Hallucinogen Addiction & Its Effects

Hallucinogens encompass a variety of drugs that cause hallucinations and alter the user’s perception.¹ Since hallucinogens may cause detrimental health effects, such as side effects and overdose, it is strongly recommended that people who are struggling with hallucinogen use explore treatment options under the guidance of a qualified medical professional.

What Are Hallucinogens?

Hallucinogens, also called psychedelic drugs, have many street names, including acid, blotter, blotter acid, shrooms, special K, X, XTC, and fry.¹

People have traditionally used them in religious rituals, but in recent times, users have been taking hallucinogens for recreational purposes. Many common hallucinogens are listed in Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act, which means they have a high potential for abuse and are not accepted for medical use in the United States.¹

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in a 2012 research that looked at 36 nations, the United States had the highest percentage of high school students who used LSD or another hallucinogen.² In the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 229,000 Americans aged 12 or older said they had used LSD in the month before and 33,000 reported ongoing PCP use.²

What Are Hallucinogens Made Of?

If they are of natural origin, hallucinogens come from plants or fungi, while other hallucinogens are synthesized in labs illegally. Some naturally-occurring hallucinogens are psilocybin mushrooms, peyote, and Salvia divinorum. Ecstasy and LSD are examples of man-made hallucinogens. They come in many different forms, including tablets, impregnated paper, and powder.¹

How Do Hallucinogens Work?

Hallucinogens cause their awareness-altering impact by affecting neural circuits in the brain that use the neurotransmitter serotonin. They have the largest impact on the prefrontal cortex, a structure located at the front of the brain which regulates cognitive processes, perception, and mood.³

What Are the Different Types of Hallucinogens?

Hallucinogens are often divided into two groups: classic hallucinogens and dissociative drugs.While all hallucinogens cause hallucinations and altered perception, dissociative drugs also produce the sensation of detachment from your body.³

These are the common hallucinogen examples:¹

• LSD, also known as acid, is commonly sold in the form of small impregnated paper squares which feature colorful printed images. It is taken orally. LSD, ecstasy, and ketamine are commonly abused by young people in nightclubs.
• Ecstasy/MDMA comes in the form of colorful tablets with imprinted logos. Users usually take ecstasy tablets orally although they also sometimes crush and snort or smoke them.
• Ketamine is produced either as a white powder (typically packed in a small glass vial) or as a liquid. Users usually snort ketamine powder or smoke it in tobacco or marijuana cigarettes.
• Peyote is a cactus that contains the hallucinogen mescaline. Users chew on the top part of the peyote plant or consume the drug in capsule form.
• Psilocybin is a psychoactive substance that is found in certain types of mushrooms. Users may buy them dried or fresh and consume them orally.

Dissociative drugs are a group of drugs that falls under the broader category of hallucinogens. Some examples are:³

• Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a substance found in some over-the-counter cough and cold medications. People abuse them by taking larger doses than those that are therapeutically recommended.
• Phencyclidine (PCP) was originally used as a general anesthetic. It comes in tablet, capsule, liquid, or powder form.
• Salvia Divinorum is a plant that people have historically used for ritual divination. Users chew or smoke it.

How Do Hallucinogens Affect the Nervous System?

A user will typically feel the impact of hallucinogens 20 to 90 minutes after taking them.⁴ Each user’s experience of hallucinogen intoxication, also called “a trip”, is individual. Hallucinogen effects may vary from intensely pleasant (“good trip”) to extremely unsettling (“bad trip”), depending on the dose taken as well as the user’s mood, character traits, and environment.⁴

Some of the sensations commonly associated with hallucinogen use are:

• Hallucinations, which are auditory, visual, olfactory, and tactile sensations that appear real but don’t actually exist.⁴
• A distortion of the perception of time (time may appear to stand still or go slowly).¹
• Heightened senses, such as seeing brighter colors or hearing louder noises.⁴
• Synesthesia, which is the blending of the senses, such as hearing smells and seeing sounds.⁴
• Reduced inhibitions.¹
• A possibility of experiencing frightening thoughts, intense anxiety, and a fear of dying or losing one’s mind.⁴

The duration of the effects of hallucinogen abuse will vary depending on the drug taken. For example, the effects of ketamine might last for 30 to 60 minutes while the impact of MDMA may last for 3 to 6 hours.^1,5

What Do Hallucinogens Do to the Body?

There are many different, type-specific physical effects of hallucinogens. Generally, some of the common physical manifestations of hallucinogen use include:⁴

• A surge of energy.
• A rapid heartbeat.
• Dilated pupils.

What Are the Side Effects of Hallucinogens?

Hallucinogens are a versatile group of drugs, so there is a wide range of possible hallucinogen side effects on the body. These include short-term and long-term consequences.

Short-term effects

Some of the short-term side effects of hallucinogens are:

• LSD side effects:⁴
  • Elevated heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature
  • Dizziness
  • Insomnia
  • Decreased appetite
  • Profuse sweating
  • Shaking and weakness
  • Numbness
• Ecstasy/MDMA side effects:⁵
  • Nausea
  • Muscle cramps
  • Teeth clenching
  • Blurred vision
  • Increased sweating

• Ketamine side effects:⁶
  • Increased salivation
  • Nausea
  • Tear secretion
  • Muscle stiffening
• Peyote side effects:⁴
  • High heart rate and body temperature
  • Ataxia (difficulties with coordination)
  • Profuse sweating
  • Redness of the face
• Psilocybin side effects:⁷
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Muscle weakness
  • Impaired coordination

All hallucinogens tend to impair the user’s ability to think clearly, which may lead to hazardous behavior and increases the risk of injury.¹ They may also cause profoundly terrifying sensations, including paranoia, panic, and psychosis (bizarre thinking and behaviors).³

Long-term effects

The long-term effects of hallucinogens include:³

• Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD): This disorder involves recurrent episodes or “flashbacks” of some elements of the hallucinogen experience. They may occur days or even months after the last hallucinogen use.
• Persistent psychosis: This mental health disorder is characterized by delusions, paranoia, and disorganized thinking.

The long-term effects of hallucinogens are more likely to happen if the user has a history of mental illness. However, any user can experience them, even if they only used the drug one time.³

What Is Hallucinogen Addiction Treatment?

Currently, more research into hallucinogen use is needed and the FDA hasn’t approved any medications for hallucinogen addiction treatment yet. However, behavioral treatment for addiction may be effective for people with a range of addictions, including individuals who require hallucinogen treatment.3 If a person is struggling with hallucinogen abuse, therapy could help them cope with the effects of their drug use and support them on their path to recovery.

Unsure where to start? Take Our Substance Abuse Self-Assessment

Take our free, 5-minute substance abuse self-assessment below if you think you or someone you love might be struggling with substance abuse. This evaluation consists of 11 yes or no questions that are designed to be used as an informational tool to assess the severity and probability of a substance use disorder. The test is free, confidential, and no personal information is needed to receive the result. Please be aware that this evaluation is not a substitute for advice from a medical doctor.