Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens, also known as psychedelic drugs, are drugs that have the ability to induce visual, auditory or other hallucinations and separate the individual from reality. They create a disturbance in cognition and perception causing behavior patterns similar to those of psychotic behavior. Similar to many other drugs, hallucinogens have an effect on the Central Nervous System (CNS) creating sensory illusions and perceptual changes, yet, hallucinogens are generally not physically addicting. Many people who consume drugs do so to relieve pain and let go of a fear, similar to those reasons, individuals take hallucinogens due to peer pressure, stress reduction and for the mind-altering effects and feelings of well being. It allows  for one to think they can hear colors and see sounds. There are many types of hallucinogens. The most common include peyote, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide better known as LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, bufotenine, Phencyclidine (PCP), Marijuana, ecstasy, and Ketamine. Hallucinogens are very dangerous and individuals should be aware of their effects.

LSD, made popular by Timothy Leary, is a synthesized drug. It is the most potent mood and perception altering drug. LSD is easily and rapidly absorbed orally and effects begin within thirty to ninety minutes of consumption and it last up to twelve hours, peaking anywhere between two and six hours. Effects of the drug are unpredictable; they include both pleasant and unpleasant emotional, sensory experiences and are dependent on the user’s personality, mood, expectations, and surroundings. Some users suffer long term effects such as flashback, which is referred to as Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder  (National Institute on Drug Abuse). Physical effects of LSD include weakness, nausea, hypothermia or hyperthermia, increase heart rate, and sleeplessness. 

PCP, also known as angel dust, is a dissociative drug that distorts perceptions of sight and sound. It produces a feeling of detachment from the environment and self. Within an hour of ingestion, PCP induces a lack of responsive awareness to pain and general environment. It has a profound effect on thinking, time perception, sense of reality and mood; it can cause a dreamlike state, euphoric or depressed moods and bizarre perceptual experiences. Users demonstrate slurred speech, numbness, rapid and involuntary eye movements, amnesia, a feeling of impending doom, disorientation, confusion, anxiety, irritability, paranoid states, and dangerous violent behavior. In some cases it may produce a psychoses indistinguishable from schizophrenia (U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration). 

Marijuana is the most commonly abused illicit drug in the United States (National Institute on Drug Abuse). The effects of marijuana depends of the type of cannabis,how much delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) it contains, the route of consumption, experiences and expectations of the user, surroundings, and if alcohol or other drugs are consumed with it. Effects begin with giddiness and euphoria and then it’s followed by sedation and pleasant tranquility. Marijuana can also cause increase appetite, heightened sensory awareness, and feelings of pleasure. Negative effects can include confusion, anxiety attacks, fear, a sense of helplessness, and loss of self control. Physical effects of marijuana include risk of heart attack due to increased heart rate and palpitations and arrhythmias, and risk of lung infections and respiratory problems (National Institute on Drug Abuse). 

Club Drugs are commonly associated with by those who attend nightclubs, bars,  or attend rave or trance scene. The most common is 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) better known as ecstasy. Ecstasy is a synthetic, psychoactive drug that may produce feelings of increased energy, euphoria, emotional warmth, and distortions in time, perception, and tactile experiences lasting three to six hours ( National Institute on Drug Abuse). Health hazards include psychological difficulties such as confusion, depression, sleep problems, drug craving, sever anxiety and paranoia. Physical symptoms include muscle tension, nausea, blurred vision, faintness, and increase in heart rate and blood pressure.

Although most hallucinogens do not generally cause addiction, tolerance is quickly built and increase amounts are needed to gain to same desired effect. The risks of adverse reactions and overdoes does increase with larger amounts taken as well as the combination with other substances such as alcohol. In some hallucinogens, such as PCP, behavior can get dangerously violent which can harm others. Also, in most types of the drug increase use and mixing with other substances can result in severe brain damage and even death.  

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)

    

Marijuana

Depressants

Stress and anxiety are common problems among people of all ages. To deal with these problems some turn towards depressant drugs. Depression of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and psychomotor activity uplifts a user’s sense of awareness and initial response, as well as puts them into a sleep-like state and creates a high potential for physical and psychological dependency.There are different forms of CNS depressants: sedative-hypnotic, narcotic analgesic, and alcohol. 

Sedative-hypnotic depressants include barbiturates, non-barbiturates hypnotics, anti-anxiety agents, and inhalants. Sedative-hypnotics are used in medicine to induce sleep, as a daytime sedation, to treatment of epileptic seizures, induction of anesthesia and as a pre-anesthetic medication before surgeries, also as a treatment for anxiety and neuroses. They are recreationally used to relieve anxiety and induce dis-inhibition or euphoria. Depressants, such as barbiturates do not decrease reaction to pain, they actually increase it. They may also cause lowered blood pressure, fatigue, dizziness, poor concentration, impaired coordination, confusion, impaired judgement and respiratory arrest, which may cause death. Barbiturates have a fatal dosage level in which the margin between an intoxicating dosage and fatal dosage becomes smaller with continual use. Physical and psychological dependency also develops with continual use.

 Non-barbiturate hypnotics may also relieve anxiety and induce euphoria in low doses; however they produce a greater loss of motor coordination. Anti-anxiety drugs closely resemble barbiturates in that they suppress anxiety, tension, behavioral excitement and insomnia. Inhalants are chemical vapors that are inhaled to induce a psychoactive or mind altering effect. Vapors are inhaled from lighter fluid, paint thinner, cleaning fluid, model airplane glue, propane tanks, and refrigerants.   “Inhalants produce a short-term euphoria followed by a period of disorientation, slurred speech, and drowsiness” (L.J. Siegel and B.C. Welsh, Juvenile Delinquency. 2009). The gases, once introduced to the body, act primarily to dilate blood vessels and relax muscles causing a dizzy state and can be accompanied by hallucinations. The most abused gas is nitrous oxide used in whipped cream cans. 

Narcotic analgesic are drugs that have the ability to reduce the feeling of pain without the loss of consciousness by producing an insensibility to external stimuli through the depression of the CNS. Some of the most common narcotic analgesics include opiates, opioids, morphine, codeine, and heroin. Opiates, morphine and codeine exert similar pain killing effect on the body. As other depressant they also cause a pleasurable or euphoric effect and withdrawals of the drugs are extremely uncomfortable. The most commonly used and dangerous narcotic in the United States is heroin (L.J. Siegel and B.C. Welsh, Juvenile Delinquency. 2009). Users experience relief from fear and apprehension, release of tension and elevation of spirits. The short period of euphoria is followed by a period of apathy, and user may nod off. Tolerance of heroin is quickly built and increased doses are needed to obtain the same desired effects. Long term effects of the drug can cause infection of the heart lining and valves and liver disease due to sharing of equipment or lack of sterile techniques. Other effects include kidney disease, pulmonary complications, skin infections, increase risk of contracting HIV. If addicts cannot get enough heroin to satisfy their habit, they will suffer withdrawal symptoms, which include irritability, depression, extreme nervousness, and nausea which can last up to a week ( L.J. Siegel and B.C. Welsh, Juvenile Delinquency. 2009). The most serious effect is death due to an overdose of the drug. 

The most common type of depressant is ethanol also known as alcohol. Ethanol acts as a mild tranquilizer to the CNS, such as a sedative, and is a neurotoxin that kills nerve cells throughout the body. Chronic alcohol abuse can cause severe, detrimental health problems such as alcoholism, cardiovascular disease, liver disease and cancer. It can also cause damage to the CNS and respiratory system. Once in the bloodstream, alcohol circulates rapidly through the body and will be distributed to all parts of the body. Thereby damaging nearly every organ and system in the body and causing death. 

It is important to detect when one is under the influence of a depressant, especially narcotics, because long term use can result in death. As an intern at the Sacramento County Coroner Office, I was allowed to go to a death scene where a twenty-five year old male had taken prescription anti-anxiety pills along with heroin. He spent the night at his friend’s house, who did not know of the heroin use, and he died in his sleep that night. That is why it’s crucial to have an understanding of these drugs and how they affect individuals around us. 

Barbiturates

Heroin

Stimulants

Many people need a stimulant to energize them in the morning to start their day off.. Caffeine being a widely used psychoactive drug,is the stimulant of choice for the majority of Americans on a daily basis. Caffeine is found naturally in coffee, tea, chocolate, and is included in soft drinks and energy drinks. Consuming these effects the Central Nervous System (CNS) and enhances alertness, awareness and wakefulness by increasing the heart rate and blood pressure thereby increasing endurance and productivity. These enhancements to the human body is a significant reason many people consume a stimulant in the early mornings before going to work or school. Although caffeine doesn’t cause much harm to the body it has been proven there is a danger of mixing it with alcohol.“Drinks combining high levels of caffeine and alcohol have been linked to alcohol poisoning, car accidents and assaults. The caffeine does not make drinkers less intoxicated or impaired; it merely makes them feel that way” (San Francisco Chronicle). Caffeine is not classified as a dangerous drug, but there are many other stimulants that are used for the same reasons as caffeine and are very detrimental to one’s health. 

Cocaine is the most potent stimulant of natural origin and is extracted from the leaves of the coca plant. Cocaine is used in medical practices as an anesthetic for eyes, ears, nose, and throat surgery. Cocaine is mostly use  for recreational purposes and is highly abused. There are different forms of cocaine: white crystalline powder cocaine, which is snorted or injected and rock cocaine also known as “crack,” which is smoked. Inhaling causes effects to be immediate, intense, and quickly over.  It creates an initial sense of euphoria, restlessness, excitement, illusions of increased mental alertness and followed by depression. “Long term effects of cocaine include irregular heartbeat, heart attacks, respiratory failure, strokes and seizures. Snorting cocaine can cause nosebleeds, lost of smell, and problems swallowing. Ingesting can cause severe bowel gangrene from the lack of blood to the intestines. “Injecting can increase risk of contracting HIV, Hepatitis and other blood-borne diseases” (L.J. Siegel and B.C. Welsh, Juvenile Delinquency. 2009). Since the drug effect the circulatory and respiratory systems overdoses can be fatal. 

Methamphetamine is the most widely abused stimulant with a high abuse potential. 

Methamphetamine is medically used to control depression, appetite control, for the treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder and treatment of narcolepsy. It is similar to cocaine because  it gives the user a euphoric effect, but it is longer lasting. Although the effects depend on characteristics such as who is using the drug, route of administration, and how much is used, methamphetamine normally has a more pronounced effect on the CNS than cocaine. Smoking or injecting Methamphetamine results in an immediate, intense rush that lasts a few minutes and is extremely pleasurable. Snorting it produces euphoria with no intense rush within five minutes of ingestion. Oral ingestion produces the same effects as snorting, but takes about fifteen to twenty minutes to take effect. “Long term effects may lead to malnutrition, skin disorders, ulcers, and diseases resulting from vitamin deficiencies” (L.J. Siegel and B.C. Welsh, Juvenile Delinquency. 2009). It also put users at risk for HIV/AIDS and cardiovascular diseases Frequent use can result in mental illness, the urge to commit suicide and violent death due to the “superman syndrome,” in which one perception of reality is distorted and they attempt to perform tasks they are humanly incapable of performing. Other effects can include hallucination, disorganized lifestyle, violent behavior, psychological problems, lowered resistance to illnesses, and brain damage. 

It is important to know when one is under the influence of a certain stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine for their safety as well as others. Stimulants are tempting to begin taking, especially for students and those with demanding jobs, who feel like there is not enough hours in the day. They can begin to take it to counteract fatigue throughout the day, reduce sleepiness, decrease appetite and lose weight, improve their concentration, focus and even treat depression. Stimulants may help them to accomplish this, but it may also deter the health or become fatal. 

 White Crystalline Powder Cocaine

 Rock or "Crack" Cocaine

Crystal Meth