Overview: Hallucinogens are found in plants and fungi or are synthetically produced and are among the oldest known group of drugs used for their ability to alter human perception and mood.

 

Street Names: Acid, Blotter, Blotter Acid, Cubes, Doses, Fry, Mind Candy, Mushrooms, Shrooms, Special K, STP, X, XTC.

 

Looks Like: Hallucinogens come in a variety of forms. MDMA or ecstasy tablets are sold in many colors with a variety of logos to attract young abusers. LSD is sold in the form of impregnated paper (blotter acid), typically imprinted with colorful graphic designs.

 

Methods of Abuse: The most commonly abused hallucinogens among junior and senior high school studes are hallucinogenic mushrooms, LSD, and MDMA or ecstasy. Hallucinogens are typically taken orally or can be smoked.

 

Affect on Mind: Sensory effects include perceptual distortions that vary with dose, setting, and mood. Psychic effects include distortions of thought associated with time and space. Time may appear to standtill, and forms and colors seem to change and take on new significance. Weeks or even months after some hallucinations have been taken, the user may experience flashbacks - fragmentary recurrences of certain aspects of the drug experience in the absence of actually taking the drug. The occurrence of a flashback is unpredictable, but is more likely to occur during times of stress and seems to occur more frequently in younger individuals. With time, these episodes diminish and become less intense.

 

Affect on Body: Physiological effects include elevated heart rate, increased blood pressure, and dilated pupils.

 

Overdose Effects: Deaths exclusively from acute overdose of LSD, magic mushrooms, and mescaline are extremely rare. Deaths generally occur dueo suicide, accidents, and dangerous behavior, or due to the person inadvertently eating poisonous plant material. A severe overdose of PCP and ketamine can result in: respiratory depression, coma, convulsions, seizures, and death due to respiratory arrest.

*Above information and images below courtesy of the Drug Enforcement Administration (www.dea.gov)