Hallucinogens

Info

To learn more about hallucinogens or obtain 

referrals to programs in your community, contact 

one of the following toll-free numbers:

SAMHSA’s Health Information Network 

1-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727)

(English and Spanish)

TTY 1-800-487-4889800

The bottom line: If 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!

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.

 A& Q

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.
The Truth About Hallucinogens 

Slang—Lysergic acid diethylamide: LSD, Acid, Blotter. Psilocybin: Magic Mushrooms,

Shrooms. Phencyclidine: PCP, Angel Dust, Boat, Ozone, Wack. Ecstasy: E, X, XTC.

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 

self-control 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.

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 2006 study, 96 

percent of 12- to 17-year-olds 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:

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What can you do to help someone who is using 

hallucinogens? Be a real friend. Encourage your 

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and referrals, call the SAMHSA’s Health Information 

Network at 1-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727).

For more information or for references to facts found in this Tips for Teens,

go to www.samhsa.gov/SHIN.

Revised in 2008.