What are Hallucinogens?

A hallucination is a distortion of a person's perception of reality. Any of the five senses (sight, taste, hearing, touch, smell) may be affected by hallucination. A hallucinogen is a substance that causes a person to hallucinate.

They work by disrupting the normal functioning of the brain, especially the serotonin system which is involved in a very wide range of systems relating to behaviour and regulating the bodies needs.

People most commonly associate the drug known as LSD as a hallucinogen but there are many other drugs in this class such as mescaline, psilocybin, and ibogaine.

Dissociative drugs are another class of drugs that produce a similar effect. Users of these drugs experience a sense of detachment from what is going around them. They are not true hallucinations, however. PCP and Ketamine are both drugs that belong in this family.

These drugs work by altering a different neurotransmitter. They interfere with the distribution of glutamate in the brain.

Humans have been using hallucinogens for thousands of years. Shamanic visions were often induced under the influence of hallucinogens found in plants. LSD was the first chemically synthesized hallucinogen and made it a lot easier to obtain them.

Treatment in a proper drug rehab is an effective way to get recovery from this form of addiction. There are many substance abuse treatment clinics in South Africa that are experienced in dealing with this form of drug addiction.

Additional Resources

• Tips for Teens About Hallucinogens is a NIDA resource document providing easily readable facts on this class of drugs.
• Mind Over Matter: Hallucinogens is an informative collection of articles about how hallucinogens affect the brain.
• Hallucinogens & Dissociatives is a NIDA review report on this class of drugs.