· Although research is scarce, taking hallucinogens One in a series... during pregnancy may affect the development of the Alcohol Hallucinogens Do You Know... baby, and increase the chance of miscarriage. Alcohol, Other Drugs Heroin and Driving Inhalants Are hallucinogens addictive? Amphetamines Ketamine Most people who use hallucinogens do so occasionally. Anabolic Steroids LSD Repeated use of hallucinogens such as LSD or ecstasy Benzodiazepines Types of hallucinogens: LSD, mescaline, psilocybin, PCP, Methadone leads to tolerance, where the drug has reduced or no Caffeine cannabis, ecstasy, salvia and others effect. Sensitivity to the drug returns if the person stops Cannabis Methamphetamine using it for a period of time, and then starts again. Cocaine Opioids See also other brochures in the Do You Know series: LSD, Stopping use of hallucinogens does not usually cause Ecstasy, Cannabis and Ketamine. Ecstasy Rohypnol symptoms of withdrawal. However, people can develop GHB Tobacco psychological dependence, in which they feel they need the drug. What are hallucinogens? The term hallucinogen refers to many Hallucinogens What are the long-term effects different drugs, which are often called For more information on addiction and mental health issues, of taking hallucinogens? or a copy of this brochure, please contact CAMH’s R. Samuel “psychedelic” drugs. While the effects of Hallucinogen use may, on rare occasions, result in McLaughlin Addiction and Mental Health Information Centre: these drugs vary widely, all change the way ONTARIO TOLL-FREE: 1 800 463-6273 “flashbacks,” or replays of the drug experience, days, TORONTO: 416 595-6111 people see, hear, taste, smell or feel, and weeks or even years after the drug was taken. Some affect mood and thought. At large doses, To order multiple copies of this brochure, or other CAMH people who take hallucinogens feel depressed or anxious publications, please contact: all may cause a person to hallucinate, or see, Marketing and Sales Services long after they took the drug. TEL.: 1 800 661-1111 or 416 595-6059 in Toronto hear or feel things that aren’t really there. E-MAIL: [email protected] To make a donation, please contact: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation TEL.: 416 979-6909 E-MAIL: [email protected] If you have questions, compliments or concerns about services at CAMH, please call our Client Relations Co-ordinator at: TEL.: 416 535-8501 ext. 2028 Visit our website at: www.camh.net Copyright © 2004 Centre for Addiction and Mental Health A Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization Collaborating Centre Affiliated with the University of Toronto Disponible en français 2502j / 08-04 P255 Most of the hallucinogens used in North America belong Who uses hallucinogens? Different types of hallucinogens produce different to one of these six categories: Hallucinogens have been used since ancient times, in effects; for example: · indolealkylamines, which includes LSD (d-lysergic acid religion, medicine, magic and prophecy. In the 1960s LSD produces a kaleidoscope of visual patterns and diethlyamide, a semi-synthetic substance originally and 70s, hallucinogen use became a symbol of the changes perception. People who take LSD usually derived from “ergot,” a fungus that grows on rye and counter-culture among young people in North America know that the hallucinations are not real; however, other grains), LSA (d-lysergic amide, from morning and Europe. More recently, hallucinogen use has been the effects can appear real. glory seeds), psilocybin and psilocin (from Psilocybe associated with the “rave” scene. Ecstasy enhances mood and produces feelings of mushrooms) and DMT (dimethyltryptamine, from the empathy and intimacy. It does not usually cause bark of the Virola tree, and other sources) A 2003 survey of Ontario students in grades 7 to hallucinations. · phenylethylamines, which includes mescaline (found 12 reported that, after cannabis, other hallucinogens Ketamine causes an out-of-body feeling, which may be in peyote cactus), and “designer drugs” such as: are the most commonly used illicit drug. In the survey, pleasant or terrifying. - MDA (methylenedioxyamphetamine) 10 per cent of students reported they had used Salvia causes intense, short-lived hallucinogenic effects, - MDMA (ecstasy, methylenedioxymethamphetamine) hallucinogens other than cannabis in the past year. different from other hallucinogens. - PMA (paramethoxyamphetamine) However, use of LSD and ecstasy has decreased - 2-CB (4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine) in recent years. Information on hallucinogen use How long does the feeling last? - STP (2.5-domethoxy-4-methylamphetamine) by adults in Ontario is not available. The effects of some hallucinogens, such as LSD, last - TMA (trimethoxyamphetamine). for hours, while others, such as salvia, last only a · arylcycloalkylamines, such as PCP (phencyclidine) How do hallucinogens make you feel? short time. and ketamine How hallucinogens make you feel depends on: · cannabinoids, especially THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), · how much you use Are hallucinogens dangerous? found in marijuana, hash and hash oil · how often and how long you use Taking hallucinogens can be dangerous for several · anticholinergics, from the plant family Solanaceae, · your mood, expectation and environment reasons. which includes deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) · your age · Most of these drugs are illegal and unregulated, and and jimsonweed (Datura stramonium) · whether you have certain pre-existing medical may include toxins, or not even contain the drug they · diterpene salvinorin-A, from the plant Salvia divinorum. or psychiatric conditions are sold as. For example, drugs sold as ecstasy are · whether you’ve taken any alcohol or other drugs usually not pure MDMA, and have been found to Where do hallucinogens come from? (illicit, prescription, over-the-counter or herbal). contain other drugs, such as PMA, which can cause Some hallucinogens come from mushrooms (psilocybin), seizures and death. Drugs sold as mescaline are almost cacti (mescaline) and other plants (cannabis, salvia). Hallucinogens cause mostly psychoactive, or mind- always something else. Of these, cannabis and psilocybin are almost always altering, effects, which can be mild to intense. These · Hallucinogens affect perception and behaviour. Taking used in their natural form. Although LSD is used only effects vary from drug to drug, from person to person, them may cause people to become disoriented, have in a synthesized form, a related drug, LSA, is found in from one drug-taking episode to the next, and can even poor judgment and take risks. nature. Other hallucinogens, such as MDMA and change dramatically within one time of use. Effects can · Many hallucinogens can have very unpleasant or toxic ketamine, are created in laboratories. range from ecstasy to terror, from mild distortion of the effects (e.g., jimsonweed, deadly nightshade). senses to full hallucinations (where people believe that Hallucinogenic plants can be mistaken for other toxic Hallucinogens drug-induced visions or other perceptions are real). or lethal plants, for example, mushrooms. .