Signs of Hallucinogen Abuse

The most common hallucinogen made famous by the likes of Timothy Leary in the sixties is LSD, which stands for Lysergic Acid Diethylamide otherwise known as Acid. Other hallucinogens are mescaline, psilocybin and ibogaine.

Hallucinogens have a direct and powerful effect on the delicate communication system between the nerve cell and the neurotransmitter, serotonin, found throughout the body. Abuse of this class of drug causes very specific signs and symptoms indicative of the havoc wreaked by the chemical in the nervous system of the abuser.

Serotonin is involved with the control of key behavioral and perceptual systems as well as regulatory systems like mood, hunger, body temperature, sexual behavior, muscle co-ordination and sensory perception.

Abuse of hallucinogens causes the following signs:
* Pupil dilation (extreme).
* Skin is warm and clammy to the touch.
* Excessive perspiration.
* Unnatural body odor.
* Disturbance of all the senses including sight, hearing and touch.
* Distortion of self image,
* Warped perception of the passage of time.
* Mood swings and behavior changes.
* Repeated and unpredictable flashbacks.

Even though hallucinogens are not as popular as other substances like alcohol and marijuana they produce profound perceptual distortions that can lead to frightening psychotic episodes that often repeat in the form of flashbacks.

People who take hallucinogens are messing with their highly sensitive powers of perception. A hallucinogenic trip will result in perceptual distortion on all sense levels. Nothing will be seen for what it is, sounds will not resemble the real thing and sensations can be felt that do not exist.

For this reason it is difficult, if not impossible for the hallucinogen abuser to hide the effects of a trip from others. This is why hallucinogens are typically taken with other users in secluded places away from people capable of reporting the activity.

Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse (Public Domain)