Hallucinations involve perceiving something not present, affecting any of the five senses. These perceptions feel real, even without an external stimulus. While medical conditions can cause hallucinations, certain drugs are also known to induce them. This article explores these substances and their effects.
Types of Hallucinogenic Drugs
Hallucinogenic drugs are categorized by their chemical structure and the types of hallucinations they produce. These substances distort an individual’s perception of reality.
Psychedelics
Psychedelics, including LSD, psilocybin, DMT, and mescaline, alter consciousness, emotion, and cognition. They lead to visual distortions like geometric patterns, intensified colors, or moving objects. These drugs can also induce synesthesia, where senses merge (e.g., hearing colors), and alter perceptions of time and reality.
Dissociatives
Dissociatives, such as ketamine, PCP, and DXM, create a sense of detachment from one’s body and surroundings. Hallucinations from these drugs involve out-of-body experiences, feelings of unreality, and distorted perceptions of self or the environment. Users might feel disconnected from pain or their own identity.
Deliriants
Deliriants, like atropine and scopolamine (found in Datura and Belladonna plants), induce a distinct type of hallucination. These substances cause hallucinations often indistinguishable from reality. Individuals under their influence may interact with imaginary people or objects, unaware these perceptions are not real.
Stimulants
Stimulants, including methamphetamine and cocaine, can induce hallucinations, particularly at high doses or with chronic use. These hallucinations are visual and can be accompanied by paranoia, aggression, and confusion. Users might experience tactile hallucinations, such as the sensation of insects crawling on or under the skin.
Cannabis
Cannabis, specifically its psychoactive component THC, can lead to hallucinations in high doses or sensitive individuals. While less common and less intense than those caused by other hallucinogens, these can involve visual distortions, altered perceptions, and sometimes paranoia or anxiety. The likelihood of experiencing such effects increases with higher THC concentrations.
How Hallucinations Develop
Drug-induced hallucinations arise from interactions between substances and the brain’s neurotransmitter systems. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that transmit signals throughout the brain; disrupting their function can alter perceptions.
Psychedelics
Psychedelics mimic serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in mood, perception, and cognition. They bind to and activate specific serotonin 5-HT2A receptors on neurons in various brain regions, including the visual cortex. This activation increases neuronal excitability and disrupts brain communication, leading to visual hallucinations and altered states of consciousness.
Dissociative Drugs
Dissociative drugs primarily act as antagonists of NMDA receptors. These receptors are part of the glutamate system, which plays a role in learning, memory, and perception. By blocking NMDA receptors, these drugs interfere with glutamate signaling, causing detachment, memory problems, and hallucinations. This disruption can lead to cognitive and behavioral changes.
Deliriants
Deliriants, such as atropine and scopolamine, block muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter involved in memory, attention, and perception. By inhibiting these receptors, deliriants disrupt brain activity, causing a confused and disoriented state where hallucinations are indistinguishable from reality. This anticholinergic action allows subconscious information to enter conscious awareness.
Stimulants
Stimulants, when taken in high doses, can lead to hallucinations by increasing dopamine levels in the brain. Excess dopamine activity can contribute to psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations and paranoia. This mechanism is similar to what is observed in some psychotic disorders.
Potential Harms
Experiencing drug-induced hallucinations carries several risks, from immediate dangers to long-term psychological effects. These risks highlight the unpredictable nature of these substances.
One immediate danger is a “bad trip,” an acute adverse psychological reaction involving intense fear, panic, anxiety, and paranoia. During a bad trip, individuals may experience disturbing hallucinations and a distorted sense of reality, leading to distress and potential accidental injury from impaired judgment. Environment and mental state before drug use can influence severity.
Beyond immediate reactions, some individuals may face persistent psychological distress or the exacerbation of underlying mental health conditions. Drug-induced psychosis, involving delusions and hallucinations, can occur. While symptoms often subside after the drug clears the system, they can sometimes trigger or worsen existing mental illnesses like schizophrenia in susceptible individuals.
A specific long-term risk with classic hallucinogens is Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD), often called flashbacks. HPPD involves recurring visual disturbances, like halos, trails, or geometric patterns, weeks, months, or even years after drug use has ceased. These visual anomalies are not full-blown hallucinations but can be persistent, distressing, and cause anxiety.
Responding to Drug-Induced Hallucinations
When an individual experiences drug-induced hallucinations, ensuring their safety is a primary concern. Moving them to a quiet, safe, calm environment can reduce external stimulation and promote security. Speak in a reassuring, calm manner, reminding them the experience is temporary.
Seek medical attention immediately if symptoms are severe, prolonged, or if there are signs of overdose or distress. This includes difficulty breathing, severe agitation, or violent behavior. Emergency services can provide professional assessment and intervention, necessary for managing acute intoxication.
For ongoing concerns or a history of substance use, seek support from mental health professionals or substance abuse services. These resources offer guidance, therapy, and support for individuals struggling with drug use and its psychological impacts. Early intervention can improve outcomes and reduce the risk of long-term complications.