Psychedelics And Psychotomimetics
Psychedelics, phantastica, and psychotomimetics, are all names used for hallucinogenic drugs. This group of drugs consists of over ninety percent of naturally occurring plants and additional synthetic substances that produce an array of consciousness altering effects. Additionally, this group of drugs causes sensory disturbances, and at times, schizophrenia like psychosis. Each category of hallucinogenic drug produces different effects, however most of these drugs’ side effects very similar to natural psychosis. A few of these drugs do not cause hallucinations making the name of this group misleading (Zilney, 2011). Before describing the different types of hallucinogenic drugs, such as LSD, Psilocybin, Peyote, Ecstasy and PCP, one must
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understand the four general types of hallucinogens. First general type is serotonergic hallucinogens which LSD, psilocybin (found in mushrooms) and mescaline, known as peyote, fall under. The serotonergic hallucinogens effect serotonin transmission inside the brain affecting an individual’s mood. Additionally, effects include hallucinations and other types of altered consciousness. The second type is methylated amphetamines which does not produce hallucinations, however alters moods and consciousness. Drugs that are classified as the type are MDA and MDMA which is commonly referred as ecstasy. The third type is anticholinergic hallucinogens which are naturally occurring substances found in plants, such as atropine and scopolamine. Acting on the cholinergic synapses in the brain, these drugs places individual users in a surreal state of mind or daze, and when these users come off the drugs, they do not remember the daze. Finally, phencyclidine (PCP) and ketamine are the two drugs classified as dissociative anesthetics. Effects of the type are similar to surgical anesthetics with the user remaining semiconscious. These drugs influence the receptor in the brain which affects glutamate, a neurotransmitter (Zilney, 2011). Naturally occurring plants that are considered hallucinogenic were discovered in Central and South America, and Africa. These plants were considered sacred and utilized in religious and cultural observances. With the effects of extreme psychoactivity, a loosening of the imagination and intensification of emotions states (Goode, 2011), the use of hallucinogenic drugs became popular in European countries and the United States during the 1960’s (Zilney, 2011). The most commonly known hallucinogenic drugs are LSD, psilocybin, peyote, Ecstasy, and PCP. Possibly the most potent psychoactive drug known is LSD which was created by Albert Hoffman in 1938 as a medical drug.
Originally tested on animals which demonstrated to be worthless, Hoffman mistakenly spilled some of the drug on his hand and experienced a surreal high. Subsequently, LSD was distributed to psychologists and psychiatrists for prescribing the drug to patients in conjunction with psychotherapy (Zilney, 2011). Rapidly absorbed, LSD’s effects begin within 20 to 60 minutes. Individuals can fee highs lasting 8 to 12 hours with effects that include pupil dilation; increased temperature and sweating; increased heart rate and blood pressure; visual and auditory hallucinations; depersonalization, an experience where the users “step outside” of themselves; and increase ability to empathize (Zilney, 2011). Each person’s psychological reaction to LSD varies, however, the person’s current mood at the time of taking LSD usually intensifies. There is no physical dependence and no withdrawal symptoms in using LSD. However, tolerance levels quickly increase resulting in daily doses becoming ineffective after 3 to 4 days. Additionally, a cross tolerance develops among other serotonergic drugs such as mescaline. Flashbacks to hallucinogenic trips can occur when one stops using LSD. Approximately 30 to 60 percent of heavy users who quit LSD experience the flashbacks and hallucinogenic trips. LSD can produce harmful results in which a individual can experience a “bad trip” with symptoms of acute paranoia and initiation of a psychotic state resulting in possible self-harm, harm to others, long term psychiatric illness, or worst case scenario of suicide (Zilney,
2011). Very similar to LSD, Psilocybin, commonly referred as “magic mushrooms” or “shrooms”, is another serotonergic drug which simulates natural serotonin, thereby activates serotonin receptors in the brain.
understand the four general types of hallucinogens. First general type is serotonergic hallucinogens which LSD, psilocybin (found in mushrooms) and mescaline, known as peyote, fall under. The serotonergic hallucinogens effect serotonin transmission inside the brain affecting an individual’s mood. Additionally, effects include hallucinations and other types of altered consciousness. The second type is methylated amphetamines which does not produce hallucinations, however alters moods and consciousness. Drugs that are classified as the type are MDA and MDMA which is commonly referred as ecstasy. The third type is anticholinergic hallucinogens which are naturally occurring substances found in plants, such as atropine and scopolamine. Acting on the cholinergic synapses in the brain, these drugs places individual users in a surreal state of mind or daze, and when these users come off the drugs, they do not remember the daze. Finally, phencyclidine (PCP) and ketamine are the two drugs classified as dissociative anesthetics. Effects of the type are similar to surgical anesthetics with the user remaining semiconscious. These drugs influence the receptor in the brain which affects glutamate, a neurotransmitter (Zilney, 2011). Naturally occurring plants that are considered hallucinogenic were discovered in Central and South America, and Africa. These plants were considered sacred and utilized in religious and cultural observances. With the effects of extreme psychoactivity, a loosening of the imagination and intensification of emotions states (Goode, 2011), the use of hallucinogenic drugs became popular in European countries and the United States during the 1960’s (Zilney, 2011). The most commonly known hallucinogenic drugs are LSD, psilocybin, peyote, Ecstasy, and PCP. Possibly the most potent psychoactive drug known is LSD which was created by Albert Hoffman in 1938 as a medical drug.
Originally tested on animals which demonstrated to be worthless, Hoffman mistakenly spilled some of the drug on his hand and experienced a surreal high. Subsequently, LSD was distributed to psychologists and psychiatrists for prescribing the drug to patients in conjunction with psychotherapy (Zilney, 2011). Rapidly absorbed, LSD’s effects begin within 20 to 60 minutes. Individuals can fee highs lasting 8 to 12 hours with effects that include pupil dilation; increased temperature and sweating; increased heart rate and blood pressure; visual and auditory hallucinations; depersonalization, an experience where the users “step outside” of themselves; and increase ability to empathize (Zilney, 2011). Each person’s psychological reaction to LSD varies, however, the person’s current mood at the time of taking LSD usually intensifies. There is no physical dependence and no withdrawal symptoms in using LSD. However, tolerance levels quickly increase resulting in daily doses becoming ineffective after 3 to 4 days. Additionally, a cross tolerance develops among other serotonergic drugs such as mescaline. Flashbacks to hallucinogenic trips can occur when one stops using LSD. Approximately 30 to 60 percent of heavy users who quit LSD experience the flashbacks and hallucinogenic trips. LSD can produce harmful results in which a individual can experience a “bad trip” with symptoms of acute paranoia and initiation of a psychotic state resulting in possible self-harm, harm to others, long term psychiatric illness, or worst case scenario of suicide (Zilney,
2011). Very similar to LSD, Psilocybin, commonly referred as “magic mushrooms” or “shrooms”, is another serotonergic drug which simulates natural serotonin, thereby activates serotonin receptors in the brain.