How Do Hallucinogens Impact Society?

Hallucinogen abusers have been hospitalized after bad trips, and heavy users have required psychiatric treatment to help them break their dependency. Most hallucinogens are not believed to cause complete mental breakdowns, but regular use can ruin a person's life if unchecked.

The government's Monitoring the Future survey reports an encouraging decrease in the number of medical facility admissions for hallucinogens between 1995 and 2005. In cases in which PCP was the primary substance abused, admissions dropped from 3,515 in 1995 to 2,807 in 2005. Admissions for most other forms of hallucinogens, collectively, dropped from 3,040 to 2,057. Two to three times that many more admissions involve hallucinogens, but hallucinogens are not the dominant substances.

Initial medical intervention typically occurs in an emergency room or doctor's office when the user experiences a health problem. Medical professionals in some cases are able to explain the risks effectively and motivate the person to change.

If a person is arrested on abuse charges or causes serious family problems, a formal intervention and treatment program may be entered voluntarily or ordered by a court. More than eleven thousand substance treatment centers are available in the United States.

Outpatient treatment involves counseling (group and individual) and drug education lectures. Depending on the program and the severity of the problem, sessions might be held daily, several afternoons a week, or once a week. A session usually lasts at least an hour. Because the individual is free to continue associating with friends, success requires great determination. Often, the patient stays clean for a week or so, then resumes using illicit substances.

Inpatient (residential) clinical treatment, on the other hand, may last several months. Programs for young people include tutoring and study time so they can keep up with their school-work, as well as recreation and exercise time. They attend daily counseling, lecture, and therapy sessions. While illegal substances are unobtainable, long-term success still calls for determined personal commitment. Within a week of release, some patients return to their old habits.

Advanced treatment programs involve intensive therapy and may be followed by varying levels of extended care.