The “Gentle” Enticement of Hallucinogens
Playing With The Brain
Hallucinogens are psychoactive or psychedelic substances. That means they can alter the psyche, or the mind. They do this by changing the brain's chemical makeup.
The brain controls the body. It processes messages to and from different parts of the body. It might be likened to the air traffic control tower at a major airport. Dozens of aircraft, large and small, are on the radar screen at any given moment. Much like the tower controller, the brain directs the body's “traffic” in an orderly process.
You are well aware of some of the messages the brain sends in controlling your body. For example, you know when you want to wiggle your toes, snap your fingers, or say hello to a friend. Even though you aren't aware of it, the brain constantly performs countless actions to keep you alive. It makes sure you breathe when you're asleep. It makes sure your heart pumps blood through your body. It determines your reactions to sudden, unexpected events. When you need to call on a bit of knowledge from your memory, the brain—which serves as your endless information storage vault—locates the information for you to convert into speech or writing.
Inside the brain is a great network of connected nerve cells called neurons that process information. Neurons send information from one to another. They do not hand it off directly; rather, agents called neurotransmitters move the data between neurons.
Hallucinogens and other abusive substances, as well as prescribed medications, interfere with the brain's normal functions by affecting these chemical transmitters. An alien substance can weaken or block a mental or emotional message. The results may be astonishingly beautiful, which is the great attraction of drug and alcohol use. Hallucinogens can distort the way we see the world around us, producing fantastic colors and shapes, making time seem to slow down, or producing a deep, mysterious understanding of life never before experienced.
However, the results are unpredictable. Rather than feeling ecstatic, the user can suffer from a bad trip. It can be disturbing and dangerous. This tampering with the brain can lead to anger, depression, sadness, or fear. Whether the experience is “good” or “bad,” the person may lose control of speech or physical movements. To people nearby, this may be amusing, but it can also be disruptive and threatening. It can result in violence, serious accidents, and other dangerous behaviors.
A hallucinogen can begin to affect the user within a few minutes of taking it, or it can take more than an hour, depending on the individual and the type of substance. How long does the high from hallucinogens last? It varies. The effects of psilocybin and PCP may be felt for three to six hours. Peyote and LSD can leave a person out of touch with reality for as long as twelve hours.
Where Does It All Come From?
Some psychedelic substances are taken from wild plants or are cultivated on drug farms. Others are manufactured in illegal laboratories. They come from sources both within and outside the United States.
Much of the domestic street supply of LSD is made in the United States, particularly in the Northwest and Midwest. PCP is produced mainly in Southern California. Ecstasy is produced in large quantities in Belgium and the Netherlands. Increased amounts reportedly are being made by Asian-based drug-trafficking organizations operating in Canada. The U.S. government cooperates closely with Canadian and Mexican agencies to patrol shipments, but the organized trafficking network for illegal substances spans the globe.
Some contraband distributors use agents who transport substances personally from one point in a network to another. They also ship products by parcel post and the U.S. Postal Service. Hallucinogens can be bought over the Internet.
At the consumer end, prices vary widely. LSD may cost five dollars to ten dollars a dose. Ecstasy doses may cost ten dollars to forty dollars at all-night dance parties (raves).
Additional topics
- The “Gentle” Enticement of Hallucinogens - Where Does It All Come From?
- The “Gentle” Enticement of Hallucinogens - Why Do Young People Use Hallucinogens?
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