While it is true that among all drugs used for recreational purposes, hallucinogens are actually among the least addictive. Still, addictive psychedelics can be, and too often are, fatally dangerous psychoactive substances. Addictive hallucinogens are also capable of being abused and destroying lives, families, and professions. Reach out to Midwest Recovery online or call us at 833.627.0039 today to learn how our team of skilled professionals can help treat and recover from addictive hallucinogens in Ohio.
What Are Hallucinogens?
The early history of hallucinogens is rooted in medicinal and spiritual use. Still, today they are commonly abused by younger people for their psychoactive effects, making addictive hallucinogens a concern for many parents. The diverse collection of available addictive psychedelics are known as dissociatives because when taken, they alter perception, feeling, and experiences. Made up of different plant and chemical compounds, addictive hallucinogens in Ohio and beyond change normal mental functions by disrupting the pathway of communication between the brain and spinal cord. Additionally, through the release of serotonin, addictive hallucinogens can give people a boost of euphoria and increase the sense of touch as well as heightened sexual pleasure. However, repeated use of hallucinogens can bring about a dependency to receive what otherwise would be normal doses of serotonin to feel joy.
The Most Common Addictive Hallucinogens
Many hallucinogens are listed as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act. This means that they have no currently accepted medical use in the US. and have a high potential for abuse. Some of the most common addictive hallucinogens include:
LSD
This odorless and colorless drug is known for its extremely potent psychedelic effects. Originally used as a therapeutic aid in the 1960s, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) is now most commonly abused by individuals in their late teens and early twenties who have become addicted to the mood-elevating “trips” this addictive hallucinogen can produce through powder, liquid, or pill form. People who drop acid or mellow yellow (two common names for LSD) have reported acute anxiety and depression because of its impact on serotonin levels in their brains.
PCP
Originally developed in the 1950s as an anesthetic for surgery, Phencyclidine (PCP) was later discovered as a dissociative anesthetic. Therefore, the medical use was stopped in the 60s, but its use recreationally was just getting started. This is likely because PCP, also called Angel Dust, Hog, Love Boat, and Peace Pill, is an addictive hallucinogen that delivers an “out of body” experience with a side order of potentially perilous side effects. PCP can be added to other substances like meth and marijuana to enhance those drugs’ psychedelic effect further.
Psilocybin
Commonly called Magic Mushroom or Shrooms, psilocybin is a chemical compound in some psychedelic mushrooms native to Mexico, Central America, and the United States. While you won’t find these addictive hallucinogens in the grocery story product aisle alongside edible mushrooms, they are distinguishable by their slender stems and caps with dark gills on the underside. Shrooms are taken orally or brewed in a tea and bring on hallucinations, cause a person not to separate the real world from a fantasy one, and cause panic attacks. If consumed in large doses, psychosis may ensue from using psilocybin.
Ketamine
Ketamine is a sedative that causes immobility and amnesia. Unfortunately, this addictive hallucinogen, also called Special K, Kit Kat or Vitamin K, is used as a date rape drug. While the surgical, dissociative anesthetic produces some hallucinogenic effects, usually through an injection, it can also come in powder or pill forms. The effect of this drug is quick (within a few minutes), and the hallucinations that follow last for approximately 30 to 60 minutes.
Mescaline
This addictive psychedelic is a hallucinogenic compound that is the active ingredient in Peyote, a small, spineless cactus. There is a suggestion that mescaline can be an effective treatment for depression and alcoholism. Although also traditionally used by Native Americans in spiritual rites, it still ranks as a Schedule I substance. As with other addictive hallucinogens, the use and abuse of mescaline can bring on hallucinations, illusions, and altered perception of space and time and alter a person’s own body image.
Learn More at Midwest Recovery
If someone in your family could benefit from treatment for their use of addictive hallucinogens in Ohio, learn how Midwest Recovery in Toledo can help get their life back on track. Contact us using our secure online form or call us at 833.627.0039 today.
