What Is a Hallucinogen?

Hallucinogens are sought after as recreational drugs because of the hallucinatory effects they bring on, altering your perception of reality. Like with any drug, taking hallucinogens is dangerous to your physical and mental health. Hallucinogens attach themselves to your serotonin receptors in the brain, which is why your brain alters your perception after using the drug. The continued use of the drug becomes an addiction, and more and more of the drug is needed to achieve the desired effect.

If you’re struggling with a dependency on hallucinogens, a hallucinogen addiction treatment program can help. This type of treatment program offers targeted therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), to help you understand the underlying issues that are driving your addiction.

What Is a Hallucinogen?

Hallucinogens directly affect a person’s brain receptors translating to their mood and heightening their senses. Those who use hallucinogens will quite literally hallucinate and see things with an altered perspective instead of reality.

These substances include classic hallucinogens like LSD and drugs like PCP, which are considered dissociative hallucinogens. There are both synthetic and plant-based types of hallucinogens. People take them to chase a euphoric state of consciousness. The more of the drug they use, the harder it is to stop using. When taken in large doses, you risk an overdose and even death, especially when taken with other drugs or alcohol. Professional treatment is necessary to rid yourself of a dependence on these substances.

Types of Hallucinogenic Drugs

Hallucinogens are known as party drugs. These drugs are often romanticized in movies, on TV, and on social media. It is no wonder that there is a rise in addiction rates among hallucinogens, especially among young people.

Some of the most common hallucinogens include:

• Mushrooms – Commonly called magic mushrooms, the psilocybin mushroom is a plant-based substance. The mushroom’s psychoactive properties are naturally inherent.
• Ayahuasca – This is a tea-like drink that is brewed using leaves and stems found on the Psychotria viridis plant and the Banisteriopsis caapi vine, respectively. This plant-based hallucinogen has a history of being used as a healing medicine and today is used more as a recreational drug.
• Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)– This plant-based hallucinogen is also found in animals. Those who use it claim it gives them an other-worldly spiritual experience. It can be ingested by injecting, smoking, snorting, or being taken orally.
• Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) – LSD is probably the most popular man-made synthetic hallucinogen. It can be ingested in liquid or powder form, as well as a dissolvable tab–a piece of paper that has absorbed the liquid form of the drug.

Each of these hallucinogenic drugs has its own set of risks and consequences when used. They all can create a cycle of addiction that is hard to break without professional help.

How Hallucinogen Addiction Treatment Can Help

A hallucinogen addiction treatment program can provide a way out of your addiction. Treatment should be tailored to fit your individual needs and should address the underlying issues that led to your drug use in the first place. For example, if you have a history of trauma, the addiction treatment program should provide trauma-informed care to help you heal.

The goal of any addiction treatment program is to help you develop the skills necessary for long-term sobriety. This includes learning how to manage cravings and triggers and how to cope with the stressors of everyday life without the use of drugs. You will also learn how to build a support system, which is an essential part of lasting recovery.

Contact NuLife Behavioral Health Today

NuLife Behavioral Health provides effective, evidence-based care for hallucinogen addiction in Massachusetts. Our team is dedicated to helping you find the best path to recovery and providing the support you need every step of the way.

Take control of your life today. Call 888.568.2057 or reach out online today to get started.