HALLUCINOGENS

Methods of Abuse and Effects

The effects of hallucinogens are unpredictable.  They depend on the amount taken, the user's personality, mood and expectations and the surroundings in which the drug is used.  Usually, the user feels the first effects of the of the drug 30 to 90 minutes after taking it.  These effects include dilated pupils, higher body temperature, increased heart rate and blood pressure, sweating, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, dry mouth and tremors.  Sensations and feelings change more than the physical signs.  The user may feel several emotions at once or swing rapidly from one emotion to another.

 Depending on the dose, the drug can produce delusions and visual hallucinations, which can be frightening and cause panic.  Users refer to these acute adverse reactions as a "bad trip,' and the effects typically last for about twelve hours.  Anyone can experience a bad trip and there is no way to predict what your experience will be.  Some of the more common hallucinogens are PCP (angel dust, LSD, Mescaline, Peyote, and Psilocybin (mushrooms).

The most commonly used drug is lysergic acid diethylamine or LSD.  The use of this drug is growing rapidly and purity is much higher than in past decades.  LSD does not produce compulsive drug seeking behavior like cocaine or alcohol.  LSD produces tolerance, so that the users who take the drug repeatedly must take progressively higher doses in order to achieve the same state of intoxication.  This is an extremely dangerous practice, given the unpredictability of the drug and can result in increased risk of convulsions, coma, heart failure and even death.

These drugs can produce unpredictable, erratic and violent types of behavior in users.  Drowning, burns, falls, automobile crashes and other vehicular accidents also have been reported as consequences of the use of hallucinogens.

 

 

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