Rainbow Pediatrics Knowledgebase


		Knowledgebase: Questions about Drugs and Tobacco Questions about drug use, for adolescents and their parents. 10. What are Hallucinogens? - Top Hallucinogenic drugs are substances that distort the perception of objective reality. The most well-known hallucinogens include phencyclidine, otherwise know as PCP, angel dust, or loveboat; lysergic acid diethylamide, commonly known as LSD or acid; mescaline and peyote; and psilocybin, or "magic" mushrooms. Under the influence of hallucinogens, the senses of direction, distance, and time become disoriented. These drugs can produce unpredictable, erratic, and violent behavior in users that sometimes leads to serious injuries and death. Drownings, burns, falls, and automobile crashes have also been reported. In 1993, hallucinogens were associated with almost 10,000 hospital emergency room visits and approximately 200 deaths. People under the influence of hallucinogens frequently cause themselves physical harm or exhibit violent behavior toward others. What Are the Physical Risks Associated With Using Hallucinogens? increased heart rate and blood pressure sleeplessness and tremors lack of muscular coordination sparse, mangled, and incoherent speech decreased awareness of touch and pain that can result in self-inflicted injuries convulsions coma heart and lung failure What Are the Psychological Risks Associated With Using Hallucinogens? a sense of distance and estrangement depression, anxiety, and paranoia violent behavior confusion, suspicion, and loss of control flashbacks behavior similar to schizophrenic psychosis catatonic syndrome whereby the user becomes mute, lethargic, disoriented, and makes meaningless repetitive movements Everyone reacts differently to hallucinogens -- there’s no way to predict if you can avoid a "bad trip". The effect of hallucinogens can last for 12 hours -- do you really want to lose control of your body and mind for that long? Don’t get doped into thinking that taking hallucinogens will lead you to self-discovery. Jimson weed, also known as angel’s trumpet, can cause serious illness or even death. Using hallucinogens can affect learning and memory. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quick Facts Is there any way to predict how I will react to taking LSD? The effects of LSD are unpredictable. They depend on the amount taken, the user’s personality, mood and expectations, and the surroundings in which the drug is used. Usually, the user feels the first effects of the drug 30-90 minutes after taking it. These effects include dilated pupils, higher body temperature, increased heart rate and blood pressure, sweating, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, dry mouth, and tremors. Sensations and feelings change much more dramatically than the physical signs. The user may feel several different emotions at once or swing rapidly from one emotion to another. Depending on the dose, the drug can produce delusions and visual hallucinations, which can be frightening and cause panic. Users refer to their experience with these acute adverse reactions as a "bad trip," and the effects typically last for about twelve hours. Terrifying thoughts and feelings, fear of insanity and death, injuries, and fatal accidents have occurred during states of LDS intoxication. Anyone can experience a bad trip and there is no way to predict what your own experience will be. I’ve heard that hallucinogens aren’t even addictive. So what is the big deal? LSD does not produce compulsive drug seeking behavior like cocaine, alcohol, or nicotine, but LSD produces tolerance, so that users who take the drug repeatedly must take progressively higher and higher doses in order to achieve the same state of intoxication. This is an extremely dangerous practice, given the unpredictability of the drug, and can result in increased risk of convulsions, coma, heart and lung failure, and even death. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Resources American Council for Drug Education 167 West 74th Street New York, NY 10023 212-758-8060 1-800-488-DRUG Families Anonymous, Inc. P.O. Box 3475 Culver City, CA 90231-3475 310-313-5800 1-800-736-9805 Nar-Anon Family Groups P.O. Box 2562 Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274 310-547-5800 Narcotics Anonymous P.O. Box 9999 Van Nuys, CA 91409 818-773-9999 National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence 12 West 21st Street, 7th Floor New York, NY 10010 1-800-622-2255 National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information P.O. Box 2345 Rockville, MD 20847-2345 301-468-2600 1-800-729-6686 National Families in Action 2296 Henderson Mill Road, Suite 300 Atlanta, GA 30345 404-934-6364 Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Information and Treatment Referral Hotline 11426-28 Rockville Pike, Suite 410 Rockville, MD 20852 1-800-622-HELP - Updated: March 10, 2001 [e-Mail me the Knowledgebase]- [Search our Knowledgebase] - [Question Not Answered?]
James L Horwitz, MD David C. Thomas, MD Barbara Lindberg, PNP