The hallucinogens are substances that produce hallucinations, profound changes in the perception of the reality of who consumes. This change in the perception of reality is usually accompanied by a change in the state of consciousness, thought and mood. For example: ayahuasca, DXM, psilocybin.
Under the influence of hallucinogens, people can see images, hear sounds or perceive sensations in their body through touch that do not really exist.
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Form of consumption
The different types of hallucinogens , in general, are incorporated into the body in different ways that are sometimes modified with the intention of making the effect of the hallucination more lasting and intense.
Some hallucinogens such as DMT, LSD, Ketamine or PCP are usually consumed in the form of tablets or pills since their unit of action is liquid, while golds such as Ayahuasca, Peyote, Psilocybin or sage are usually consumed in teas. or in other infusions.
Immediate effects
The action of most hallucinogens in the body can begin as early as 20 minutes after consumption, and in some cases it can even last for hours.
In some cases, such as sage, the effect is shorter and more intense , occurring in the body with only one minute of difference with its consumption and with a duration of less than half an hour.
The short-term physical effects in general are increased heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate, as well as nausea or sleep disturbances in some cases.
Consequences of frequent use
Although the effects are not the same for all users , the recurrent use of this type of drug is seriously dangerous, and can bring psychic consequences such as receptive disorders (called flashbacks, in which the user experiences a strange and dangerous visual sensation) as well as persistent psychosis . These disturbances can include fear, paranoia, or extreme stress.
In the case of wild-type hallucinogens, such as psilocybin mushrooms , it is possible that some poisonous-type substance is consumed that can lead to rapid death . In addition, sleep disorders are very common among these consumers.
Danger and world trade
Hallucinogens are highly dangerous , and in many cases their danger is underestimated. Scientific evidence indicates that some can be addictive while others produce a tolerance , which implies that frequent users must increasingly take higher doses for the effect to occur.
In this way, due to its illegal nature, drug trafficking of this type becomes very recurrent in many countries, among which those of Europe stand out: it is increasingly frequent that there are arrests for trafficking of this type of drugs, although hallucinogenic drugs are the most difficult to detect by anti-trafficking operations, due to their characteristics.
Examples of hallucinogenic substances
- Ayahuasca . Tea made from various Amazonian plants. As the drink has a great tradition in the Amazonian indigenous peoples, some recognize in its intake a potentially initiatory value, and there is a certain myth that an experience with this drug facilitates the awareness of certain truths of the world.
- Salvia divinorum . Plant from southern Mexico. As it was often used for therapeutic purposes, its treatment is not fully legislated in many countries, although in others such as Chile it is prohibited.
- DMT . Chemical compound found in some plants , but can also be synthesized in a laboratory.
- Phencyclidine . General analgesic for surgery, which is no longer used for these purposes and then appears in other forms.
- Ketamine . Analgesic for surgeries, which is used as such a drug. The body is induced to a very high amount of anesthetic, which accelerates the loss of consciousness.
- DXM . Cough suppressant, an active ingredient in many medications, which is used as a drug because it can cause visual field distortions, among others.
- Diethylamide lysergic acid . The most widely used drug of this type in the world. A clear or white substance that is made with acid from a fungus that grows on rye.
- Peyote . Small cactus that has mescaline as an ingredient. It also has a therapeutic use, but is generally used as a tea. Many countries already consider it illegal.
- Psilocybin . Present in some mushrooms in North America. It has different effects, and in some cases it is also associated with certain mystical experiences. There are many varieties of mushrooms of this type.
