hallucinogens and how they work

WHAT ARE HALLUCINOGENS 

Hallucinogens are a category of drugs that alter the user’s thinking processes and perception in a manner that leads to significant distortions of reality. Just as shown in the movies, these drugs affect one’s perception far differently than many other types of drugs do. 

To many, the influence of these drugs represents experiences of new and even expanded consciousness, and, indeed, some individuals experience synesthesia (may see sounds, taste words, or feel a sensation on their skin when they smell certain scents). 

Other common effects produced by these drugs include hallucinations, an altered sense of time, and dissociative experiences (e.g., not feeling connected to one’s body or reality). Hallucinogens, while considered among the least-addictive of illicit drugs, can be fatally dangerous psychoactive substances with a wide potential for abuse.

Almost all hallucinogens contain nitrogen and are classified as alkaloids. Many hallucinogens have chemical structures similar to those of natural neurotransmitters (acetylcholine-, serotonin-, or catecholamine-like).

How do hallucinogens work?

The different plants and chemical compounds that makeup Hallucinogens alter normal brain function by disrupting communication between chemical systems in the brain and spinal cord. Hallucinogens also impact the release of serotonin (the chemical in the brain responsible for regulating mood, sleep, sensory perception, body temperature, sex drive, and muscle control). 

This is the reason why many individuals who use Hallucinogens report increased feelings of euphoria, touch, and sexual pleasure. However, repeated use can train the brain to become dependent(tolerance) on a Hallucinogen for a release of serotonin, instead of the brain producing normal amounts on its own or just the amount needed.

six types of  abused hallucinogens

• LSD
• DMT
• PCP
• PSYLOCIPIN
• MESCALINE
• kETAMINE

LSD

D-lysergic acid diethylamide commonly known as (LSD) is a manmade chemical made from ergot, a fungus that grows on certain grains. It is probably the most powerful hallucinogen presently, producing hallucinations, changes the way reality is perceived, and altered moods.

LSD is a synthetic drug that in small amounts can produce very powerful visual hallucinations and mood alterations. LSD was developed in 1938 by a chemist named Albert Hofmann, who was conducting research with ergot, a fungus, to develop its potential as a circulatory stimulant. 

The fungus had no practical uses and for this purpose and it was shelved. Five years later, Hoffman began working with it again and, after accidentally absorbing it through his fingertips, he experienced the drug’s hallucinogenic effects. After experimenting with his colleagues, the drug was marketed as a potential benefit to patients for psychotherapy purposes.

Most  LSD users typically feel euphoric, experience visual hallucinations, and often have very intense mood swings; however, so-called “bad trips” can occur in individuals, resulting in extreme anxiety, panic attacks, and significant depression.

Forms of LSD

LSD is found in 3 main forms which are, LSD capsule , liquid LSD, and LSD blotter paper that has been dosed with LSD liquid. It’s commonly referred to as 

• acid
•  dots
•  blotter acid
• windowpane
• mellow yellow 

Effects of LSD

• DIzziness 
• dry mouth
• numbness
• mood swings
• hallucination
• distorted thinking
• profound sweating
• loss of appetite

DMT

DMT(dimethyltryptamine or Dimitri), is a hallucinogenic found in some plants as well as inside the brains, blood, and urine of mammals. Those seeking a high from the compound commonly use Amazonian plants, like Ayahuasca, which will extract a derivative in the form of white crystalline powder.

DMT can be smoked, injected, or even consumed orally to produce intense hallucinations and euphoria. It is a Schedule 1 drug in the US and is also referred to as Dimitri. The worldwide use of DMT is increasing, as it has a large number of new users compared to other hallucination drugs.

Small amounts of DMT may occur naturally in the human brain. These trace quantities of DMT are hypothesized to be involved in people’s reports of certain unusual events, such as near-death encounters, mystical experiences, or alien abductions 

Unlike many other hallucinogens with relatively long duration of effects, overall, users have not reported many negative adverse effects.

Effects of DMT

• Agitation
• severe vomiting 
• Hallucination
• increase heart rate  
• body and spatial distortions
• mood swings 

Long-term DMT use doesn’t appear to cause tolerance and there is little evidence of the long-term effects of ayahuasca use.

3.PCP

PCP is a dangerous manmade substance that was originally developed as a general anesthetic but was discontinued for human use in 1965 due to side-effects. It is now an illegal street drug sold as a white powder or in liquid form. It’s still legal for use in animals but is rarely used in veterinary settings It can be snorted, injected, smoked, or swallowed.

Street names for PCP include;

• angel dust
•  animal tranquilizer
•  rocket fuel.

At least 14 types of PCP were sold on the street between the late 1960s and 1990s and many illegal samples contain PCC, a toxic chemical that releases cyanide and can cause poisoning. Although the prevalence of PCP addiction or PCP use disorder remains unknown, about 2.5% of the population has reported using PCP at least once in their lives.

PCP effects vary depending on the dose, but generally, the user will feel effects within 1-5 minutes if the hallucinogen is injected or smoked and within about 30 minutes if taken orally or snorted. Intoxication typically lasts about 4-6 hours, and PCP effects may include;

• Euphoria
• severe anxiety
• hallucinations 
• paranoia
• disorientation
• seizures
• amnesia

The effects of the drug are often enhanced when PCP is mixed with other substances, such as alcohol, stimulants such as cocaine, or depressants including narcotic medications. Chronic PCP use can lead to impairments in cognition, speech, and memory, and these deficits may last for months

Long term effects of PCP

• Respiratory issues
• depression
• heart attacks
• Intracranial hemorrhage

Chronic PCP users may develop tolerance leading to higher doses of the drug in order to experience desired effects. This can be dangerous since higher doses can cause seizures and coma.

PSYLOCIPIN

Psilocybin is a chemical compound contained in some psychedelic mushrooms found in Mexico, Central America, and the US. These mushrooms are distinguishable from edible mushrooms for their long, slender stems and caps with dark gills on the underside. 

They are literally ingested orally or brewed in tea to reduce the bitter flavor. Psilocybin can produce hallucinations, mirage view, panic attacks, and psychosis if consumed in large doses. It is also known as Magic Mushrooms and Shrooms. Psilocybin (4-phosphoryloxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine) is a hallucinogenic substance that is found in more than 200 types of mushrooms.

Effects of shrooms

• panic 
• paranoia
• vomiting
• nausea
• psychosis
• relaxation
• spiritual experience
• hallucination

Another risk associated with psilocybin use is that of poisoning. There exist a lot of mushrooms which some are poisonous. 

MESCALINE

A natural substance found as the main ingredient in the peyote cactus. The top of the spineless peyote cactus plants has disc-shaped "buttons" that contain mescaline. Peyote may be one of the oldest known hallucinogenic drugs used in Mexico by the Aztecs and by certain groups of Native Americans. These groups used it for hallucinogenic and medicinal purposes. 

Some Native American churches still have the legal right to use peyote in religious services despite its classification by the DEA. Others have used mescaline, as well as other hallucinogens, to enhance creativity and promote appreciation of beauty and art 14. The buttons are dried out and then either chewed or soaked in liquid to produce an intoxicating drink. Mescaline can also be made through chemical synthesis.

Effects of mescaline

• Vomiting
• flushed skin
• sweating
• Altered perception and body image
• anxiety
• increase heart rate
• coordination problems

KETAMINE

Ketamine is a surgical, dissociative anesthetic that also produces some hallucinogenic effects. Ketamine was designed as an anesthetic for both animal and human use, particularly in trauma or emergency situations. 

Nowadays, ketamine is abused for its dissociative effects and its popularity as a “club drug” is increasing, particularly among young adults and teens It is primarily injected widely for veterinarians, but can also come in powder or pill forms. 

Because Ketamine is a sedative and induces immobility, relief from pain, and amnesia, it has also been used as a date rape drug. It is often used in conjunction with cocaine, methamphetamine, amphetamine, or MDMA (Ecstasy)

what are the street names for ketamine?

• Kit Kat
• Special K
• K
• Cat tranquilizer

Effects of ketamine

• sadation
• psychosis
• paranoia
• hallusination
• nuasea
• dizziness
• siezures
• heart palpitation

cocaine rehab

WHAT IS COCAINE?

Cocaine is a powerfully addictive white stimulant drug made from coca leaves. For thousands of years, people in South America have chewed and ingested coca leaves (Erythroxylon coca), the source of cocaine, for their stimulant effects.

 Although health care providers can use it for valid medical purposes, such as local anesthesia for some surgeries, recreational cocaine use is illegal.

COCAINE TREATMENT(COCAINE REHAB)

In 2013, cocaine accounted for almost 6% of all admissions to drug abuse treatment programs. The majority of individuals who seek treatment for cocaine use smoke crack and are likely to be polydrug users, meaning they use more than one substance. 

Those who provide treatment for cocaine use should recognize that drug addiction is a complex disease having manny branches involving changes in the brain as well as a wide range of social, familial, and other environmental factors.

Therefore, the treatment of cocaine addiction must address this broad context as well as any other co-occurring mental disorders that require additional behavioral or pharmacological interventions.

Making the decision to go find a cocaine addiction treatment is the very first step towards recovery. not all cocaine users accept the fact that they are addicted. so once this is done, the only way is going forward. Cocaine addiction treatment typically involves detox and therapy in a boring, and inpatient rehabilitation center. 

treatment centers for cocaine addiction problems

there exist thousands of rehabilitation centers scattered all over the world. But for cocaine addictive, and in fact, everyone is addicted to any drug, should choose wisely because not all rehabilitation centers are good for everyone. it is important that the rehab center should be able to treat other drugs used to cut cocaine.

Types of cocaine addiction treatment

The type of cocaine addiction treatment program you should take should depend on the specific needs and goals you are chasing. Your path of recovery may be the combination of the following.

Cocaine detox program-a medically assisted withdrawal detoxification in which you can rid your body of cocaine with maximum safety and minimal discomfort.

Residencial rehabilitation-intensive treatment services from multidisciplinary teams of consultant psychiatrists and psychologists, therapists and nurses, with 24-hour care and support.

Daycare therapy-structured and supportive care to promote continued recovery from cocaine addiction, with flexible treatment hours to accommodate your personal and professional responsibilities. This type of care allows you to continue with personal and professional responsibilities, where you would attend therapy for a number of days each week, but return to your home each evening.

Outpatient therapy-ideal as a step-down from daycare provides limited ongoing support as you transition out of care and re-establish a healthy independent lifestyle with the required techniques and coping mechanisms to return to your daily life without the need to use cocaine.

Therapy-provides a confidential environment in which you can process successes and setbacks during your recovery journey, allowing you to address issues that you may be hesitant to bring up in a group session and receive personalized feedback from an experienced professional.

Group therapy- this method allows you to share your insights, learn from the experiences of others who are recovering from cocaine addiction or other mental health conditions and addictions, and practice healthy interpersonal communication skills under the guidance and supervision of one or more trained and experienced professionals.

cocaine facts

What is cocaine? to know the facts about cocaine, you must first have a clue on what cocaine is all about. Cocaine also is known as coke, is a strong stimulant frequently used as a recreational drug but as well abused by many people who commonly snort it, inhale it like smoke, or dissolve and inject it into a vein. High doses can result in very high blood pressure or body temperature.

Effects begin within seconds to minutes of use and last between 5-9 minutes.  Cocaine has a very small number of accepted medical uses such as numbing and decreasing bleeding during nasal surgery.

What is coca?

Coca is a plant with a complex array of mineral nutrients, essential oils, and varied compounds with greater or lesser pharmacological effects – one of which happens to be the alkaloid “cocaine”, which in its concentrated, synthesized form is a stimulant with possible addictive properties.

facts about cocaine 1: how is cocaine taken?

a: Snorting. when you think of snorting cocaine what comes to your mind?. yeah its exactly as the word says. it is placed on any flat surface and snorted with any pipe-like instrument small enough to snort the dust-like cocaine.

b: smoking. some people rather like smoking it than snorting. when smoking it, they usually mix it with marijuana or tobacco and smoke it like a cigarette.

c: by mouth. another way in which cocaine is taken is by robbing it on the gum. this method takes effect in a few minutes.

d: needle injection. with this method, the powder is melted( some people use a spoon) and syringe into the body through the vein.

2: Forms of cocaine and street names.

cocaine has two main forms, and they are powder form and crack cocaine.

a:- powder cocaine. this is the type of cocaine that people snort or inject.
In powder form, it usually consists of cocaine hydrochloride diluted with other substances, such as lidocaine, a local anesthetic, sugars (lactose), inositol, and mannitol. It has a powder form like salt.

b:- crack cocaine. crack cocaine is in a crystal form. The crystal is heated to produce vapors that are inhaled into the lungs. It was named crack because of the crackling sound of the rock as it’s heated.

cocaine has many street names like, crack cocaine, flake cocaine snow, blow, coke, rock,…

3: Which countries produce cocaine

is mainly produced by these three countries. which are Colombia( Colombia cocaine, Peru(Peruvian cocaine), and bolivia. Colombia is set to be the highest supplier of cocaine in the world.

LSD

What is LSD acid

LSD acid which means (Lysergic acid diethylamide) also known as acid is a synthetic chemical, made from a substance found in ergot, which is a fungus that infects rye (grain).

LSD is a hallucinogenic drug that is very addictive and its effects typically include altered thoughts, feelings, and awareness of one’s surroundings.

Many LSD users see or hear things that do not exist. Dilated pupils, increased blood pressure, and increased body temperature are typical.

Effects typically kick off within half an hour and can last for up to 12 hours. It is used mainly as a recreational drug and for spiritual reasons.

What does LSD acid look like?

In its pure state, LSD is a white odorless crystalline substance. However, LSD is so potent that an effective dose of the pure drug is so small (virtually invisible). As a result, it is usually diluted with other materials.

The most common form of LSD is drops of LSD solution dried onto gelatin sheets, pieces of blotting paper or sugar cubes, which release the drug when they are swallowed. LSD is also sometimes sold as a liquid, in a tablet or in capsules.

How addictive is LSD acid?

The drug LSD does not appear to be addictive, although tolerance may occur with the use of increasing doses. Adverse psychiatric reactions are possible, such as anxiety, paranoia, and delusions.

About 10% of the United States population have used LSD at some point in their lives as of 2017, while 0.7% have used it in the last year.

Death is very rare as a result of LSD, although it occasionally occurs in accidents. The effects of LSD are believed to occur as a result of alterations in the serotonin system. Not allot but as little as 20 micrograms can produce an effect. In pure form, LSD is clear or white in color, has no smell, and is crystalline. It breaks down with exposure to ultraviolet light.

How is LSD used?

LSD usually is swallowed, or dissolved under the tongue, but it can also be sniffed, injected or smoked. the method of taking it depends on whether it is LSD pills, LSD capsule or LSD blotters.

Uses of LSD

LSD, however, has good uses although it is being abused. LSD is used for recreational, spiritual, and medical purposes.

1.Recreational

LSD acid is used as a recreational drug although most people do not know that yet.

2.spiritual

LSD is considered an “entheogen” because it can catalyze intense spiritual experiences when users take it, they may feel they have come into contact with a greater spiritual or cosmic order. Users sometimes report out of body experiences. In 1966, Timothy Leary established the League for Spiritual Discovery with LSD as its sacrament.

Stanislav Grof has written that religious and mystical experiences observed during LSD sessions appear to be phenomenologically indistinguishable from similar descriptions in the sacred scriptures of the great religions of the world and the texts of ancient civilizations.

3.Medical

LSD currently has no approved uses in medicine. A meta-analysis concluded that a single dose was effective at reducing alcohol consumption in alcoholism. LSD has also been studied in depression, anxiety, and drug dependence, giving positive preliminary results.

Effects

• Physical effects of LSD

LSD is likely to cause pupil dilation, reduced appetite, and wakefulness. Other physical reactions to LSD are highly variable and or nonspecific, some of which may be secondary to the psychological effects of LSD. 

Among the reported symptoms listed, are numbness, weakness, nausea, hypothermia or hyperthermia, elevated blood sugar, goosebumps, heart rate increase, jaw clenching, mucus production perspiration, saliva production, hyperreflexia, and tremors.

• Psychological

The most common immediate psychological effects of LSD are visual hallucinations and illusions (colloquially known as “trips”), which can vary greatly depending on how much is used and how the brain responds.

Trips typically start within 20–30 minutes of taking LSD by mouth (less if snorted or taken intravenously), peak three to four hours after ingestion and last up to 12 hours. Negative experiences “bad trips”, produce intense negative emotions, such as irrational fears and anxiety, panic attacks, paranoia, rapid mood swings, intrusive thoughts of hopelessness, wanting to harm others, and suicidal ideation.

• sensory

Some sensory effects may include an experience of radiant colors, objects, and surfaces appearing to “ripple” or “breathe”, colored patterns behind the closed eyelids (eidetic imagery), an altered sense of time.

time seems to be stretching, repeating itself, changing speed or stopping crawling geometric patterns overlaying walls and other objects, and morphing objects. Some users, including Albert Hofmann, report a strong metallic taste for the duration of the effects.

LSD can affect everyone differently, based on:

size, weight, and health

whether the person is used to taking it

whether other drugs are taken around the same time

the amount is taken

the strength of the drug (varies from batch to batch).

long term effects of LSD acid

1.flashbacks 

Flashbacks can be brought on by using other drugs like (cocaine, heroin, MDMA), stress, tiredness or exercise and usually last for a minute or two

2.Mental disorder

LSD may trigger panic attacks or feelings of extreme anxiety, known familiarly as a “bad trip.” Review studies suspect that LSD likely plays a role in precipitating the onset of acute psychosis in previously healthy individuals with an increased likelihood of individuals who have a family history of schizophrenia.

3.sudjestibility

publicly available documents indicate that the CIA and Department of Defense have discontinued research into the use of LSD as a means of mind control,

Withdrawal

There are no known physical withdrawal symptoms of LSD so far. Taking LSD regularly does not result in physical dependence, and although there have been reports of psychological dependence occurring, the evidence is limited.

types of heroin

WHAT IS HEROIN

Heroin is a powder derived from opium poppies. It may come from South America, Mexico, or Southeast and Southwest Asia. Most heroin in the United States comes from South America, but “black tar” varieties from Mexico are more common in the western US. It has the appearance of coal or roofing tar, with a dark brown to black color.

The drug is or can be extremely addictive. It works by binding to mu-opioid receptors in the brain. According to the (NIDA) National Institute on Drug Abuse, these receptors are turned on, as a result, stimulating the release of dopamine and inducing a feeling of pleasure.

Normally, the body’s natural neurotransmitters bind to these same receptors to release dopamine. The process regulates pain and hormone release. It also helps a person naturally feel a sense of wellbeing.

Types of heroin

The way heroin is produced accounts for the various colors and textures of the drug. Substances that drug dealers and manufacturers add to heroin also affect its appearance and texture.

Heroin sold on the street is almost always combined with “cutting agents,” or fillers, to stretch the drug dealers’ drug supply and increase profit.  we have different types of heroin-like, white powder, brown powder, black tar.

1.white powder heroin

Most heroin sold in the east presents as a fine, white to off-white powder that originated in Mexico and South America. Although white powder heroin undergoes extensive processing and is, therefore, more refined than other forms, the drug that is commonly found on the streets is never pure heroin.

Common heroin cutting agents include talc, sugar, lactose, quinine, and caffeine. These additives can alter the heroin’s appearance and account for color variations, which can range from white to beige to pink. White powder heroin sometimes smells a bit like vinegar and has a bitter taste, and can easily be mistaken for cocaine.

Because white powder heroin dissolves easily in water, most heroin users shoot the drug. Some people snort it. It’s not usually smoked because it burns at a much higher temperature than other forms of heroin.

2.Brown powder heroin

Brown powder heroin, which is produced in Mexico, is an increasingly common form of heroin. Brown powder used to be sold primarily in the western United States, but it is also showing up in cities in the Midwest and along the East Coast.
Some brown powder is produced from black tar heroin that is crushed and laced with cutting agents to make it easier to snort.

Because brown powder can be smoked or snorted and doesn’t require intravenous injection, it has gained popularity among suburban teenagers and others who might never before have considered using heroin due to a fear of needles, track marks, and blood-borne disease.
Sometimes called brown, brown sugar, brown crystal or Mr. Brownstone, brown heroin is often a combination of crushed black tar heroin mixed with other substances.

The drug can appear in various shades of brown, ranging from a lighter tannish brown to darker shades of brown depending on what it’s cut with.

3.black tar heroin

Black tar heroin is the most common form of heroin sold west of the Mississippi River. It comes from Mexico, the largest heroin supplier in the US. Black tar heroin is a very dark-colored form of heroin that can be found as a gooey consistency or tarry, rock-like form. But, like brown powder, in recent years it’s been found at increasing frequency in the Midwest and East Coast.

Despite its name, black tar heroin is not always black. The drug can also appear brown or reddish. It can be sticky like roofing tar or hard like coal. It can also look like melted licorice.

Black tar heroin also tends to clog needles, while white powder heroin does not. People who use this form rinse or replace their needles more frequently, which may also cut down on the transmission of the virus, according to researchers at the University of California San Francisco.

4.china white

At one time, the term China White referred to a pure form of white powder heroin produced in Southeast Asia. Today, the name is more commonly used as a slang term for powder heroin that is also mixed with fentanyl or other analogs of fentanyl. China White can also refer to just fentanyl sold as heroin or a heroin-like product.

Both China White and fentanyl itself have terrifying reputations, and fentanyl-laced heroin has been associated with the recent spike in opioid-related overdose fatalities.

5.speed ball

A speedball is a mix of heroin and a stimulant, such as cocaine.
which is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant and a stimulant—usually cocaine, but meth is also used, though not as frequently. These two types of drugs, when used in conjunction, can create a dangerous tug-of-war effect on the body. While heroin acts on the CNS to slow breathing and induce drowsiness, cocaine (and meth) increases heart rate and blood pressure and can cause anxiety and agitation.

Speedballing can cause a stroke, heart attack, aneurysm or respiratory failure. Speedballs are also increasingly tainted with fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that can cause overdose and death.

6.gun powder heroin

A stickier and reportedly more potent version of black tar heroin called gunpowder heroin has been popping up on the West Coast. According to a 2016 study in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, gunpowder heroin is a crumbly substance resembling dried coffee.

In any case, as the name would suggest, it often resembles gunpowder or coffee grounds. The color is usually a solid black or dark grey but may also contain white or black specks. Due to its increased solubility versus black tar heroin, it is easier to inject, and its relatively lower cost may contribute to its popularity among some users.

7.scabble

Scramble is a mixture of white or brown powder heroin and other substances packed into a gelatin capsule. It can contain a wide range of additives, including quinine, lactose, fentanyl, crushed opioid pills, and benzodiazepines. A scramble is a popular form of heroin in Baltimore.

No form of heroin is safe to use. If you or someone you love is experiencing problems related to the drug, heroin treatment is the best option for achieving long-term sobriety.