Substance-Related Disorders
Hallucinogens
- Important Facts
- Symptoms of Intoxication
- Detoxification/Withdrawal Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prenatal Effects
- Negative Consequences
- Warning Signs That Hallucinogens are a Problem
- For Parents: What to Look for
- For Parents: What to Listen for
Important Facts
- Common hallucinogens include LSD, "Magic Mushrooms," Mescaline, "Ecstasy," and DMT.
- Hallucinogens are typically taken orally, although DMT is smoked.
- Tolerance develops rapidly.
- Hallucinogens are not typically used more than a few times per week because the side effects require a long recovery time.
- Hallucinogens alter how the brain perceives time, reality and the environment.
- Some who use hallucinogens report flashbacks.
- Eight percent of the population has used hallucinogens at least once.
- Use is greatest among 18 to 34-year olds.
- Men use hallucinogens three times more often than women do.
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Symptoms of Hallucinogen Intoxication
- Anxiety
- Blurring of vision
- Depression
- Disturbed perceptions of external stimuli or events (sometimes so intense as to cause delusions or hallucinations)
- Enlarged pupils
- Fear of losing one’s mind
- Impaired judgment which may lead to inappropriate or bizarre behavior (e.g., feeling no pain, feeling indestructible or poor decision making)
- Impaired social functioning
- Lack of coordination
- Palpitations
- Paranoid thinking (having irrationally suspicious thoughts)
- Rapid heart rate
- Sweating
- Tremors
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Detoxification/Withdrawal Symptoms
- Strong drug cravings
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Treatment
Treatment may involve a variety of therapies including:
- Narcotics Anonymous or other program
- Individual therapy
- Family therapy
- Group therapy
- Vocational counseling
- Inpatient detoxification may be necessary if medical complications or possibility of self-harm are present.
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Prenatal Effects
- Increased risk of miscarriage
- Birth defects
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Negative Consequences
- Bizarre and unpredictable behavior such as attempting to "fly" from high places
- Brain damage from chronic exposure
- Delusions and hallucinations
- Financial difficulties
- Flashbacks
- High rate of accidental deaths
- Neglecting important responsibilities
- Paranoia (acting irrationally suspicious and distrustful)
- Suicidal tendencies
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Warning Signs That Hallucinogen use is a Problem
- Altered perception of reality (e.g., hallucinations, delusions or suspicious thoughts).
- Continued use despite significant problems related to hallucinogen use, e.g., financial and/or legal problems, neglecting responsibilities.
- Finding it increasingly difficult to resist using hallucinogen when available.
- Spending a great deal of time in activities necessary to obtain hallucinogen.
- Hallucinogen cravings.
- Hallucinogen flashbacks.
- Stopping or reducing important social, occupational or recreational activities because of hallucinogen use.
- Minimizing hallucinogen consumption, including frequency and intensity.
- Unsuccessful attempts to control or cut down use.
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For Parents: What to Look for
- Anxiety
- Cold hands and feet
- Colored powder in a small plastic bag
- Depression
- Discolored sugar cubes
- Dizziness
- Enlarged pupils
- Facial flushing
- Hallucinations
- Lack of muscular coordination
- Nausea
- Paranoia
- Parsley in plastic bags with methanol odor
- Psychotic behavior
- Rambling speech that is without order or clear meaning
- Small tube of liquid capsules and pills (small squares of paper with design)
- Strong body odor
- Trembling
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For Parents: What to Listen for
- Acid, acid head, battery acid
- Angel dust, angel hair
- Blotter, blotter acid
- Crystal
- Cube
- Cupcakes
- Dust
- Embalming fluid
- G-riffic
- Lethal weapon
- Liquid X, liquid ecstasy
- LSD
- Lucy, Lucy in the sky with diamonds
- Mad dog
- Mellow yellow
- Mushroom, shroom
- Paper acid
- PCP
- Pink panther
- Serenity
- Specks
- STP
- Sugar cubes
- Super joint
- Taking a cruise
- Ticket to ride
- Tripping
- Wack
- White dust
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