Hallucinogens impact a person because they change how they see reality. They experience an impact on their prefrontal cortex. This controls cognition and perception, among other things. This impact is short-term, but some trips may last a long time (12 hours or more). When a person is taking hallucinogens, there are serious side effects and risks to be worried about.
Hallucinogens
Drugs that change how a person experiences the world are called hallucinogens. They impact a person in many ways, including their overall perception and ability to determine what is real and what is not. Some common hallucinogenic drugs include:
- LSD
- PCP
- Ketamine or Special K
- Peyote
- MDMD
Some hallucinogens are ‘natural’ or derived from plants. Others are synthetic and developed for medical or recreational purposes. When a person takes one of these drugs, it has short and long-term side effects. It varies what the impact is, but overall it can be risky to take these drugs.
Side Effects
When a person takes hallucinogens, they may experience some of the following side effects:
- Blending of senses together so they hear colors or see music
- Deperonalied out of body experiences of feeling disconnected
- Distorted sense of reality
- Rapidly shifting feelings and mood alterations including violence, anxiety, and depression
Side effects are different every time and range from a good experience to a bad one, marked by fear or anxiety. The sense of reality and perception is skewed so that a person may put themselves or others at risk during a ‘trip.’ when a person continues using the drugs, long term effects can occur such as psychosis, flashbacks, and persistent disorders of perception that impact how a person sees the world.
Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD)
Hallucinogen disorders like HPPD are focused on visual disturbances for the person experiencing them. This may include halos, random shapes or colors and other issues. What the person sees is not real but this does not make it less intrusive or disturbing. Immediate effects of hallucinogens last minutes or hours, while HPPD can continue for years. People may also lose weight, lose memory, panic, have impaired coordination, and abuse substances. It is difficult to know how each person will respond but it is imperative they are able to find help in rehab or some other program that helps them navigate healing from addiction. Longer treatment programs often provide better outcomes, but it depends on the person. It is helpful to navigate it with the support of loved ones behind the individual seeking help for best results in rehab.
Oceanfront will help you kick hallucinogens or other drug addiction to the curb with our premier beachfront community in Laguna Beach. We are founded on the principle of providing the best in care and services at affordable prices. We are located in beautiful Laguna Beach. Call us to find out how we can help you navigate addiction recovery: 888-981-4295
