Psychedelic Programs

Drug. Facts Hallucinogens National Institute on Drug Abuse NIDAWhat are hallucinogens Hallucinogens are a diverse group of drugs that alter perception awareness of surrounding objects and conditions, thoughts, and feelings. They cause hallucinations, or sensations and images that seem real though they are not. Psychedelic Programs' title='Psychedelic Programs' />Hallucinogens can be found in some plants and mushrooms or their extracts or can be human made. People have used hallucinogens for centuries, mostly for religious rituals. Common hallucinogens include the following Photo by DEA. Blotter sheet of LSD soaked paper squares that users take by mouth. Ayahuasca is a tea made from one of several Amazonian plants containing dimethyltryptamine DMT, the primary mind altering ingredient. Ayahuasca is also known as Hoasca, Aya, and Yag. DMT is a powerful chemical found in some Amazonian plants. Psychedelic Programs' title='Psychedelic Programs' />Manufacturers can also make DMT in a lab. The drug is usually a white crystalline powder. A popular name for DMT is Dimitri. D lysergic acid diethylamide LSD is one of the most powerful mood changing chemicals. It is a clear or white odorless material made from lysergic acid, which is found in a fungus that grows on rye and other grains. LSD has many other names, including Acid, Blotter, Dots, and Yellow Sunshine. Peyote mescaline is a small, spineless cactus with mescaline as its main ingredient. The art of landscape has been central to the Gardner Museum since its inception. Wavy Gravy is not your ordinary clown. He certainly has had a long run since his earlier days as a poet and standup comic, improvisational theater artist. John Halpern, a research psychiatrist at Harvard, says he suspects that psychedelic compounds such as LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline stimulate a center in the brain. SchoolGroups.jpg' alt='Psychedelic Programs' title='Psychedelic Programs' />Peyote can also be synthetic. Buttons, Cactus, and Mesc are common names for peyote. N,N dimethyltryptamine psilocybin comes from certain types of mushrooms found in tropical and subtropical regions of South America, Mexico, and the United States. Other names for psilocybin include Little Smoke, Magic Mushrooms, Purple Passion, and Shrooms. Some hallucinogens also cause users to feel out of control or disconnected from their body and environment. Common examples include the following Dextromethorphan DXM is a cough suppressant and mucus clearing ingredient in some over the counter cold and cough medicines syrups, tablets, and gel capsules. Robo is another popular name for DXM. Ketamine is used as a surgery anesthetic for humans and animals. Much of the ketamine sold on the streets comes from veterinary offices. While available as an injectable liquid, manufacturers mostly sell it as a powder or as pills. Other names for ketamine include K, Special K, or Cat Valium. Phencyclidine PCP was developed in the 1. Its no longer used for this purpose due to serious side effects. While PCP can be found in a variety of forms, including tablets or capsules, liquid and white crystal powder are the most common forms. PCP has various other names, such as Angel Dust, Hog, Love Boat, and Peace Pill. Salvia divinorum salvia is a plant common to southern Mexico and Central and South America. Other names for salvia are Diviners Sage, Maria Pastora, Sally D, and Magic Mint. How do people use hallucinogens People use hallucinogens in a wide variety of ways, as shown in the following chart How do hallucinogens affect the brain Research suggests that hallucinogens work at least partially by temporarily disrupting communication between brain chemical systems throughout the brain and spinal cord. Some hallucinogens interfere with the action of the brain chemical serotonin, which regulates moodsensory perceptionsleephungerbody temperaturesexual behaviormuscle control. CIIS 25 academic programs train healers and thoughtleaders through a blend of academic, cultural, spiritual, and philosophic inquiry. Psychedelic Programs' title='Psychedelic Programs' />Other hallucinogens interfere with the action of the brain chemical glutamate, which regulates pain perceptionresponses to the environmentemotionlearning and memory. Short Term Effects. The effects of hallucinogens can begin within 2. Salvias effects are more short lived, appearing in less than 1 minute and lasting less than 3. Hallucinogen users refer to the experiences brought on by these drugs as trips, calling the unpleasant experiences bad trips. Along with hallucinations, other short term general effects include increased heart ratenauseaintensified feelings and sensory experienceschanges in sense of time for example, time passing by slowlySpecific short term effects of some hallucinogens include increased blood pressure, breathing rate, or body temperatureloss of appetitedry mouthsleep problemsmixed senses such as seeing sounds or hearing colorsspiritual experiencesfeelings of relaxation or detachment from selfenvironmentuncoordinated movementsexcessive sweatingpanicparanoiaextreme and unreasonable distrust of otherspsychosisdisordered thinking detached from reality. Draft It Pro Serial'>Draft It Pro Serial. Long Term Effects. Little is known about the long term effects of hallucinogens. Researchers do know that ketamine users may develop symptoms that include ulcers in the bladder, kidney problems, and poor memory. Repeated use of PCP can result in long term effects that may continue for a year or more after use stops, such as speech problemsmemory lossweight lossanxietydepression and suicidal thoughts. Hallucinogens can cause severe visual disturbances. Photo by Steve JohnsonCC BYThough rare, long term effects of some hallucinogens include the following Persistent psychosisa series of continuing mental problems, including. Flashbacksrecurrences of certain drug experiences. They often happen without warning and may occur within a few days or more than a year after drug use. In some users, flashbacks can persist and affect daily functioning, a condition known as hallucinogen persisting perceptual disorder HPPD. These people continue to have hallucinations and other visual disturbances, such as seeing trails attached to moving objects. Symptoms that are sometimes mistaken for other disorders, such as stroke or a brain tumor. What are other risks of hallucinogens Other risks or health effects of many hallucinogens remain unclear and need more research. Known risks include the following Some psilocybin users risk poisoning and possibly death from using a poisonous mushroom by mistake. High doses of PCP can cause seizures, coma, and death, though death more often results from accidental injury or suicide during PCP intoxication. Interactions between PCP and depressants such as alcohol and benzodiazepines prescribed to relieve anxiety or promote sleepalprazolam Xanax, for instance can also lead to coma. Some bizarre behaviors resulting from hallucinogens that users display in public places may prompt public health or law enforcement personnel intervention. While hallucinogens effects on the developing fetus are unknown, researchers do know that mescaline in peyote may affect the fetus of a pregnant woman using the drug. Are hallucinogens addictive Evidence indicates that certain hallucinogens can be addictive or that people can develop a tolerance to them. Use of some hallucinogens also produces tolerance to other similar drugs. For example, LSD is not considered an addictive drug because it doesnt cause uncontrollable drug seeking behavior. However, LSD does produce tolerance, so some users who take the drug repeatedly must take higher doses to achieve the same effect. This is an extremely dangerous practice, given the unpredictability of the drug. In addition, LSD produces tolerance to other hallucinogens, including psilocybin. On the other hand, PCP is a hallucinogen that can be addictive. People who stop repeated use of PCP experience drug cravings, headaches, and sweating as common withdrawal symptoms. Trumpet Tune Midi File on this page. Scientists need more research into the tolerance or addiction potential of hallucinogens.