What are Hallucinogens?  Hallucinogenic substances are characterized by their ability to cause changes in a person’s perception of reality.  Persons using these drugs often report seeing images, hearing sounds, and feeling sensations that seem real, but do not exist.  In the past, plants and fungi that contained hallucinogenic substances were abused but now they are produced synthetically to provide a higher potency.  Types:  LSD  PCP  Psilocybin  Mescaline  DMT  Foxy  Dextromethorphan

LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)  It was discovered in 1938 and is manufactured from lysergic acid, which is found in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains.  It is not considered an addictive drug since it does not produce compulsive drug-seeking behavior.  Users refer to their experience as a “trip” and to acute adverse reactions as a “bad trip”. These experiences are long and typically begin to clear after about 12 hours.

PCP (Phencyclidine)  It was developed in the 1950s as an intravenous anesthetic, but was discontinued in 1965 because patients became agitated, delusional, and irrational while recovering form its anesthetic effects.  It is illegally manufactured in laboratories and sold on the streets as angel dust, ozone, wack, and rocket fuel.  PCP is a white crystalline powder that is readily soluble in water or alcohol. I has a distinctive bitter chemical taste.  It can be easily mixed with dyes and comes in the form of tablets, capsules, and colored powders.  It can be snorted, smoked, or ingested.  For smoking, it is often applied to a leafy material such as mint, parsley, oregano, or marijuana.  PCP is addictive; its repeated abuse can lead to craving and compulsive PCP-seeking behavior.

Psilocybin  Psilocybin is obtained from certain mushrooms found in South America, Mexico, and the U.S, although it can also be produced synthetically.  The mushrooms are usually ingested orally, but can also be brewed in a tea or added to food to mask the bitter flavor.  Once ingested, psilocybin is broken down in the user’s body to produce psilocybin, another hallucinogenic substance.

Mescaline  Mescaline is the active ingredient in peyote, a small, spineless cactus historically used by natives in Mexico and southwestern US as part of religious rites.  It can also be produced synthetically.

DMT  DMT is found in a number of plants and seeds, but can also be produced synthetically.  It is usually ingested by snorting, smoking, or injecting the drug.  DMT is not effective in producing hallucinogenic effects when ingested by itself and is therefore used in conjunction with another drug that inhibits its metabolism.

Foxy  Foxy Methoxy is available in a powder, capsule, and tablet form and is usually ingested orally.  Foxy tablets and capsules vary in color and logos sometimes appear on tablets.

Dextromethorphan (DXM)  DXM is a cough suppressing ingredient in a variety of over the counter cold and cough medications.  At the doses recommended for treating coughs, the drug is safe and effective.  At much higher doses, it produces dissociative effects similar to those of PCP Ketamine.

Health Effects  Users often experience changes in perception, thought, and mood.  The effects of these drugs are often unpredictable and a user may experience different effects compared to other users or past usage.  Hallucinogens can produce physiological effects:  Elevated heart rate  Increased blood pressure  Dilated pupils  Sweating  Loss of appetite

Extent of Use  In 2006, 35.3 million Americans aged 12 and older reported trying hallucinogens at least once during their lifetimes.  In 2007, 3.1 % of eight graders, 6.4 % of tenth graders, and 8.4 % of twelfth graders reported lifetime use of hallucinogens.