Hallucinogen Abuse: Know the Signs, Symptoms, and Effects

According to a survey that has been carried out since 1975, the use of marijuana and hallucinogens by adults 35 to 50 years old has reached an all-time high in 2022 ( Monitoring the Future (MTF)). 

However, hallucinogen abuse is not a recent trend. It began as a counter to popular culture initiative. Remember the Beatniks – the Beatles, John Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and the whole new generation that was associated with Nirvana, World Peace and Anti-Vietnam protests. They were the ones using Hallucinogens. The rave parties were popular in the 1990s, and now again in the Age of AI, hallucinogen use rears its ugly head. 

However, thankfully, substance abuse treatment programs are no longer archaic. Today most of these programs are supervised by compassionate and empathic staff. The treatment is state of art, and advanced medications for detoxification at some of the best residential centers in the country, can put one on the path to recovery with ease. 

You only need to know where you or your loved one would be comfortable and check in at the earliest date. 

The hallucinogens afterglow!

As we are talking about hallucinogens – a class of drugs with high potential for abuse, it is necessary to understand what these are actually. 

The Center for Addiction and Mental Health defines hallucinogens as psychedelic drugs – meaning drugs that can change the way the user sees, hears, smells, or feels about the world around them in both positive and negative ways.

For example, under the influence of a hallucinogen, a person could either feel as if he/she is in a Valley of Flowers or a near Eden-like place, or they could be triggered to experience intense anxiety or paranoia even in normal surroundings. The experience is nothing like anything that one could have felt earlier as it is an out-of-the-world experience and causes a sense of dissociation.

The nightmare begins!

Alternatively, the user could also feel anxiety-stricken, and fearful, and be triggered to do things that they normally would not pursue such as chase the cops, steal from a store, or attack someone without provocation as their mood and thoughts are affected. This is one of the reasons that hallucinogen use is so dangerous. If you know of somebody who could be on a high due to a hallucinogen, be sure to dial the addiction hotline or substance abuse help as soon as possible to ensure that no harm gets done.

The popular ones! 

When it comes to hallucinogens some of the most common ones are:

• LSD: found in nature
• Mescaline: This derived from cactus
• Silocybin: Derived from mushroom
• Cannabis: A plant derivative grown in many parts of the world 
• Ecstasy 
• Ketamine: Lab manufactured

These are a few common ones, others are more potent. Most of these are manufactured in laboratories.  

Causes and Risk Factors: The power of influence!   

As we mentioned earlier, the Beats generation was synonymous with Nirvana and during those days the artists who have since become legends – like Keourac, Ginsberg, The Beatles, and Bob Dylan were experimenting with Hallucinogens and creating phenomenal work under the influence. However, many of them have since become teetotallers. Others died under the influence. And thus one of the most powerful periods of creativity ended. So one of the reasons for people abusing drugs like Ecstasy is influence. You want to be seen as in-trend, and fashionable, and therefore there is the pressure to experiment especially in parties known as rave parties.

Another reason is social or rather environmental. Substance abuse is commoner if there is an instance of a mental health condition or prior history of abuse. Another category of people who are more vulnerable to drug abuse are those who have a difficult time coping with stress Otherwise if someone has you have a hard time coping with stress and turmoil and lack a proper support group.

The risks of overdose and death are high. Here are the reasons:

• Hallucinogens are never sold in the pure, they are generally mixed with something more dangerous. 
• For example, if your kid is buying ecstasy off the streets then it is not pure – other drugs, such as methamphetamine – could be incorporated aggravating the risks as no one would know what it is that they have consumed, and the detoxification would be tricky. 
• Even mescaline, the drug produced from cacti is a mix of other potent chemicals.

Signs and Symptoms of Hallucinogen Use: Timely Identification is key to Recovery 

As Hallucinogens impact perception and behavior. If you are pregnant, you should not be using hallucinogens.

Recognize the signs!

Physical signs: The most common signs are elevated BP, nausea, dizziness, muscle spasms, etc. Your child could also perspire more and have vision problems and respiratory distress.

Cognitive symptoms: Poor judgment, delusions, lack of focus, and hallucinations

Psychosocial symptoms: Mood swings, aggression, and irritability.

Comorbid Conditions:

If your child or loved one has been using hallucinogens and is addicted to them, it is necessary to check for comorbid conditions as well. For example, are they abusing other substances such as heroin, meth, alcohol, and marijuana as well?

As troubling, hallucinogen addiction is followed by other mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, anorexia, etc. Furthermore, it is also seen that people who have a prior mental health issue such as bipolar and schizophrenia are more likely to fall prey to substance abuse disorder. Therefore, it is also necessary to get diagnosed with comorbid disorders in case you have reason to believe that your loved one has this sort of substance abuse problem.

Effect of Hallucinogen use: Changes everything!

The impact of drug abuse is always drastic. We have identified a few possibilities of life as an addict.  

• You have a different group of friends who party hard and do drugs
• You are generally an outcast 
• You do not confide in friends and family
• There is a solid wall, that cannot be broken
• You are immune to things that affect others
• You could be homeless 
• Lastly, you could be in trouble with the law as the drugs make you do risky things
• You could have hurt people around you by taking avoidable risks

Withdrawal and overdosing

Long after hallucinogen use, the person could experience symptoms of withdrawal pangs. They could suffer from some unpleasantness – twitching, dry mouth, anxiety, and agitation. Therefore, it is recommended that even years after recovery one must keep in touch with the treatment center and the therapists.   

When it comes to overdosing, it is necessary to call the emergency number. As the person will feel less pain compared to normal people, the effect of damage cannot be understood.

Remember an overdose of a psychedelic drug is a life-threatening condition and should be treated as such. Some of the common symptoms of overdose are Tachycardia, Abnormal BP, coma, and convulsions.

Recovery from substance abuse

We recommend both mental health and substance abuse treatment, as there could be underlying factors that could delay or hamper recovery. Check-in at the nearest residential center for a substance abuse program. The more you wait the more you lose out on precious time. Whether it is you or someone or a close family member,  reach out to thereahabsupport.com at the earliest or call us at 949.325.7994