Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens (also known as psychedelics) are a group of drugs that change the way people see and feel reality, causing things like hallucinations. Hallucinations are experiences where people hear or see things that aren’t really there, or where perception is altered. For example, colours may be brighter and shapes may appear to be changing or moving. Users may also experience unusual or weird thoughts and feelings.

Hallucinogens can occur naturally or be synthetic. The most commonly known synthetic hallucinogen is LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide), also known as acid, trips or tabs. Naturally occurring hallucinogens include magic mushrooms, DMT (Dimethyltryptamine), mescaline (found in peyote), or salvia.

Personal Stories

“Me and a few mates decided to take a few tabs of acid. Fifty minutes later I collapsed and thought I saw shadows coming towards me. I was screaming and crying for help, but my friends were also high and unable to help.” by Alice,

effects

The effects of hallucinogens are extremely unpredictable and changing, even if the person has used the same drug before. Factors that influence the drugs’ effects include the person using (e.g. mood, personality), where the drug is taken, and the type of drug.

Effects of hallucinogens may include:

Immediate

• Increased heart rate and body temperature
• Enlarged pupils
• A trance-like state
• Feeling of euphoria (a ‘high’)
• Restlessness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t really there)
• Stomach cramps
• Disorientation (increasing the risk of injury)
• Tiredness, dizziness and amnesia
• Anxiety, panic attacks, fear or terror (a ‘bad trip’)
• Loss of consciousness
• Paranoia (feeling extremely suspicious) and psychosis, lasting up to several hours after the drug effects have worn off
• Poisoning, particularly with magic mushrooms if the wrong type is used. This can be fatal.

Long-term

• Flashbacks (spontaneous recurrences of a specific experience). Sometimes these can last for days, weeks or sometimes even years after taking the drug
• Dependence (addiction)
• Depression
• Anxiety and panic attacks
• Memory problems
• Personality changes
• Psychosis (see glossary).

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