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hallucinogenic drug |
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hallucinogenic drug (həl 'sənōjĕn`ĭk), any of a group of substances that alter consciousness; also called psychotomimetic (i.e., mimicking psychosis psychosis (sīkō`sĭs)..... Click the link for more information. ), mind-expanding, or psychedelic drug. The group includes mescaline, or peyote peyote (pāō`tē), spineless cactus (Lophophora williamsii ..... Click the link for more information. , which comes from the cactus Lophophora williamsii; psilocin and psilocybin, from the mushrooms Psilocybe mexicana and Stropharia cubensis; and LSD LSD or lysergic acid diethylamide ..... Click the link for more information. , synthesized from lysergic acid, found in the fungus Claviceps purpurea (see ergot ergot (ûr`gət), disease of rye and other cereals caused by the fungus Claviceps purpurea. ..... Click the link for more information. ). These alkaloids have also been produced synthetically. Newer hallucinogens, such as PCP (phencyclidine, or "angel dust"), a drug originally used as an anesthetic, and MDMA ("Ecstasy"), an amphetamine amphetamine (ămfĕt`əmēn), any one of a group of drugs that are powerful central nervous system stimulants . ..... Click the link for more information. derivative, were common in the 1980s. Marijuana marijuana or marihuana, drug obtained from the flowering tops, stems, and leaves of the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa (see hemp ) or C. indica; the latter species can withstand colder climates. ..... Click the link for more information. has hallucinogenic properties but is pharmacologically distinct. Hallucinogens have been used for centuries by certain peoples. The Hindus and the Aztecs Aztec (ăz`tĕk'), Indian people dominating central Mexico at the time of the Spanish conquest. EffectsHallucinogens produce a wide range of effects, depending on the properties, dosage, and potency of the drug, the personality and mood of the drug taker, and the immediate environment. Visually, perception of light and space is altered, and colors and detail take on increased significance. If the eyes are closed the drug taker often sees intense visions of different kinds. Nonexistent conversations, music, odors, tastes, and other sensations are also perceived. The sensations are often either very pleasant or very distasteful and disturbing. The drugs frequently alter the sense of time and cause feelings of emptiness. For many individuals the separation between self and environment disappears, leading to a sense of oneness or holiness. The effects, sometimes referred to as a "trip," can last from an hour to a few days. "Bad trips," full of frightening images, monsters, and paranoid thoughts are known to have resulted in accidents and suicides. Flashbacks (unexpected reappearances of the effects) can occur months later. Physiologically, the drugs act as mild stimulants of the sympathetic nervous system, causing dilation of the pupils, constriction of some arteries, a rise in blood pressure, and increased excitability of certain spinal reflexes. Many hallucinogenic drugs share a basic chemical structural unit, the indole ring, which is also found in the nervous system substance serotonin serotonin (sĕr'ətō`nĭn), organic compound that was first recognized as a powerful vasoconstrictor occurring in blood serum. BibliographySee publications of the Drugs & Crime Data Center and Clearinghouse, the Bureau of Justice Statistics Clearinghouse, and the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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4% Lifetime hallucinogenic use (Used hallucinogenic drugs or more times during their life) Black 2. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that a small religious group in New Mexico could use a hallucinogenic drug in its services. Psilocybin boosts transmission of the brain chemical serotonin, much as LSD and some other hallucinogenic drugs do. |
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