The Long-Term Effects of Hallucinogens

What Are Hallucinogens?

Hallucinogens, also known as psychedelics, are a class of psychoactive drugs that induce profound alterations in consciousness and subjective experiences. Hallucinogens can be derived from natural sources, such as certain mushrooms (psilocybin), cacti (mescaline), or the combination of plants used to brew ayahuasca, as well as synthetic compounds like LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) and DMT (dimethyltryptamine).

When ingested, hallucinogens can induce a wide range of effects. Hallucinogens distort one’s perception of reality by changing the way the brain’s prefrontal cortex processes information. This critical area of the brain control conscious thought, perception, and cognition. Even short-term abuse of hallucinogens may result in temporary psychosis. The long-term effects of hallucinogens include a host of unpleasant possibilities. These include persistent psychosis as evidenced, wild mood discrepancies or variations, hallucinations, and irrational thinking.

Luckily, there are addiction treatment options and sober living homes for those who are dealing with addiction-related issues.

Long-Term Effects of Hallucinogen Abuse

Not only do users experience a myriad of disturbing effects from hallucinogens, but, if they continue using drugs, they will likely experience devastating consequences. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the following hallucinogens long-term effects have been linked to using classic hallucinogens:

Persistent Psychosis

One of the more troubling long-term effects of hallucinogens (for example, long-term effects of LSD) is varying levels of psychosis. In cases of persistent psychosis, there is a profound detachment from reality. Users may experience wild mood swings, violent outbursts, emotional outbursts, and hallucinations that may seem all too real. Panic attacks are not uncommon and almost mirror the symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia, which includes hallucinations, delusional thinking, and abnormal behavior. These episodes can last for several hours up to many years, but such length for persistent psychosis is rare.

Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD)

Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD) involves hallucinations that most people typically associate with drugs in this group. Things like seeing halos and trails attached to moving objects are very real side effects. Other visual disturbances can include after images or ghost images, flashes of light, twinkling sparkles of light, and bolts of light or light trails. The symptoms of Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD) are sometimes mistaken for neurological disorders, like a stroke or a brain tumor: people who experience these symptoms know the experiences are imaginary, but they are disturbing nonetheless.

Flashbacks

Flashbacks can become very problematic, especially for those dealing with personal trauma, abuse trauma, or PTSD. For people dealing with co-occurring mental disorders, professional treatment is highly recommended. Surprisingly, these flashbacks can occur long after a person has stopped using hallucinogens. Scientists have not been able to fully explain this phenomenon, but this is yet another example of the effects of hallucinogens. In short, there’s a possibility of users feeling as if they have used the drug even if they’ve been sober for a prolonged period of time. These flashbacks may take place for months or years after you’ve stopped using hallucinogens and might be triggered by fatigue, stress, trauma, use of other legal drugs or even when exerting yourself.

Amotivational Syndrome

Amotivational Syndrome manifests itself as apathy, passivity, and an inability to take an interest in any activity whatsoever. In short, a total and complete lack of motivation, drive, or interest in any form of exertion. Users suffering from this symptom appear to others to be socially withdrawn and lethargic.