Hallucinogens

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Hallucinogens

• By
• Kasey Andrews
• Kelly McDowell

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Statistics

• 1965-1971 Hallucinogen use rose tenfold from
  90,000 to 900,000 new users.
• 1990-2000 Use again rose, nearly 3 fold from
  600,000 to 1.5 million new users.
• 2001-2002 LSD use decreased dramatically while
  MDMA and others rose.

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Definitions

• Substances that create gross distortions in
  perception without causing loss of consciousness
  when administered in low doses.
• Substances that alter sensory processing in the
  brain, causing perceptual disturbances, changes
  in thought processing, and depersonalization.

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Hallucinogens also called

• Psychedelics substances that expand or heighten
  perception and consciousness.
• Psychotomimetic substances that mimic psychosis.
  
• Psychotogenic substances that produce psychosis.

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Hallucinogens

• Are found naturally in plants and can be produced
  synthetically.
• Are used by Native American tribes for use during
  religious ceremonies.
• Resemble 1 of 4 neurotransmitters
• Acetylcholine
• Catecholamines (Norepinephrine Dopamine)
• Serotonin

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Common Hallucinogenic Effects

• Alterations in time and space perception
• Changes in self-awareness
• Increase sensitivity to textures, shapes, tastes,
  and sounds

1. Visual disturbances (i.e. flashes of light or
   kaleidoscope-like patterns)
2. Hallucinations
3. Feelings of enlightenment or spiritual awakening

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4 Categories of Hallucinogens

1. Anticholinergic
2. Catecholamine-like
3. Serotonin-like
4. Psychedelic Anesthetics

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AnticholinergicHallucinogens
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• Attach to Acetylcholine receptors and block the
  site so Acetylcholine cannot attach.
• Impairs learning and memory as result
• Found in Belladonna, Nightshade, Jimsonweed, and
  Mandrake plants.
• Effects Dry mouth, decreased sweating, dry skin,
  increased body temperature, blurred vision,
  increased heart rate, dilated pupils, drowsiness,
  decreased attention.
• _at_ High Doses Hallucinations, paralysis of
  respiratory system, coma, and death.
• Examples Scopolamine, Mandrake, Hyoscine,
  Hyoscyamine, and Atropine.

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• Scopolamine
• used as poison and aphrodisiac in Renaissance
  Times.
• Contained in Datura plant. Mixed with drinks to
  create a stupor in wives of chiefs or warriors
  before they were buried alive.
• Mandrake
• used to treat anxiety and acute pain.

datura
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Catecholamine-LikeHallucinogens
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• Also called Phenethylamine Psychedelics
• Structurally similar to Catecholamines
  (Norepinephrine Dopamine) and Amphetamines.
• Explains why these drugs have stimulant and
  hallucinogenic effects.
• Are mixed Dopamine and Serotonin agonists.

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EXAMPLESMescalineMyristinElemicinSyntheti
c Amphetamine Derivatives
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Myristin Elemicin

• Myristin found in nutmeg
• Elemicin found in mace
• Has similar structure as Mescaline
• Blocks release of serotonin in brain neurons.
• 5-15 g. (approximately 2 tablespoons) in tea will
  produce confusion, disorientation,
  depersonalization, and feelings of unreality.
• Side Effects vomiting, nausea, agitation, dry
  mouth, rapid heart beat, and tremors.
• Negative effects can last up to 12 hours.

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Synthetic Amphetamine Derivatives

• DOM (dimethoxymethylamphetamine)
• MDA (Methylenedioxyamphetamine)
• TMA (trimethoxyamphetamine)
• DMA (dimethoxymethylamphetamine)
• MDE (methylenedioxyethylamphetamine)
• MDMA (methylenedioymethamphetamine)
• PMA (paramethoxyamphetamine)

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• Cause increase of serotonin in synaptic cleft,
  block the reuptake of it from cleft.
• same for Dopamine
• Increased Serotonin effects sensory information
  reception, and causes changes in sleep patterns
  and emotions.

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DOM

• 1-6 mg doses produce euphoria and hallucinations
  for 6-8 hours in duration.
• Hallucinogenic effects overpower the amphetamine
  effects. (is stimulant at low doses and
  hallucinogen at high doses)
• At Toxic doses can produce tremors, convulsions,
  and death.

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MDA

• Metabolite of MDMA
• Synthesized in 1910
• Schedule I Drug in 1970
• Used to decrease appetite.
• Called Love Drug because it heightens tactile
  sensations.
• Causes increased release of Serotonin, Dopamine,
  and Norepinephrine.
• Effect dilation of pupils, tightening of jaw,
  grinding of teeth, and physical exhaustion that
  can last for 2 days.
• High Doses (100-150 mg) convulsions and death.

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MDMA

• Street Names Adam, Ecstasy, X, E, XTC, Blue
  Kisses, E bombs, Happy Pill, Hug Drug, Smurfs,
  Wafers, others
• More psychedelic than MDA
• Synthesized in 1912
• Schedule 1 Drug in 1985
• Effects similar to MDA

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MDMA Combos

• Candy Flipping LSD MDMA
• Diamonds Amphetamines MDMA
• Disco Biscuits Depressants MDMA
• Flower Flipping Mushrooms MDMA
• H-Bomb Heroin MDMA
• Gum Opium MDMA
• Kitty Flipping Ketamine MDMA
• Sextasy Viagra MDMA

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• Pharmacokinetics
• orally, injected, or snorted.
• Effects last 3-6 hours
• Dose is 1-2 tablets (60-120 mg each)
• Readily absorbed in GI tract
• Pharmacodynamics
• Increases levels of Norepinephrine, dopamine,
  serotonin released.

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MDMA Effects

• Hallucinogenic Effects distortions in time
  perception.
• Stimulant Effects Euphoria hyperactivity,
  increase blood pressure heart rate

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MDMAThe Negative Effects

• Psychological depression, severe anxiety,
  paranoia, and sleep disturbances.
• Physical muscle tension, teeth clenching,
  nausea, blurred vision, rapid eye movements,
  chills, faintness.
• High doses sharp increase in body temperature,
  muscle breakdown, and kidney cardiovascular
  system failure.
• These effect also happen at low doses in
  combination with intense exercise or acitivity.
• Long-Term liver damage brain damage.
• Brain damage due to destruction of serotonin
  producing neurons therefore problems regulating
  mood, pain, sleep, and aggression can result.

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MDMA effect on Serotonin producing neurons
2 wks 83-95 reduction in serotonin axon
density. 7 yrs some recovery occurs, but
significant loss of serotonin neurons has
occurred.
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PMA

• Effects similar to that of MDMA, but more toxic.
• Is extremely potent and lethal.
• Schedule 1 Drug in 1973
• Sold in tablet, capsule, or powder form.
• Administered orally, inhaled, or injected.
• gt50 mg LETHAL, causing cardiac arrhythmia,
  renal failure, vomiting, hyperthermia,
  convulsions, and death.
• Street Names Death, Mitsubishi Double-Stack.

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PMA Cont.

• 1973 produced in Canada in clandestine labs.
• 11 deaths attributed to its use in this year
  alone.
• 2000 7 deaths due to PMA use.
• Victims believed they were taking ecstasy, so
  they accidentally overdosed.

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Serotonin-like Hallucinogens
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• Also called Indoleamine Psychedelics
• Act as agonist of Serotonin Receptors
• specifically 5-HT2 Serotonin Receptors

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ExamplesLSDPsilocybinPsilocinDMTBufotenineO
loliuquiHarmine
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LSDLysergic Acid Diethylamide
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Street Names

• Acid, Battery Acid, Pane, Brown Bombers, Coffee,
  Crystal Tea, Dots, Golden Dragon, Haze, Looney
  Toons, Microdot, Lucy, Paper Acid, Pearly Gates,
  Pink Panther, Rainbow, Superman, White
  Lightening, Window Glass, Yin Yang, Zen, Yellow
  Sunshine, Sugar Cubes, others.

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• Derived from ergot alkaloids of the rye fungus.
• Colorless, odorless, bitter taste.
• Most potent mood perception altering drug known
  to man. (can cause effects at 25 µg in weight
  to a few grains of salt).
• Can be synthesized in 1 week
• Was used to treat alcoholism, paranoia,
  schizophrenia, and autism.

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History

• 1938 Albert Hofmann synthesizes LSD-25
• 1943 Hofmann discovers hallucinogenic effects
  1st hand when he accidentally ingests it.
• Later he ingests 0.25 mg of it thinking it is a
  minimal dose, when in actuality it is 10 times
  the dose needed to produce an effect.
• My visual field wavered and everything appeared
  deformed as in a faulty mirror. Space and time
  became more and more disorganized and I was
  overcome by fear that I was going out of my mind
  It was particularly striking how acoustic
  perceptions, such as the noise of water gushing
  from a tap or the spoken word, were transformed
  into optical illusions.

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History Cont.

• 1950-1963 LSD used experimentally in mental
  facilities as treatment for mental disorders.
• 1950s CIA Army conduct secret experiments on
  human subjects using LSD.
• 1953 Frank Olsen, a biochemist, kills himself
  after unknowingly consuming a drink containing
  LSD.
• 1966 Timothy Leary, an former professor at
  Harvard, forms a religion called League of
  Spiritual Discovery in an attempt to use LSD and
  other hallucinogens legally.

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History Cont.

• 1976 truth about the CIA Army experiments are
  uncovered, revealing that nearly 585 soldiers and
  900 civilians were given LSD without their
  knowledge for research purposes.
• March 31, 2003 DEA busts the biggest LSD lab in
  history, seizing 41.3 kg or 91 lbs. of LSD.

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LSD in Popular Culture

• Timothy Leary was a psychologist in the 1960s
  advocating LSD use to enhance awareness. He
  began running experiments with subjects under the
  influence of LSD. Jerry Garcia was among them.
• He also coined the phrase Tune in, Turn on,
  Drop out.
• After being removed from his position at Harvard,
  Leary founded two institutions for further LSD
  study.

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LSD in popular culture cont.

• Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass
  written about an LSD experience.
• Popular musicians of the 1960s greatly
  influenced by LSD. Ex- Beatles, Grateful Dead
  etc.

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Pharmacokinetics

• Administered orally, smoked, snorted, or
  injected.
• Doses 25-300 µg. (lethal dose 14,000 µg)
• Microdots tablet form, Window panes LSD in
  gelatin, Blotter acid liquid added to paper,
  Sugar cubes LSD in sugar cubes.
• Absorbed within 1 hour.
• Effects last 6-12 hours.
• Diffuses across all barriers in body
• Metabolized in liver and excreted in urine
• No physical/physiological dependence
• Few if any withdrawal symptoms
• Tolerance and cross-tolerance to other
  hallucinogens does occur. (is lost within days
  after cessation of use).

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Pharmacodynamics

• Binds to 5-HT2 serotonin receptors
• Effects due to disruption of raphe nuclei
  (pons/medulla), which filters incoming sensory
  stimuli, creating surge of sensory information
  and overload of brain circuits.
• Effects cerebral cortex (involved in mood,
  cognition, and perception) locus ceruleus
  (receives sensory info)
• LSD in high concentrations in iris of eye.

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Effects

• Dilation of pupils, dizziness, dreamy detached
  feelings, changes in time perception,
  color/smells/sounds intensified, increase heart
  rate blood pressure, sweating, dry mouth,
  hallucinations.
• At High doses causes nausea, tremors,
  confusion.
• Moods typically depends on mood prior to use,
  causing those to become intensified.
• However, moods can change quickly from euphoria
  to terror and panic.

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2 Types of Emotional Responses to LSD

• Ecstatic-Transcendental Reactions users become
  talkative, euphoric, ideas seem to have great
  importance.
• Panic Psychotic-like Reactions users
  experience intense anxiety fear, lose control
  of thoughts emotions, become paniced.
• Known as a Bad Trip
• Can result in accidents or accidental suicides
  due to individual attempting to flee panic and
  terror they are experiencing.

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Long-Term Effects

1. Psychosis dramatic mood swings
2. HPPD (Hallucinogen Persisting Perception
   Disorder) also called Flashbacks. Former users
   experience spontaneous/repeated/continuous
   sensory distortions (seeing false motions or
   trails, etc.)

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DMT(Dimethyltryptamine)

• Short-acting serotonin agonist (30 min)
• Called businessmans lunch break drug
• Produces LSD-like effects
• snorted or smoked
• Cant be taken orally, because acid in stomach
  destroys drug before absorption can occur.
• Metabolized by MAO (monoamine oxidase)
• Found in Leguminous trees shrubs in West Indies
  and South America
• Dose 60-150 mg

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Bufotenine

• Found in toad skins
• Metabolized by MAO

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Psilocybin/Psilocin(4-phosphoryl-DMT)/(4-hydroxy-
DMT)

• Found in psiloycbe mexicana mushroom
• Peak effects within 2 hours, and last 6-10 hours.
• Psilocybin broken down into psilocin (active
  psychedelic agent).
• Eaten dried or fresh
• Hallucinogenic effects at doses gt 4 mg
• Dried mushroom contains 0.2-0.4 psilocybin
• Street Names mushrooms, magic mushrooms,
  shrooms, Musk, Silly Putty, Simple Simon.

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Psilocybin/Psilocin History

• 1955 identified by Gordon Wasson
• 1958 extracted by Albert Hofmann
• Ate 32 mushrooms to discover effect.

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Ololiuqui

• Found in morning glory seeds
• Used by tribes in Central South America
• 100 seeds creates hallucinations, distorted
  visions, confusion.
• Side Effects nausea, vomiting, headache,
  sleepiness.

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Harmine

• Found in plants shrubs in Middle East South
  America.
• Side Effects intoxication, hallucinations,
  sleep, nausea, and vomiting.

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Psychedelic Anesthetics
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PCP(Phencyclidine)

• Street Names Angel Dust, Black Dust, Blue
  Madman, Busy Bee, Cliffhanger, Crazy Coke,
  Crystal T, Dipper, Devils Dust, Embalming Fluid,
  Peace Pill, Peter Pan, Rocket Fuel, Tic Tac,
  Wobble Weed, Yellow Weed.

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History

• Developed in 1956 as intravenous anesthetic.
• 1965 Use was discontinued due to delirium and
  mania experienced after coming off drug (effects
  lasted up to 18 hours).
• 1967 1st appeared on streets.

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Pharmacokinetics

• Administered orally, smoked, snorted, or
  injected.
• Often applied to parsley, oregano, or marijuana.
• Stimulates brain reward areas, thus creating
  psychological dependence.
• Withdrawal symptoms sometimes occur.

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Dose Effects

• Low to moderate Doses (lt 5 mg) increased
  respiration, heart beat, and blood pressure
  profuse sweating, numbness of extremities,
  muscular incoordination, hallucinations, feelings
  of increased strength and invulnerability.
• High Doses (gt 10 mg) decreased respiration,
  heart rate, and blood pressure nausea, vomiting,
  blurred vision, flickering eyes. Drooling,
  dizziness, seizures, coma, death.
• Long-term memory loss, speech difficulties,
  depression, weight loss.

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Pharmacodynamics

• NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) or Glutamate
  receptors.
• Blocks open channel on NMDA receptor preventing
  glutamate from attaching and creating its effect.
• Glutamate plays role in pain perception, memory,
  cognition, and emotion.

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PCP Therapy

1. Minimize sensory input by placing them in quiet
   environment.
2. Administer acitvated charcoal orally (it binds to
   PCP in the stomach intestines preventing it
   from being reabsorbed).
3. Physically restrain user to protect them and
   others.
4. Sedation with Benzodiazepine.

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Ketamine (Ketalar)

• Street Names Cat Valium, Jet, Kit Kat, Special
  K, Vitamin K
• Developed in 1963 to replace PCP as anesthetic.
• Injected, snorted, orally ingested.
• Odorless, tasteless so often used as date rape
  drug.

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Ketamine Cont.

• Blocks NMDA receptor channel, or decreases
  frequency of channel opening by binding to
  outside of receptor.
• Effects similar to PCP, with bad trip called
  K-hole.

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OtherHallucinogens
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Kinikinik

• Also called Bearberry, rockberry, beargrape, or
  Samah.
• Found in shrubs or red willow.
• Inner red bark and dried leaves can be mixed with
  tobacco and/or various herbal mixtures and
  smoked.
• Used to treat urinary tract infections.
• Can create hallucinations, out-of-body
  experiences.
• Side Effects rash, nausea, vomiting, abdominal
  cramps, gastritis, blisters in mouth and throat.

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Conclusion

• Hallucinogens are relatively safe
• Hallucinogens are extremely potent
• Hallucinogens effects are unpredictable, thus
  can be dangerous to user and others.
• Most drugs can cause hallucinations and
  hallucinogenic effects when taken in high doses.