Brazoria County Sheriff's Department

Narcotic Division

Hallucinogens

What are hallucinogens?

Hallucinogens (also called psychedelics) are drugs which affect perception, sensation, thinking, self-awareness and emotion. Changes in time and space perception, delusions (false beliefs), and hallucinations (experiencing unreal sensations) may be mild or overwhelming, depending on dose and quality of the drug. Effects vary: the same person may have different reactions on different occasions. Many natural and synthetic hallucinogens are in use. LSD , a synthetic, is the most potent and best studied. Mescaline (from the Peyote cactus), psilocybin (from a mushroom found in Mexico), morning glory seeds, DMT, DOM (STP), PMA, MDA, and others have somewhat similar effects. Phencyclidine (PCP) is sometimes considered a hallucinogen although it does not easily fit into any one category. PCP is discussed in a separate section.

 

What is LSD?

Lysergic acid comes from fungus (ergot) and was first converted to lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in l938. It was not until l943 that its psychoactive properties accidentally became known.

 

What are the effects of LSD?

Effects of LSD vary greatly according to the dosage, the personality of the user, and the conditions under which the drug is used. Basically, it causes changes in sensation. Vision altered users describe changes in depth perception and in the meaning of the perceived object. Illusions and hallucinations often occur. The sense of time and of self are altered. Sensations may seem to "cross over"--that is, music may be seen or color heard.
Physical reactions range from minor changes such as dilated pupils, a rise in temperature and heartbeat, or a slight increase in blood pressure, to tremors. The user's emotional response to LSD varies widely. High doses can greatly alter the state of consciousness.

 

What is a flashback?

A flashback is a recurrence of some features of a previous LSD experience days or months after the last dose. Flashbacks may be spontaneous, or they may be triggered by physical or psychological stress, by medications such as antihistamines, or by marijuana. A flashback that occurs without apparent reason often causes great anxiety. Infrequent users of LSD rarely report flashbacks. Heavy use of the drug seems to produce them more frequently. Flashbacks, however, are extremely rare.

 

Does LSD improve creativity and self-knowledge?

Though some people who have taken LSD say they feel more creative, research has failed to show significant changes. In some cases, LSD may reduce the motivation to work, thus reducing creativity. New perceptions of the body and of the self have been reported, but they can be frightening as well as gratifying.

 

What is the source of illicit LSD?

Nearly all LSD comes from illegal domestic laboratories or is smuggled in from abroad. The quality of the drug varies. Some LSD is fairly pure; however, most street samples contain impurities and adulterants. Generally, the user has no way of knowing the quality of the LSD or any drug obtained on the street.

 

What are the dangers of LSD?

After taking LSD, a person loses control over normal thought processes. Although many perceptions are pleasant, others may cause panic or may make a person believe that he or she cannot be harmed. Either reaction may bring about behavior that can be dangerous to the user. Longer term harmful reactions include anxiety and depression, or "breaks with reality" which may last from a few days to months. The exact cause-and-effect relationship between LSD use and emotional disruption is not known.
When a person has suffered from emotional disturbance before using LSD, the drug may simply act to trigger breakdown.

 

Is there evidence that heavy LSD use affects the mind?

Research has shown some changes in the mental functions of heavy users of LSD, but they are not present in all cases. Heavy users sometimes develop signs of organic brain damage, such as impaired memory and attention span, mental confusion, and difficulty with abstract thinking. These signs may be strong or they may be subtle. We do not yet know whether such mental changes are permanent or if they disappear when LSD use is stopped.

 

Can LSD damage chromosomes?

While pure LSD does not appear to damage chromosomes, street LSD is so often mixed with other substances that its effects are uncertain.

 

What is mescaline?

Mescaline comes from the Peyote cactus and its effects are similar to those of LSD. (Often street doses of mescaline, psilocybin and LSD contain amphetamines (stimulants), DOM (STP), phencyclidine (PCP), or other contaminants.