Hallucinogens, also known as psychedelics, have been used for many cultural, recreational, medical, and spiritual purposes for many years. LSD, mushrooms, PCP, and ecstasy are only a few of these drugs which are recognized as having the ability to change and alter the way one feels, sees, smells, hears, etc. They have been used for cultural purposes by many cultures dating back as early as the 1960s where they were believed to promote spiritual rituals and healing (Dupuis, 2022). Medically, hallucinogens have been used in the past in addition to the present, to
treat disorders such as addiction, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. In the 1990’s psychedelics began being used by young adults in the “rave” scenes as they believed it enhanced their social experience with the music and surrounding lights and colors (Dupuis, 2022). It is important for those who do choose to use these substances to be aware that the dose or amount taken can greatly affect the severity of the symptoms. Because of their potent and significant ability to create the altering of your perception, sights, smells, thoughts, etc. it is also highly possible for someone who takes too high of a dose to have negative experiences including
hallucinations, nausea, increase in heart rate, feeling “detached” from one’s body, etc. Risks are even greater if the substance they are taking has been laced with unknown or other toxic chemicals and/or substances (CAMH, 2021). Since these substances are most often bought unregulated and untested, there are high chances that they are not pure and often have been found to contain other extremely dangerous substances such as methamphetamine. If one takes a hallucinogen that is laced with and/or contains another toxic and illegal substance, the health risks are even greater when taken in high dosages which could include overdose or even worse, death. References:
CAMH: The center for Addiction and Mental Health. (2021). Hallucinogens
. https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/hallucinogens
Dupuis D. (2022). The socialization of hallucinations: Cultural priors, social interactions, and contextual factors in the use of psychedelics.
Transcultural psychiatry
,
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(5), 625–637. https://doi.org/10.1177/13634615211036388
