First aid What to do if someone passes out or EFFECTS experiences other complications: Hallucinogens can produce changes • People may experience panic attacks or in thought, sense of time and mood. hyperventilate – in this case they may need The hallucinogen experience, or reassurance and encouragement to slow ‘tripping’ as it is often called, will vary down their breathing from person to person. The effects • If someone begins to have heart can range from feeling good, to an palpitations, shortness of breath, wheezing, intensely unpleasant experience, fitting, severe headaches, blurred vision or commonly known as a ‘bad trip’. begins to exhibit signs of psychosis, move Bad trips can produce feelings them to a cool quiet place – if symptoms of anxiety, fear or losing control. persist call an ambulance (see supporting Other effects are a sense of time Psychedelics someone through psychosis) passing slowly, feelings of unreality • If the person is unconscious, turn them on or separation from the body, and their side to reduce the risk of them vomiting an inability to concentrate. Intense and choking, make sure their airways are sensory experiences, such as seeing clear, and do not leave them alone – call an bright colours and a blurring of the ambulance immediately on 000 or 112 from senses and changes in perception, a mobile phone (you don’t need credit or to are also commonly experienced. Both be in range) positive and negative feelings may • If breathing has stopped, give mouth-to- be experienced during the same drug HALLUCINOGENS mouth resuscitation. If there is no pulse, experience. Effects of hallucinogens commence CPR (cardio-pulmonary usually begin within half an hour, and Hallucinogens are a group of drugs resuscitation) if you are trained. are at their strongest in three to five that can change a person’s perception, Withdrawal hours, but may be felt for up to 16 There do not appear to be physical hours. so that they see or hear things that are symptoms associated with withdrawal from Physical effects may be: distorted or don’t actually exist. hallucinogens. Counselling may assist people • A common perception of being able who experience psychological dependence to ‘hear’ sights and ‘see’ smells problems. • Headache and dizziness Detox and treatment • Loss of perception of time, space and Phone the Alcohol & Drug Information Service surroundings Hallucinogens include: of absorbent paper and taken orally. Each water or bridges • Aggravated symptoms of mental illness. in your State for details of services able to • Body sensations such as twitches, • Psilocybin, found in certain mushrooms square represents one dose. • Difficulties processing information (brain Some users experience unpredictable provide advice and support (see rear cover). feeling weak, numb or shaky called magic mushrooms Ketamine (also known as K or Special K) is activity) flashbacks, where they relive the effects of Your local health service will also be able to • Nausea and sometimes vomiting • Mescaline, from the peyote cactus a dissociative general anaesthetic for human • Damage to memory and concentration the drug without actually using it. These can provide advice of local services. • Changes in thought processes • Increased risk of liver and kidney damage. sometimes occur years after the drug has • Restlessness, anxiety and sometimes • LSD, also known as acid. and veterinary use, often described as a Tips for families been taken. even violent behaviour. Background Information horse tranquilliser. It has been increasing in Emotional problems and social problems Avoid panicking. Get informed about the prevalence and use, and is sometimes being • Increased risk-taking behaviour due to Chemically, LSD is very similar to the Natural hallucinogens have been used There is also a risk of experiencing psychosis. effects of these types of drugs. used in ecstasy production. While strictly it is feelings of decreased inhibition neurotransmitter serotonin, and the for centuries by various cultures for their The risk is heightened if there is a history of Keep communicating. Avoid pleading or a depressant, in higher doses it can cause • Increased aggression (mainly related to effect of the drug increases the rate of mystical and spiritual associations. People previous psychosis or mental illness. nagging. Don’t only talk about the problem. hallucinogenic effects. Often it is used with psychosis symptoms) leading to assaults sensory information delivery into the pick mushroom varieties such as ‘gold Collecting and consuming wild magic Choose your moment to express your other related party drugs, and users report • Relationship and family problems brain, thus essentially flooding it with tops’ and then cook them or eat them as mushrooms can be risky, as even concern. experiencing what they call the “keyhole • Poor or reduced study or work an excess of sensation. Other effects they would normal mushrooms. Synthetic experienced users have accidentally The use of hallucinogens can cause mental effect” which is an intense (often short- performance. may include loss of concentration and psychedelics were developed in the twentieth eaten a poisonous toadstool or species of health symptoms such as paranoia and lasting) feeling of a loss of bodily sensations. out-of-body experiences. century, becoming popular in the 1960s and Mental health problems mushroom. anxiety. The person may need lots of calm, early 1970s. Risks and harms • Regular use and high doses may cause Dependency gentle reassurance. Blind subjects who take LSD in long-term mental health problems such Know what to do in an emergency, overdose experimental situations do not Forms of the drug Physical problems Hallucinogens are rarely used daily or • Increase in heart rate and rise in blood as suicidal thoughts, panic attacks, severe or a psychotic episode. Have contact numbers experience any visual illusions at all. Some hallucinogens occur naturally in regularly, but when they are, tolerance pressure depression, anxiety and paranoia readily available. If there is violence have a Hallucinations are usually warped plant species; others are manufactured in develops quickly. Tolerance means that • Increased risk for those with cardiac • Depression is also common following safety plan. Being supportive does not mean visual exaggerations of normal visual laboratories. They vary widely in their origin higher amounts are needed to be taken problems ‘tripping’ you have to be at risk. input to the brain, and could be more and chemical composition. to get the same effect as before. Some • Increased frequency and severity of mood It’s okay to talk about it. Get support for properly referred to as illusions. • Fatalities or accidents can occur as a regular users may develop a psychological One of most popular hallucinogens is LSD. swings yourself even if they don’t want help. result of ‘tripping’ in unsafe environments, dependence. Complications seem to occur LSD is odourless, white and tasteless. It is • Intensified disturbing thoughts and as a result of people believing they can fly, through binge use and using hallucinogens usually soaked into decorated small squares paranoia or freaking out during a bad trip i.e. near with other drugs i.e. amphetamines. 81 © 2007 Family Drug Support www.fds.org.au © 2007 Family Drug Support www.fds.org.au 82.