Hallucinogens: or psychedelics are drugs that affect a person’s perceptions, sensations, thinking, self-awareness and emotions.  Hallucinogens include such drugs as LSD, mescaline, psilocybin, and DMT.  Some hallucinogens come from natural sources, such as mescaline from the peyote cactus.  Others, such as LSD, are synthetic or manufactured.

PCP: is sometimes considered an hallucinogen because it has some of the same effects.  However, it does not fit easily into any one drug category because it also can relieve pain or act as a stimulant.

What is LSD?

LSD is manufactured from lysergic acid, which is found in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains.  It was discovered in 1938 and is one of the most potent mood-changing chemicals.  It is odorless, colorless and tasteless.  It is sold on the street in tablets, capsules or occasionally in liquid form, usually taken by mouth and often added to absorbent paper such as blotter paper and divided into small squares.

What is Mescaline?

Mescaline comes from the peyote cactus and although it is not as strong as LSD, its effects are similar.  It is usually smoked or swallowed in the form of capsules or tablets.

What are some other psychedelic drugs?

Psilocybin comes from the peyote cactus.  It is sold in tablet or capsule form so people can swallow it.  The mushrooms themselves, fresh or dried, may be eaten.  DMT also acts like LSD.

Effects of psychedelic drugs:  (Effects are generally unpredictable.)

Physical effects include:  dilated pupils, higher body temperature, increased heart rate and blood pressure, sweating, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, dry mouth, and tremors.  Heavy users sometimes develop signs of organic brain damage, such as impaired memory and attention span, mental and difficulty with abstract thinking. 

Feeling and sensation effects:  The user may feel several different emotions at once or swing rapidly from one emotion to another.  The person’s sense of time and self change.  Sensations may seem to “cross over”, giving the user the feeling of “hearing” colors and “seeing” sounds.  All of these changes can be frightening and cause confusion suspiciousness, anxiety feelings of helplessness and panic.

What is PCP?

PCP (phencyclidine) is most often called “angel dust.”  It was first developed as an anesthetic in the 1950’s.  It was taken off the market for human use because it sometimes causes hallucinations.  PCP is available in a number of forms.  It can be a pure, white crystal-like powder, or a tablet or capsule.  It can be swallowed, smoked, sniffed or injected.  PCP is sometimes sprinkled on marijuana or parsley and smoked.  It is often sold as mescaline, THC or other drugs.  Sometimes it may not even be PCP, but a lethal by-product of the drug.  Users can never be sure what they are buying since it is manufactured illegally.

Physical effects:  Effects depend on how much is taken, the way it is used and the individual.  Effects include increased heart rate and blood pressure, flushing, sweating, dizziness, and numbness.  When large doses are taken, effects include drowsiness, convulsions, and coma.  Taking large amounts of PCP can also cause death from repeated convulsions, heart and lung failure, or ruptured blood vessels in the brain.

Feeling and sensation effects:  Users find it difficult to describe and predict the effects of PCP.  For some users, PCP in small amounts acts as a stimulant.  For many users it changes how they see their own bodies and things around them.  Speech, muscle coordination, and vision are affected; senses of touch and pain are dulled; and body movements are slowed.  Time seems to “space out”.