Hallucinogens are a specific kind of medications that causes intense misperceptions. Feelings are intensified and distorted, with unforeseeable realistic effects and consequences. The danger of these substances are mainly the psychological effects and the altered and clouded judgment.
Hallucinogens may derive from plants or they may be chemical synthetic substances. Some examples are:
- LSD or lysergic acid diethylamide (derived from a mushroom)
- Psilocybin (derived from different kinds of mushrooms)
- Mescaline (derived from cactus peyote)
- DMT (dimethyltryptamine)
- 5-methoxy -N- methyl-isopropyltryptamine (5-MeO-MiPT)
Many more composts have been synthetized and the hallucinogens’ list keeps getting longer.
An individual may develop a psychological addiction to hallucinogens, since physiological addiction is not that common.
IMMEDIATE EFFECTS
Hallucinogens’ immediate effects may include nausea and vomiting. LSD, in particular, causes pupils dilation, clouded vision, sweating, tachycardia and impaired movement coordination.
Hallucinogens primarily cause auditory and visual misperceptions. Some people may experience synesthesia, they may say they are hearing colors and seeing sounds. They might feel like they are not real (depersonalization) or feel detached from reality (dissociation). They experience mood swings (euphoria or depression) and display a clouded sense of judgment. Hallucinogens’ users define these symptoms as “trip”.
The effects depend on the user’ mood and expectations of the “trip” and how he/she thinks he/she will react to the hallucinations, together with the context in which he/she has used the substance. Visual hallucinations are more common with psilocybin and mescaline, rather than with LSD. For example, the individual may abuse the substance while they are sad, and ending up with feeling even more sad when the hallucinogen kicks in. The real danger resides in the psychological effects and the clouded judgment, which may lead to accidents or dangerous decisions. One may believe they can fly, for example, and jump out of a window in order to prove it.
OVERDOSE
High dosage (overdose, if higher than a 0,5 mg of LSD) increases blood pressure and heart rate. Some develop a very high temperature (hyperthermia) since the drug has impaired the body’s capacity to regulate temperature. Hyperthermia may cause fever, nausea and vomiting.
Overdoses are rare, but they can result in death.
LONG TERM EFFECTS
Some users will lose touch with reality (induced psychosis) even for many days, or after that the other drug’s effects have disappeared. It is not clear yet if the drug causes the psychosis or if it just brings out an already existent condition.
WITHDRAWAL
Those who have abused hallucinogens for a long period of time or are simply recidivist may experience flashback even after they stop using. These flashbacks are similar to their initial episode, even though they generally are less intense. Usually, these flashbacks disappear over a 6-12 months period of time, but they can appear again even after years since the last use, especially if the individual suffers from anxiety or other psychological/psychiatric disorders. Flashbacks may also appear again after using marijuana, alcohol or barbiturates.
TREATMENT
- For acute intoxication: support systems and treatments which aim to reduce anxiety and restlessness.
- For persistent psychosis: psychiatric treatment and psychological support
For acute intoxications a calm and tranquil environment is often enough, in which the patient must be reassured of the fact that his visions, sounds and bizarre thoughts are caused by the drug and will go away soon. Anxiolytics (Lorazepam, Diazepam) can contribute to reduce acute anxiety.
For persistent psychosis or other psychological/psychiatric disorders a multidisciplinary approach is preferred, in which a pharmaceutical and a psychotherapeutic approach are combined.
