Hallucinogens are man made, or grown naturally. Many hallucinogens are in the form of a white powder. They have no taste and are found as tablets, capsules, tiny sheets of paper, or liquid. Certain types of mushrooms and datura plants are also hallucinogens.

These drugs are injected, taken orally, or eaten.

Hallucinogens produce radical changes in the mental state, involving distortions of reality and acute hallucinations.

Hallucinogens affect the way a person experiences his/her sense of taste, smell, hearing and vision.

Hallucinogens have no prescribed medical use and are made and sold illegally.

IMMEDIATE EFFECTS

· mood modifying
· changes in perception
· hallucinations (sees lights, colors, and designs)
· intense awareness of things happening
· panic due to loss of control
· unpredictable behavior
· emotional instability
· violent behavior
· increased blood pressure
· increased heart rate
· raised body temperature
· dilated pupils
· suicidal tendencies
· tremors
· anxiety

LONG TERM EFFECTS

· brain damage
· possible chromosome damage
· depression
· psychiatric complications
· impaired memory
· poor attention span
· mental confusion
· toxic level of tolerance
· psychological dependence
· suicide
· death

With large doses, the hallucinations can be frightening and disturbing.

Tolerance may occur rapidly from the use of hallucinogens.

Hallucinogens cause cross-tolerance. This means that the use of one hallucinogen causes and increases tolerance to other hallucinogens.

A dependence on hallucinogens is likely, but no withdrawal symptoms occur when use of the drug is discontinued.

HALLUCINOGENS AND PREGNANCY

· increased risk of spontaneous abortions
· high incidence of congenital damage
· chromosome damage

OTHER FACTS

Hallucinogens radically affect the brain thus affecting the personality. Serious mental illness may occur.

Unpleasant episodes (or "bad trips") may cause psychological damage and lead to suicide. Hallucinogens may affect the same user in man different ways during the same "trip".

The effects of a "trip" may be experienced 15-30 minutes after use and the effects may last up to 24 hours.

A person may re-experience effects of a "trip", days, weeks, or years after use of the drug. This phenomena is called a "flashback".

If a high dose of the drug is used, a "bad trip" may occur which will be very unpleasant, frightening, and dangerous.

Hallucinogens may be used by those who mistakenly hope to attain transcendental, mystical experiences, which they believe will provide them with a greater understanding of life.

Some people may remain permanently brain damaged or psychotic from the drugs and this condition cannot be reversed.

EXTENT OF USE

The 1993 National Household Survey on Drug Use showed:

· 8.7% (12 years and older) have used hallucinogens
· 1.2% used in the past year
· .2% used in the past month
· 10.1% of those who ever used were white
· 5.9% were Hispanic
· 3.0% were black