Hallucinogens

Some hallucinogens are natural plants or mushrooms and some are man-made. How you will feel on these drugs is unpredictable.  You might feel extremely happy, relaxed, spiritually inspired or open to the world in a new way. Or you might feel scared, lonely, sad or overwhelmed. 

These effects wear off slowly over 9-12 hours and your sense of reality returns to normal. But the effects of the drug do not always go away once it wears off -  it's possible to have mood swings, strong anxiety, and even flashbacks at a later time.

There are two kinds of Hallucinogens:  classic hallucinogens (such as LSD) and dissociative drugs (such as PCP).  Both types can cause hallucinations. Dissociative drugs can also make you feel out of control or disconnected from your body and surroundings. 

Classic hallucinogens

These have been used for centuries as a spiritual and healing tool. But they can also cause intense and rapid emotional changes as well as feelings of panic, fear and loss of control.  Classic hallucinogens include:

• LSD, a powerful mind-altering chemical
• Psilocybin, a type of mushroom found in South America, Mexico, and the U.S. 
• Peyote (mescaline), a component of a small cactus. It can also be man-made.
• DMT, a powerful chemical found in some Amazonian plants. Ayahuasca is a tea made from those plants. DMT is also made in a lab as a white powder that is smoked
• 251-NBOMe, a man-made hallucinogen similar to LSD and MDMA (Ecstasy) but much stronger

Dissociative Drugs

These are most often used socially - to have fun, as club drugs, to deal with stress, and in the most negative way as “date rape drugs.”  They include:

• PCP, found as tablets, capsules, liquid and white crystal powder (the most common) 
• Ketamine, an anesthetic used for surgery, sold as a powder, pill, or injectable liquid.  It can be snorted or added to drinks as a date-rape drug
• Dextromethorphan (DXM), a cough suppressant found in some over-the-counter cold and cough medicines (syrups, tablets, and gel capsules)  
• Salvia, a plant from Mexico and South America. The fresh leaves are chewed or you can drink the extracted juices. The dried leaves are smoked.

IMMEDIATE EFFECTS OF CLASSIC HALLUCINOGENS

Hallucinogens change the way you experience the world. You may have hallucinations, causing you to see, feel, hear and sense things that don’t exist in normal reality. They can also cause strong emotions, quick changes in your mood and the sense that time is slowing down. Some people feel a sense of panic while others may feel deeply relaxed.  

They may also cause physical changes such as increased blood pressure and breathing rate, uncoordinated movement and nausea.  These effects usually start soon after taking the drug and can last up to 12 hours.

LONG TERM EFFECTS OF CLASSIC HALLUCINOGENS

It is possible to become psychologically addicted to hallucinogens but not physically addicted.  Your mind can create a strong  desire for it.  You can also develop a high degree of tolerance, so you need larger doses to get similar effects.  The good news is that tolerance for classic hallucinogens is short-lived, and there are usually no physical withdrawal symptoms when you stop long-term use.  

There are two possible but rare long-term effects: flashbacks and persistent psychosis.  There is no way to know when or if they will happen and the exact causes are not known.  They can happen to anyone, even after a single dose. There is no set treatment for flashbacks. Some antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs may help improve mood and treat psychosis if needed.

IMMEDIATE EFFECTS OF DISSOCIATIVE DRUGS

Dissociative drugs distort what you see and hear and create a sense of floating and separation from reality. You may feel anxious and confused and have memory loss, numbness, and increased blood pressure and heart rate. These effects depend on the amount taken.  They can begin within minutes of taking the drug and last for several hours, or even days.  

Different dissociative drugs can also produce some dangerous effects.

• At moderate to high doses, PCP can cause seizures, severe muscle contractions, violent behavior, and even psychotic symptoms similar to schizophrenia.
• At moderate to high doses, ketamine can lead to extreme sleepiness, hallucinations, being unable to move your body, and amnesia. At high doses, you might also have frightening feelings of being detached from your senses, likened to a near-death or out-of-body experience called “K-hole”.
• Salvia can cause strong but short-lived effects (up to 30 minutes), including changes of mood ranging from sadness to uncontrollable laughter.
• DXM is safe in a cough medicine when used at recommended doses (typically 15–30 milligrams).  But it can lead to serious side effects when abused. Like PCP and ketamine, DXM at doses from 200 to 1,500 milligrams can make you feel removed from your body and your surroundings and almost in a trance-like state.  It also increases the risk of seizures, rapid heart rate and trouble breathing.

LONG TERM EFFECTS OF DISSOCIATIVE DRUGS

Dissociative drugs can cause changes in how the heart beats, either too fast, too slow or irregularly.  They can also slow down your breathing which raises the level of carbon dioxide in the body, a very dangerous situation.

Repeated use of PCP can lead to tolerance (you need higher doses to get the same effect) and withdrawal symptoms when the drug is stopped. Other effects include  memory loss, depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and feeling isolated and lonely -which can last a year or more after chronic use stops.

HOW DO THEY WORK?

Not everything is understood about how hallucinogens work.  Researchers think they change the way important natural chemicals in the brain and spinal cord communicate - and this effects your emotions, memory, senses, sleep, hunger, sexual behavior, and muscle control.  For example,

• Hallucinogens change how serotonin works – and this effects memory, learning, mood, sleep and heart rate

• PCP, ketamine, and DXM change how glutamate works  – and this effects anxiety, depression and the experience of pain

• PCP also changes the action of dopamine - which may be part of how it produces hallucinations and delusions

Below are two reports from NIDA to learn more about how hallucinogens work:  

• Research Report Series on Hallucinogens and Dissociative Drugs  – a report for the general public.
• Mind Over MatterThe Brain’s Response to Hallucinogens

Most hallucinogens are not considered addictive because they don’t lead you to focus on getting the drugs in an out of control way. But LSD does cause drug tolerance, so you may need larger doses to get the same effects.  And PCP is physically addictive, causing withdrawal symptoms like cravings, headaches, and sweating. The addictive qualities of other hallucinogens are not yet known but are being studied.

These screening tools can help you look at your patterns of drug use to see if they are  harming your health and your life.  You can take them in the privacy of your home or wherever you feel comfortable.  The screenings are private and you get immediate online feedback on your drug use.

There are many stages in the recovery process. The first steps are accepting you have a problem that is harming your life. When you are ready and willing to get treatment, it is time to plan your recovery.

Learning about the many ways to recover can help you see a path ahead. You may need different treatments and support at different stages of the process. There are many tools to help you create the life you want to live.

• INDIVIDUAL, GROUP OR FAMILY COUNSELING
  These therapies give you ongoing help in handling life problems, coping better, and learning healthy ways to live a sober life and reduce the risk of relapse.

• BEHAVIORAL THERAPIES
  These are based on the idea that all behaviors are learned and that unhealthy behaviors can be changed. One of those used often in addiction treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This helps you see and change your thoughts, feelings and behaviors related to using drugs and other life issues.

• SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS
  12-step programs and other types of peer-support groups provide connection, understanding and guidance from others in recovery to help you live drug-free and reduce the risk of relapse. They are an important part of recovery.

Our TREATMENTS section describe a range of recovery options so you can find the help that best meets your needs. Also see our PROGRAMS & SUPPORT section to learn about the many ways to grow and heal throughout your recovery.

There are currently no FDA-approved medications to treat hallucinogen abuse. But certain medications can help you deal with the anxiety and depression you may feel when stopping hallucinogen use. Your healthcare provider can help you find the right medication for you.

FOR ADULTS

FOR FAMILIES

12-step programs

Twelve-step programs are an important part of the recovery process. They are based on a set of guiding principles and the support of people who share their own experiences of stopping drug use and staying drug-free. People recovering from many types of addiction can join a 12-step program.

NON 12-STEP PROGRAMS

FAITH-BASED PROGRAMS

These programs approach recovery through various religious traditions including Christian, Jewish, Islamic and Buddhist.

A faith-based recovery program understands that addiction and substance use is not just a physical problem – it reflects the spiritual and emotional suffering of an individual. These recovery programs seek to restore each person’s well-being through guidance and spiritual support, and encourages them to transform their lives totally.

To learn more about these programs see our PROGRAMS & SUPPORT section.

APPS

Mobile apps give you another tool to support your recovery. They do not offer medical advice or provide addiction treatment. But they do offer practical support for recovery that is affordable, private and always available.

Apps can track sober time, help you manage triggers and emotions, find and share meetings, contact your sponsor discretely, keep you motivated, connect you with a recovery community, and more.

Many good apps are available for both the iPhone/iPad and Google Android phones. Of note, it is estimated that 7 out of 10 free apps use ads. This can be distracting and because ads use data they can cost you money in the long run. Many apps offer a premium version as an in-app purchase which has extra useful features and usually no ads. You can try out the free version of the app and upgrade to premium if it is helping you.

Build a Sober Network

Connect with people socially who are also working on their sobriety for support, sharing and encouragement.

ONLINE MEETINGS AND CHAT ROOMS

A chat room lets you communicate in real time on the Internet. Everyone who is logged in sees what you are typing, but two people can still have a private chat on the side. People from any location can join in, making them an ideal format for groups of people.

Chat meetings are chat rooms with a chairperson who introduces topics for people to address. Chat meetings are scheduled in advance for a specific period of time.

NA Online meetings usually use Zoom. The group sets them up, gets a meeting code and password and either sends the information to all group members or to the Central Office, who post the info online.

HOLISTIC APPROACHES

When you stop using some hallucinogens you may have cravings and withdrawal symptoms - such as nervousness, sadness, headaches, sweating, flashbacks and rapid heart beat. Holistic therapies can help you cope with these early symptoms - and throughout the recovery process. Over time you can build better health, inner calm and strength – so you can think more clearly and focus on what is best for you. You may also find it easier to connect with others, your deeper self or to something greater than yourself, however you define that.

For those in recovery, holistic approaches work best when they are part of professional treatment and they are often part of addiction recovery programs. Studies show that success rates improve strongly when holistic approaches are included in treatment.

• Practices such as yoga, meditation, tai chi and exercise help reduce stress and ease withdrawal symptoms.
• Through mindful awareness you begin to notice your thoughts and feelings but not react to them in the usual way. You learn how to stay in the present and keep your mood and mind steady. This helps you experience cravings and triggers without being overwhelmed by them.
• Approaches such as deep breathing, biofeedback, hypnotherapy, guided imagery and relaxation use the power of the mind to support you and are there whenever you need them.
• Acupuncture and massage help relieve withdrawal symptoms and cravings, rebalance brain chemicals affected by hallucinogen use, and reduce anxiety.

Part of a holistic approach also includes being in nature. Finding a safe, quiet and natural place can refresh the soul and provide the space to explore whatever form of spirituality moves you.

To learn more about specific holistic therapies and their place in recovery visit our HOLISTIC SUPPORT section.

SOBER LIVING HOMES

Sober homes are designed to provide safe and supportive group living for people recovering from addiction. They are based on peer support, structure and learning new life skills in a setting that is free of alcohol or drugs. They serve as a transition between treatment and return to normal life.

There are thousands of sober homes in the United States and many different types. At a minimum, they offer peer-to-peer recovery support while others have professional clinical services to promote long-term recovery. There are residences for specific populations such as language spoken, male or female, women with children, by age, co-occurring problems, medication status, and prison re-entry.

See our SOBER HOUSING section for help in finding sober living homes near you and across the U.S.