The bottom line: The bottom line: If The bottom line: you know someone who uses hallucinogens, urge

him or her to get help. If you're using them—stop! The longer you

ignore the real facts, the more chances you take with your life.

It's never too late. Talk to your parents, a doctor, a counselor, a

teacher, or another adult you trust.

Do it today!

Q.Do hallucinogens have longterm effects?

A. Yes. In addition to flashbacks,

long-term effects may include

decreased motivation, prolonged

depression, anxiety, increased

delusions and panic, and psychosis.

Q.Can I predict if I will have a

“bad trip”?

A. There is no way to predict a “bad

trip.” There is no consistency in

hallucinogenic drugs, so each

“trip” may differ depending on the

drug's strength and purity. The

psychological effects of the hallucinogen also depend on the user's

frame of mind.

Q.How can I help someone

through a bad trip?

A. Don't try to handle this situation

on your own—call 911 and a

trusted adult immediately. While

waiting, address the person by

name, remind them who and

where they are, talk to them

calmly, make sure they're safe, and

don't leave them alone.

Hallucinogens•••

To learn more about hallucinogens or

obtain referrals to programs in your

community, contact one of the following

toll-free numbers:

SAMHSA’s National Clearinghouse

for Alcohol and Drug Information

800-729-6686

TDD 800-487-4889

linea gratis en español

877-767-8432

Curious about the TV ads of the National Youth

Anti-Drug Media Campaign? Check out the Web site at

www.freevibe.com or visit the Office of National Drug

Control Policy Web site at www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov.
Slang—Lysergic acid diethylamide: LSD, Acid, Blotter. Psilocybin: Magic Mushrooms, Shrooms. Phencyclidine: PCP, Angel Dust, Boat, Ozone, Wack. Ecstasy: E, X, XTC.

Stay informed. The body can quickly form a tolerance

to a hallucinogen, so a person would have to take more

and more of the drug for the same effect. This is very

dangerous because taking stronger doses of any drug

may cause severe side effects, including overdose.

Know the risks. Hallucinogens can cause flashbacks.

Effects of the drugs, including hallucinations, can occur

weeks, months, and even years after use.

Look around you. The majority of teens are not using

hallucinogens. According to a 2002 study, 94 percent

of teens have never even tried hallucinogens.2

Know the Signs...

How can you tell if a friend is using hallucinogens?

Sometimes it's tough to tell. Different hallucinogens

have different effects, depending on the dose and the

user. If your friend has one or more of the following

common warning signs, he or she may be using hallucinogens:

• Distorted sense of sight, hearing, and touch

• Dilated pupils

• Anxiety or paranoia

• Mood swings

• Faintness

• Irrational behavior

What can you do to help someone who is using

hallucinogens? Be a real friend. Encourage your

friend to stop or seek professional help. For information

and referrals, call the National Clearinghouse for

Alcohol and Drug Information at 800-729-6686.

Hallucinogens•••

Get the Facts...

Hallucinogens affect your brain. Hallucinogens

change the way the brain interprets time, reality, and the

environment around you. They also affect the way you

move, react to situations, think, hear, and see. This may

make you think that you're hearing voices, seeing

images, and feeling things that don't exist.

Hallucinogens affect your heart. The use of hallucinogens leads to an increase in heart rate and blood

pressure. Hallucinogens can put you in a coma. They

can also cause heart and lung failure.

Hallucinogens affect your well-being. The use of

hallucinogens may change the way you feel emotionally.

They may cause you to feel confused, suspicious, and

disoriented. Many PCP users are brought to emergency

rooms because of PCP overdose or its disturbing psychological effects, including delusions and paranoia.1

Hallucinogens affect your self-control. The effect of

hallucinogens varies from time to time and person to

person, so there is no way to know how much selfcontrol you might maintain. They can cause you to mix

up your speech, lose control of your muscles, make

meaningless movements, and act in irrational, aggressive, or violent ways.

Before You Risk It...

Know the law. Hallucinogens are illegal to buy, sell, or

possess.

Get the facts. Hallucinogenic drugs distort your

perception of reality. Hallucinogens cause your sense of

space and time to become distorted and cause you to see

objects that aren't really there.

Revised in 2004

For more information go to www.ncadi.samhsa.gov