Introduction
Hallucinogens introduce a group of drugs that can change people’s awareness, perception, and cognitive function using provoking memory impairment. They cause hallucinations or images that seem to be real, but they are not. First effects are observed within 20-90 minutes and can last from 10 minutes to 12 hours. In this paper, the history, classes, and work of hallucinogens, as well as their use in treatment, addiction, differences, and future research opportunities, will be discussed to understand these substances’ medical and therapeutic worth.
History
The history of hallucinogens’ use began a thousand years ago when the representatives of old cultures created ceremonies and rituals. For example, a small pouch with three fox snouts was found during an archaeological dig in Cueva del Chileno, proving the use of ayahuasca by the Amazonian people. Ancient inhabitants found it necessary to use plant-made substances to provoke detachments and visions that were regarded as mystical or spiritual insights for the population to deal with their uncertainties, be guided by supreme powers, or control some unpredictable events.
Classes
There are several options to classify hallucinogens, and each of them has enough evidence for existence. For example, the National Institute on Drug Abuse introduces two major categories of hallucinogens: classic and dissociative. In other studies, four subclasses are identified, including psychedelics, entactogens, dissociatives, and atypical. Psychedelics, in their turn, may be divided into anticholinergic, catecholamine-like, serotonin-like, glutamatergic receptor antagonists, and opioid receptor agonists. All these classifications and divisions depend on pharmacological mechanisms of action and the chemical structures of hallucinogens.
Structure
In the majority of cases, the structure of hallucinogens is similar to serotonin, a well-known human neurotransmitter. These substances contain nitrogen and a list of chemicals, depending on the type. For example, D-lysergic acid diethylamide is a strong chemical that belongs to an indolamine group. It is characterized by active combinations of 5-hydroxytryptophan, N, N-dimethyltryptamine or B, N-dimethyltryptamine, 4- methylenedioxymethamphetamine, dextromethorphan, and Mu or Kappa opioid receptors. These combinations may not share the same mechanisms of action, but many hallucinogens are structurally related, which provoke similar effects on brain receptors at the molecular level.
Molecular Level
Each type of hallucinogen may have a specific impact on the work of the human brain depending on its compounds and the results of contemporary research. However, in general, at the molecular level, hallucinogens perform the function of an agonist at the serotonergic 5-HT2AR receptor. In the brain, molecules interact with a single brain receptor, serotonin, in their own specific ways. The receptor accommodates the shape of the molecule and activates along with the neuron. In some cases, receptors are cleared by hallucinogens’ molecules, and sometimes, the destruction of the receptor is observed blocking hallucinogen molecules and preventing them from clearing.
Addiction and Treatment
Today, many young people try hallucinogens at their school-age just for fun or the desire to experience something new and undiscovered. However, it is necessary to remember that the use of hallucinogens has a number of serious side effects, including addiction. At this moment, there are no specifically FDA-approved medications to treat this type of addiction, and scientists need more time and space to research this field. Increased heart rate, blood pressure, agitation, body temperature, and impulsive behaviors are the main signs of hallucinogen intoxication. The desire and a burning need to repeat the same actions are the characteristics of addiction. An individual has to be treated, and behavioral therapy is one of the options. It includes a safe environment, communication, and regular observations to identify and treat co-occurring disorders like depression, anxiety, or sleeping problems.
Hallucinogens vs. Psychogenic
In their intentions to understand better the peculiarities of hallucinogens, much attention is paid to such concepts as hallucinogenic and psychogenic. Compared to hallucinogens, the drugs that cause hallucinations and sensations of unreal images that seem to be real, psychogenic may have a number of additional effects on people, including depressant and stimulant properties. For example, marijuana or cannabis is a psychogenic drug but cannot be classified only as a hallucinogen due to its qualities and the possibility to impair the central nervous system.
Hallucination, Psycho and Schizophrenia
In some cases, people are confused with the presence of such terms as hallucinations and psychosis. It is recommended to understand the differences between the situations when people suffer from schizophrenia, psychosis, and hallucinations. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that influences the way how a person thinks, behaves, and thinks and provokes losing touch with reality because of the problems with neurotransmitters and other brain chemicals. Psychosis is one of the possible signs of schizophrenia, as well as a condition that has the same causes and characteristics. In both cases, hallucinations are the symptoms that can be visual, auditory, tactile, or olfactory.
Findings for Therapeutic and Medical Uses of Hallucinogens
Despite the intentions to find out some therapeutic benefits of hallucinogens, it is important to underline that the representatives of the FDA do not support the idea of using these substances in treatment. Recent findings show that LSD and serotonin hallucinogens could be proved safe in case they are used at low doses and controlled by high-quality experts in specific clinical settings. In some situations, LSD and ketamine (as a legal drug) result in considerable reductions of anxiety and depression in patients and improve the quality of life. However, it is still recommended to search for other options to treat mental health problems.
Psilocybin and Hallucinogens
Psilocybin is a well-known chemical compound that can be produced by fungi, also known as psilocybin mushrooms. It is illegal in almost all countries, including the United States, and it has a direct link to hallucinogens because one of the outcomes of these mushrooms, as well as other products that contain this compound, is a hallucination. However, in some civilizations, these magic mushrooms help to deal with the headache and many obsessive-compulsive disorders.
Future Research Opportunities
In the future, the use of hallucinogens is expected to be thoroughly studied. Despite the intentions to prohibit these substances, many civilizations continue using them in different forms in order to find answers, solve problems, and improve the quality of life. Further research opportunities should include a comparison between the benefits and threats of hallucinogens through the prism of the quality of life and its health-related outcomes.
Conclusion
In total, much time and research efforts were spent to understand the therapeutic worth of hallucinogens. Their classification, work at the molecular level, and structure varies because of the chemical compounds discovered. However, many areas remain poorly investigated in the chosen field, and new opportunities have to be made to clarify the advantages and disadvantages of hallucinations caused by such substances as LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, or DMT.