery:
The Psychedelic Experience
Some mental health providers claim these drugs can assist with psychotherapy.

4. The Nature of Hallucinogens
Many drugs can exert hallucinogenic effects:
Traditional hallucinogens (LSD-types)
Phenylethylamines (Ecstasy, amphetamines)
Anticholinergic agents (Jimsonweed and other natural products)
Cocaine
Steroids

5. Nature of Hallucinogens
Psychedelic
Psychotogenic
Psychotomimetic

6. Sensory and Psychological Effects of Hallucinogens
Altered senses
Synesthesia
Loss of control
Flashbacks
Self-reflection
“Make conscious the unconscious”
Loss of identity and cosmic merging
“Mystical-spiritual aspect of the drug experience”

7. Traditional Hallucinogens: LSD Types of Agents
LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), mescaline, psilocybin, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and myristicin
These drugs cause predominantly psychedelic effects
Of high school seniors sampled:
1996: 8.8% had used LSD
2012: 2.4% had used LSD

8. Traditional Hallucinogens: LSD Types of Agents (continued)
Physical properties of LSD
In pure form: colorless, odorless, tasteless
Street names: acid, blotter acid, microdot, window panes
Mechanism of action
- Likely due to effects on the serotonin system

9. Traditional Hallucinogens: LSD Types of Agents (continued)
Physiological effects:
Massive increase in neural activity in some brain regions (“electrical storm”).
Activates sympathetic nervous system (rise in body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure).
Parasympathetic nervous system (increase in salivation and nausea).
Individuals do not become physically dependent, but psychological dependency can occur.

10. Traditional Hallucinogens: LSD Types of Agents (continued)
Effects of this hallucinogen begin 30–90 minutes after ingestion and can last up to 12 hours.
Tolerance to the effects of LSD develops very quickly.
Behavioral effects:
Creativity and insight
Adverse psychedelic effects
Perceptual effects

11. Other LSD Types of Agents
Mescaline (Peyote)
Mescaline is the most active drug in peyote; it induces intensified perception of colors and euphoria.
Effects include dilation of the pupils, increase in body temperature, anxiety, visual hallucinations, alteration of body image, vomiting, muscular relaxation.
Street samples are rarely authentic.

12. Other LSD Types of Agents (continued)
Psilocybin
Principle source is the Psilocybe mexicana mushroom.
It is not very common on the street.
Hallucinogenic effects similar to LSD.
Cross-tolerance among psilocybin, LSD, and mescaline.
Stimulates autonomic nervous system, dilates the pupils, increases body temperature.

13. Other LSD Types of Agents (continued)
Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)
A short-acting hallucinogen.
Trace amounts are found in the body.
Found in seeds of certain leguminous trees and prepared synthetically.
It is inhaled and is similar in action to psilocybin.

14. Other LSD Types of Agents (continued)
Foxy
Relatively new hallucinogen.
Lower doses: euphoria.
Higher doses: similar to LSD.
Nutmeg
Myristica oil responsible for physical effects.
High doses can be quite intoxicating.
Often causes unpleasant trips.

15. Phenylethylamine Hallucinogens
The phenylethylamine drugs are chemically related to amphetamines.
They have varying degrees of hallucinogenic and CNS stimulant effects.
LSD-like: predominantly release serotonin; dominated by their hallucinogenic action.
Cocaine-like: predominantly release dopamine; dominated by their stimulant effects.

16. Phenylethylamine Hallucinogens (continued)
Dimthoxymethylamphetamine (DOM or STP)
“Designer” amphetamines
3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA)
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine
(MDMA, Ecstasy); referred to as an entactogen (in 2012 used by 3.8% of high school seniors)

17. Anticholinergic Hallucinogens
The anticholinergic hallucinogens include naturally occurring alkaloid substances that are present in plants and herbs.
The potato family of plants contains most of these mind-altering drugs.
Three potent anticholingergic compounds in these plants:
Scopolamine
Hyoscyamine
Atropine

18. Naturally Occurring Anticholinergic Hallucinogens
Atropa Belladonna: The Deadly Nightshade
Mandragora Officinarum: The Mandrake
Hyoscyamus Niger: Henbane
Datura Stramonium: Jimsonweed

19. Other Hallucinogens Phencyclidine (PCP)
Considered by many experts as the most dangerous of the hallucinogens although it has a host of other effects as well.
It was developed as an intravenous anesthetic but was found to have serious adverse side effects.

20. Other Hallucinogens (continued)
Phencyclidine (PCP) physiological effects
Hallucinogenic effects, stimulation, depression, anesthesia, analgesia
Large doses can cause coma, convulsions, and death
PCP psychological effects
Feelings of strength, power, invulnerability, perceptual distortions, paranoia, violence, and psychoses and users appear like schizophrenics

21. Other Hallucinogens (continued)
Ketamine (general anesthetic; PCP-like)
Dextromethorphan (cough suppressant)
High doses cause PCP-like effects
Commonly abuse by adolescents (5.6% high school seniors used in 2012)
Marijuana
Salvia divinorum
“Legal” hallucinogenic herb, used by 4.4% of high school seniors in 2012
Can cause intense hallucinations and short-term memory loss