CHAPTER 1

2

HA

L LUC

I NO

GE N

S (P S YC

HE D

E L I CS )

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HALL

UCINOGENS

Substance

s that a

lter s

enso

ry pro

cessi

ng in th

e bra

in,

causin

g perce

ptual d

isturb

ances,

changes

in thought

proce

ssing, a

nd deper

sonaliz

ation

(Jones and B

artlett

Lea

rning, L

LC 2013)

HISTORY OF HALLUCINOGENS

Throughout the ages, individuals who saw visions or experienced hallucinogens were believed to being holy or sacred, as receiving divine messages, or possibly as being bewitched and controlled by the devil. There are many indications that medicine men, shamans, witches, oracles, mystics and priests of various groups were familiar with drugs and herbs that caused such experiences and today are known as hallucinogens ( National Institute on Drug Abuse [NIDA] 2001).

HISTORY OF HALLUCINOGENS CONTINUED

Psychedelic drugs became popular when some medical professionals, such as; Harvard psychology professor Timothy Leary, reported that these drugs allowed users to get in touch with themselves and achieve a peaceful inner serenity ( Associated Press 1999).

Natural psychedelics became publicized, such as mescaline and peyote, and had been used on a frequent basis for religious purposes by the Native American culture. Native Americans believed that it was a gift from god that would make them closer with him. They also praised him in ceremonies where the peace pipe is used for sacramental purposes as well.

The first organized peyote church was the First-Born Church of Christ, incorporated in 1914 in Oklahoma. The Native American Church of the United States were chartered in 1918 and is the largest such group at present, approximately holding 100,000-200,000 members.

Jones and Bartlett Learning, LLC 2013

NATURE OF HALLUCINOGENS

What constitutes a hallucinogenic agent? There has been no agreements thus far, for several reasons;

A variety of seemingly unrelated drug groups can produce hallucinations, delusions, or sensory disturbances under certain conditions

▫ anti-cholinergics

▫ cocaine

▫ amphetamines

▫ steroids

( All can produce hallucinations on high doses)

Responses to even the traditional hallucinogens can vary from person to person and from experience to experience

Jones and Bartlett Learning, LLC 2013

NATURE OF HALLUCINOGENS CONTINUED

Multiple mechanisms are involved in the actions of these drugs, which contribute to the array of responses that they can cause. These drugs influence the complex inner workings of the human mind and have been described as a psychedelic, psychotogenic, or psychotomimetic.

Psychedelics- substances that expand or heighten perception and consciousness

Psychotogenics- substances that initiate psychotic behavior

Psychotomimetics- substances that cause psychosis-like symptoms (psychosis mimicking), and used in medicine today

The features of hallucinogens that distinguish them from other drug groups are their ability to alter perception, thought, and feeling in such a manner that does not normally occur except in dreams or during extreme religious exalterations (NIDA 2009)

Jones and Bartlett Learning, LLC 2013

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HALLUCINOGENS

Possible Signs Of Use Extreme Reactions

Heightened Senses Increased Body Temperature

Loss of Control Electrolyte Imbalance

Loss of Identity Cardiac Arrest

Illusions and Hallucinations A Nightmare like Trip (LSD)

Altered Perception of Time and Distance

Unable to Direct Movement, Feel Pain, or Remember

Typical users experience several stages of sensory experiences. The four stages are as follows;

1. Heightened, exaggerated senses (Altered Senses)

2. Loss of Control (Bad Trip)

3. Self-Reflection (User becomes aware of thoughts and feelings long hidden beneath the surface, forgotten, and/or repressed

4. Loss of Identity and Cosmic Merging (Mystical-spiritual aspect of the drug experience)

PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF HALLUCINOGENS

TYPES OF HALLUCINOGENIC AGENTS Traditional Hallucinogens:

LSD (d-lysergic acid diethylamide) is one of the most potent mood-changing chemicals. 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.

Peyote is a small, spineless cactus in which the principal active ingredient is mescaline. This plant has been used by natives in northern Mexico and the southwestern United States as a part of religious ceremonies. Mescaline can also be produced through chemical synthesis.

Psilocybin (4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine) is obtained from certain types of mushrooms that are indigenous to tropical and subtropical regions of South America, Mexico, and the United States. These mushrooms typically contain less than 0.5 percent psilocybin plus trace amounts of psilocin, another hallucinogenic substance.

PCP (phencyclidine) was developed in the 1950s as an intravenous anesthetic. Its use has since been discontinued due to serious adverse effects.

Jones and Bartlett Learning, LLC 2013

TYPES OF HALLUCINOGEN AGENTS CONTINUED

Tryptamines- molecules that resemble the neurotransmitter serotonin that have hallucinogenic properties and can exist naturally in herbs, fungi, and animals

Foxy- the synthetic substance chemically named 5-methoxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine is a relatively new hallucinogen and has been used at raves and clubs in Arizona, California, New York, and Florida

Nutmeg- high doses of nutmeg can be quite intoxicating, causing symptoms such as drowsiness, stupor, delirium, and sleep

TYPES OF HALLUCINOGEN AGENTS CONTINUEDPhenylethylamine Hallucinogens:

Dimethoxymethylamphetamine- The basic structure (DOM or STP) is amphetamine. It is a fairly powerful hallucinogen that seems to work through mechanisms similar to those found with mescaline and LSD

“Designer” Amphetamines- Hybrid actions as psychedelic stimulants and described as a unique experience by drug abusers as a “smooth amphetamine” or entactogen (drug that enhances the sensation and pleasure of touching)

3,4- Methylenedioxyamphetamine- (MDA) First synthesized in 1910 and structurally related to both mescaline and amphetamine

Methylenedioxymethamphetamine- (MDMA) Modification of MDA but is thought to have more psychedelic and less stimulant activity (euphoria)

Jones and Bartlett Learning, LLC 2013

TYPES OF HALLUCINOGEN AGENTS CONTINUED

Anticholingeric Hallucinogens:

Atropa Belladonna- Drug used by early folklore (Greeks) this plant has been used by assassins and murderers

Mandragora Officinarum: The Mandrake- contains several active psychedelic alkaloids (hysoscyamine, scopolamine, atropine, and mandragorine) used as a love potion for centuries because of it’s toxic properties and recommended as a sedative to relieve nervousness conditions and relieve pain (Schultes and Hofmann 1980)

Jones and Bartlett Learning, LLC 2013

PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF HALLUCINOGENSThe risks associated sense of distance and estrangement,

depression, anxiety, paranoia, violent behaviors, confusion, suspicion, loss of control, flashbacks, psychosis, lethargic and disoriented (as in a catatonic state)

The physical effects and risks associated, include increased heart rate and blood pressure, sleepiness and tremors, lack of muscle coordination, incoherent speech, decreased awareness of touch and pain, coma heart and lung failure, and even death.

Santoro, DeLetis and Bergman 2001

While there is no specific protocol for hallucinogens, there are medications that can calm the body and mind during withdrawal and then, if necessary, handle any psychological shifts caused by the absence of the drug. Other addiction treatment therapies will be necessary for the addict to learn to live without using drugs for mind-altering, recreational reasons. Most hallucinogen addicts use other drugs as well and may need to be treated for addiction to other substances.

Recovery Connection, 2005-2013

TREATMENT FOR HALLUCINOGEN ABUSE

REFERENCES:

1) Chapter 12 – Hallucinogens in textbook

2) Viewed the PowerPoint presentation on hallucinogens

3) Viewed the History Channel series on hallucinogens.  History of LSD Part 1, History of LSD Part 2, History of LSD Part 3, History of LSD Part 4

4) Viewed Erowids Psychoactive Vaultson on hallucinogens

5) http://www.recoveryconnection.org/about-us/

6) http://www.erptherapy.com/info-hallucinogens.asp

7) Viewed video on LSD

8) Viewed website for  Office of National Drug Control Policy on Hallucinogens.