Hallucinogens, also known as psychedelic drugs, are a mainstay of human consumption, with recorded use extending back into prehistoric times. However, in most cultures of the past as well as indigenous societies today, these powerful mind-altering substances are used ceremonially and guided by community elders or medicine men. The West has not been so lucky, as most hallucinogens today are used recreationally, with little supervision and even less knowledge about how to cope with their profound effects on the mind and body. Most hallucinogens are illegal in the U.S. and around the world. While many are familiar with the changes in perception that these substances cause, few are prepared for even the most common of side effects.
Nausea and Discomfort
Most hallucinogens used today are in the tryptamine class, and affect brain chemistry in similar ways. Including LSD, DMT and the active ingredients in psilocybe mushrooms, this class of psychedelics commonly cause unpleasant sensations after ingestion that include nausea and bodily discomfort. These sensations typically decrease as more popular visual and auditory effects emerge.
Circulatory Effects
Under the influence of common hallucinogens such as LSD, the body temperature rises, leading to increased heart rate and blood pressure. After ingestion, many users experience profuse sweating and chills.
Anxiety
Set and setting are important to hallucinogenic sessions, according to Paul Gahlinger, MD, in his book, "Illegal drugs." Set refers to the emotional state of the drug user, and setting is the physical and social environment. Restlessness and anxiety are the most typical emotional states that are amplified by psychedelics.
Emotional Instability
Some users, particular those with unstable moods or a predisposition to depression and anxiety, can have intense emotional breakdowns and paranoid delusions, known as "bad trips." In other words, people with mental illness, or on the brink of mental illness, can experience exacerbations of their condition by using these substances in an unregulated setting.
Spiritual Emergency
Sometimes, psychedelic drugs can cause profound "spiritual" insights that may be emotionally destabilizing. For example, in a 2008 article published in the journal "Anthropology of Consciousness," anthropologist Sarah Lewis argues that Western participants in ayahausca ceremonies---which is an increasingly popular DMT-based hallucinogen---may experience a "spiritual emergency" due to lack of cultural and psychological support after the drug trip is over. Feelings of profound distress and isolation can result, as well as symptoms of mental illness such as delusions and depression.
References
- "Illegal Drugs;" Paul Gahlinger, MD, 2001
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Hallucinogens - LSD, Peyote, Psilocybin, and PCP
- National Institutes of Health: Drug Abuse
- Office of Diversion Control: N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)
- "Anthropology of Consciousness;" Ayahuasca and Spiritual Crisis; volume 19 issue 2
