What Are Psychedelic Drugs?

Psychedelic drugs, also known as hallucinogenic drugs or simply hallucinogens, are a group of substances that are usually used recreationally to change and enhance sensory perceptions, thought processes, and energy levels, and to facilitate spiritual experiences. They include chemicals, such as LSD, and plants, such as peyote.

How Are Psychedelic Drugs Used?

Psychedelics are often smoked (and inhaled), eaten, or brewed into tea. Use of hallucinogens goes back centuries in many cultures, and some are still used in religious ceremonies to experience spiritual or heightened states of awareness.

Hallucinogens were used in psychotherapy in the 1960s, but this was halted for mainly political reasons until quite recently. Psychological research has since revived the use of psychedelics in experimental psychological treatment.

Psychedelics are slowly reappearing in psychology and psychiatry as a viable way to treat anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and more. However, regulated treatments are currently experimental and not accessible to many people.

If you are looking to treat symptoms of a mental health condition, be sure to talk to a doctor about other treatment options that may help, such as therapy, prescribed medication, and meditation.

Effects of Psychedelic Drugs

The effects of psychedelic drugs vary depending on the person. Factors such as dosage, environment, and personality play a role in how psychedelics affect people.

Effects of psychedelic drugs may include:

• Altered perception of time
• Difficulty communicating clearly with others
• Hallucinations such as feeling sensations, hearing sounds, and/or seeing images that aren't real
• Heightened awareness or understanding
• Increased energy
• Lack of ability to think rationally
• Mixed sensory experiences (e.g., seeing sounds)
• Nausea
• Spiritual experiences
• Vivid sensory experiences

Short-term side effects of LSD, peyote, and DMT may include an increase in heart rate. LSD and peyote may also cause an increase in body temperature. Additionally, LSD can cause dizziness, sleepiness, an increase in blood pressure, loss of appetite, dry mouth, sweating, numbness, weakness, tremors, and impulsive behavior.

Psilocybin can cause feelings of relaxation or introspection, but it can also produce nervousness, paranoia, and even feelings of panic.

Side effects of peyote include uncoordinated movements, excessive sweating, and flushing. DMT can cause agitation and body/spatial distortions.

Ololiuqui's effects are similar to those of LSD, but the drug has many unpleasant side effects including nausea, vomiting, headache, high blood pressure, and drowsiness.