LSD, MESCALINE
- Extremely dilated pupils.
- Warm skin, excessive perspiration and body odor.
- Distorted sense of sight, hearing, touch; distorted image of self and time perception.
- Mood and behavior changes, the extent depending on emotional state of the user and environmental conditions
- Unpredictable flashback episodes even long after withdrawal (although these are rare).
Hallucinogenic drugs, which occur both naturally and in synthetic form, distort or disturb sensory input, sometimes to a great degree. Hallucinogens occur naturally in primarily two forms, peyote cactus and psilocybin mushrooms. Several chemical varieties have been synthesized, most notably LSD , MDA , STP , and PCP .
Hallucinogen usage reached a peak in the United States in the late 1960s, but declined shortly thereafter due to a broader awareness of the detrimental effects of usage. However, a disturbing trend indicating a resurgence in hallucinogen usage by high-school and college age persons nationwide has been acknowledged by law enforcement.
With the exception of PCP , all hallucinogens seem to share common effects of use. Any portion of sensory perceptions may be altered to varying degrees. Synesthesia, or the "seeing" of sounds, and the "hearing" of colors, is a common side effect of hallucinogen use. Depersonalization, acute anxiety, and acute depression resulting in suicide have also been noted as a result of hallucinogen use.
No firm evidence has come to light indicating possible physical addiction as a result of using this type of drug, though some psychological dependency cases have been noted.
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