Hallucinogens: Side Effects, Withdrawal, Overdose & Treatment

When most people think of hallucinogens, they think of LSD. However, there are many different types of hallucinogens, and they can be found in plants, animals, and synthetic drugs. These drugs can cause hallucinations and other changes in perception.

While some people use hallucinogens for personal growth or spiritual reasons, others become addicted to them and experience withdrawal when they stop using them.

In this blog post, we will discuss the different types of hallucinogens, the effects they have on the mind and body, the risks associated with using them, and how to get help if you or someone you know is addicted to them.

What Are Hallucinogens?

These are a classification of drugs that generally cause hallucinations in the user. Hallucinations are sensory perceptions that have characteristics of reality. A person who experiences hallucinations can sense things that are not happening. Hallucinations are based on our five senses:

• Auditory hallucinations are a type of hallucination where a person hears sounds coming from inside or outside of the head/mind. These voices often communicate, narrate or give commands to the hallucinating person.
• Visual hallucinations imply seeing colors, shapes, and other people that are not there.
• Tactile hallucinations are the type of hallucinations that alter the sense of touch and can cause people to feel different sensations (such as tickling, feeling something moving against you, or feeling the heat when there is none).
• Olfactory and taste hallucinations are the two rarest types of hallucinations. Olfactory hallucinations refer to smelling something that is not there while taste hallucinations are tasting something that does not exist within one’s space.

What Do Hallucinogens Look Like?

Hallucinogens can come from two sources; those which are natural (classic hallucinogens) and those which are synthetic (man-made). Natural hallucinogens often come from plants and herbs. On the other hand, synthetic hallucinogens are often illegal due to the psychedelic effects that they produce. Notable hallucinogens are the following:

Classic Hallucinogens

• Psilocybin (also called “magic mushrooms”) – are found in species of mushrooms. They are ingested orally or made with beverages such as juice or tea. Historically, they have been used in native rites by older societies for centuries.
• DMT – a sub-type of hallucinogen that is used as ayahuasca, a brew made and used by Amazonian tribes for traditional rituals. Its healing properties were what made it popular with Westerners. The drug itself is found in seeds, leaves, and the stem or bark of various plants.
• Salvia Divinorum – the most potent and naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in sound forest regions of Sierra Mazateca in Oaxaca, Mexico. The herb is made from a plant from the Labiate family.
• Mescaline – a hallucinogen found in some species of cactuses that are used by North Mexican natives in religious ceremonies.

Man-made Hallucinogens

• LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide) – its popularity began during the 1960s with the rise of the subculture, psychedelia where LSD solidified its status as the most popular psychedelic drug. It is derived from a chemical found in rye fungus. Its illicit effects were discovered by the Swiss scientist Albert Hofmann in 1938.
• MDMA (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) – colloquially known as Molly, is a hallucinogen that produces a feeling of increased sympathy and emotional connection. It also causes high sensations of euphoria and are habitually taken by those at parties in dark places.
• 25I-NBOMe or N-bomb – a synthetic drug that can be fatal in high doses. It can affect neurochemistry and brain mapping and is known to have similar effects as Molly.
• PCP (Phencyclidine) – originally created as anesthesia for surgery, this synthetic rug was discontinued during the 1950s due to its negative side effects of mania, disorientation, and delirium.

What Are Hallucinogens Used For?

Psychedelics are used for different purposes that can be medicinal, religious, or recreational. The use of psychedelics has been linked to treating mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, and addiction.

While some classic hallucinogens are used medically, those that generate high for their users can not only alter brain faculties but cause severe malfunction to other areas of the body.

For example, psilocybin carries risks of food poisoning especially if a user ingests the poisonous mushrooms instead. PCP, otherwise known as Angel Dust, can cause seizures, coma, and even fatalities due to its potency.

How Do Hallucinogens Work?

There are several different ways that hallucinogens work, depending on the particular drug. In general, however, they work by stimulating, suppressing, or modulating the activity of the brain’s neurotransmitters. This can create changes in mood, perception, and cognition.

How Long Before You Can Feel the Effects of Hallucinogens?

It depends on the drug. Most hallucinogens take about 20 to 90 minutes to kick in, and their effects can last for up to 12 hours (LSD) or 15 minutes (DMT).

How Long Do Hallucinogens Stay In Your System?

There are a few different ways to test for hallucinogens in the body – through blood, saliva, hair, and urine.

The length of time that they stay in the system will vary depending on the particular drug. But generally speaking, they will be detectable in the blood for up to 4 hours, in saliva for up to 72 hours, in urine for up to 30 days, and in the hair for up to 90 days.

Blood test – Up to 4 hours
Saliva test – Up to 72 hours
Urine test – Up to 30 days
Hair test – Up to 90 days

What are the Short and Long-term Effects of Hallucinogens?

The severity of the effects of hallucinogens varies from person to person. Factors such as size, weight, and overall health affect how it impacts the user. Hallucinations are the common effect of hallucinogens, deriving from their name.

Once a hallucinogen is injected, it targets the neural circuits in the brain that use the neurotransmitter serotonin. The prefrontal cortex is equally targeted by the drug; this part is responsible for a person’s mood, cognition, and perception. Also altered by hallucinogens are the parts of the brain that regulate arousal and physiological responses to stress and panic.

Behavioral and some physical effects to these parts range from feelings of euphoria, blurred vision, sense of relaxation, disorganized thoughts, anxiety, agitation, paranoia, and panic.

In selected cases, psychosis can be induced by hallucinogens. Psychosis is a mental disorder where thoughts and emotions are altered because the person has lost grip on reality. Psychosis is more than just the sensual manifestations that hallucinations show. The alteration has crossed over to what goes on in the user’s brain.

Are Hallucinogens Addictive?

Habitual drug taking develops tolerance in the person’s system and as time progresses, there begins a craving for the drug and the user is forced to take more of the substance to achieve a stronger effect than the first time.

Initial responses to hallucinogen doses include flashbacks, experiencing the peak moment of its effects repetitively, impaired motor function, loss of memory and neural function, severe depression, and permanent changes in sensory perception.

What Are the Withdrawal Symptoms?

When a user resists the job from his system, withdrawal symptoms such as depression, fear of going insane, hypothermia, and permanent post-hallucinogenic perceptual disturbance occur.

The patient can also experience psychosis, violent behavior, and suicide attempts despite the discontinuation of the drug.

What Causes Hallucinogen Overdose? Signs of an Overdose

Overdosing on hallucinogens is rare, but it can happen. Consuming too much of a substance can lead to a bad trip, which is characterized by intense negative feelings and disturbingly realistic hallucinations. It could also lead to dangerous behavior that may result in injury or death.

If you think you or someone else is overdosing on a hallucinogen, look for signs of severe distress, like panic attacks, agitation, and vomiting. If you see these signs, call emergency help.

How Do You Treat Hallucinogen Addiction? Detox & Treatment

There are an array of options and treatments for hallucinogen abuse. Pharmacological treatments have yet to come up with a solution for the drugs’ long-term symptoms. The most recommended and used treatment is behavioral therapy.

The therapy includes detoxification (removing the drug completely from the body and providing a safe and calming environment that hopefully patients can get their energy and stability from.

Final Thoughts: Addressing Hallucinogens Abuse and Addiction

It is important to remember that all drugs develop risks once it is taken. The unpredictability of hallucinogens can allow the user’s symptoms to progress faster than they should and can lead to more body malfunctions.

This is why continued exposure and use of the drug are dangerous. Moreover, the effects on a person’s body remain to be unseen until contact with the drug. Seek professional treatment if you know someone abusing hallucinogens.