Classifying LSD And Psilocybin: The Hallucinogen Case Study

Improved Essays
Ultimately, intense modifications in the sensorium, the sense of “self,” and the experience of reality are all experienced throughout the phase up until the presence of the hallucinogen is no longer present in the body (Volkow 2016, Alonso 2015). A very similar process occurs when a dissociative drug is ingested, like PCP (Phencyclidine), ketamine, and dextromethorphan, but instead, events of respiratory depression, heart rate abnormalities, and a withdrawal syndrome can occur while the user may begin to feel out of control and disconnected from their own body and environment. In some cases, this leads to a craving or an addiction and the affected user decides to consume more psychedelics; not only does this increase the influence, length, …show more content…
While this occurrence is seen among only when a classical psychedelic is ingested, research continues to state that when a dissociative drug is consumed, a very similar after effect is seen; however, not with the neurotransmitter serotonin, but the brain chemical glutamate, which regulates pain perception, responses to the environment, emotion, and learning and memory (Nakanishi 1992, Volkow 2016).

Classifying LSD and Psilocybin: The Deadly Duo on the Black Market
Now that a substantial background of hallucinogens, categories that make up the wide range of this drug, and the results in taking a sample of whichever psychedelic were briefly touched on, this would be the most appropriate and best time to look into the serotonergic psychedelics, LSD and psilocybin.. “D-lysergic acid diethylamide” or LSD, for short, is a very common serotonergic psychedelic known for its capabilities in powerful mood swings and changing a human being’s identity and personality. This is usually delivered in the form of a “trip”, or a psychological realistic experience that does not actually take place in reality (Volkow 2016,
…show more content…
However, the origin of Lysergic acid diethylamide or specifically what makes up LSD, lysergic acid, can be narrowed down as an ergot alkaloid found in the Ergot Fungus (Claviceps purpurea), a parasite commonly located on rye and other species of grain or wild grasses (Schumann 2016). After placing themselves on the desired rye or some other species of grains, it uses the plant as a host in the process of replacing its reproductive organs with a sclerotium, a dark resting body for the fungi, which is created differently for each Claviceps sp. Speaking of species, the genus Claviceps has been narrowed down to only sixteen species through the use of RNA-declassifying phylogenetic trees, which Sylvie Pažoutová (2001, 2002) kindly states in the following: C. paspali, C. zizaniae, C. grohii, C. sulcata, C. fusiformis, and C. purpurea, C.citrina, C. phalaris, C. sorghicola, C. gigantea, C sorghi, C. africana, C. viridis, C. pusilla, and two unidentified Claviceps sp. (isolates PM and SG). Although listing all of these species does show how small the Claviceps genus consists of, Claviceps purpurea is one of the few groups of ergot fungi believed to have the highest amount of lysergic acid, located in tropical regions containing wild rye, related

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    When investigating the mechanisms of neural communication and the impact various drugs can have on this its important to take into consideration what these actually mean and whereabouts in the body are the main components. The word neural communication consists of how neurons communicate with each other through their physiological process, and drugs consist of chemicals, substances or medicines that have a physiological and/or psychological effect on the brain and body. Within this essay I will look at what main parts of the body are associated with neural communication and I will explain how they interact as well as function to create the central nervous system, I will distinguish why the central nervous system itself is important and how…

    • 1449 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    A persons mental health may vary through the course of their lifetime, and it can be influenced by external factors, the main one being the use of drugs. Drugs such as cannabis, alcohol, heroin and ecstasy have the ability to affect a person’s well-being because they are psychoactive drugs. These drugs interfere with the chemicals in the brain, this then affects the messages those chemicals are trying to send and as a result of the changes to the brain a person’s mood and behaviour will be altered. Psychoactive drugs can cause any number of temporary mental health problems whilst they are being consumed and as they start to clear from the body, a person may suffer from a temporary unstable mental condition as a result of anxiety, mood swings, depression, and sleeping problems. Drug induced anxiety disorder is when a person will have periods of very severe anxiety; heart rate will increase, with trembling, sweats and a fear of losing control.…

    • 556 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Cannabis And Schizophrenia

    • 1766 Words
    • 8 Pages

    The relationship between cannabis and schizophrenia is still not certain, but many studies have been done to see if there is a clear link between the two. Cannabis is a highly used drug in many parts of the world and is the most common illicit drug in Canada. Statistics Canada (2012) reported that just over twelve percent of Canadians over the age of fourteen have used cannabis in the past year. They also reported that over thirty percent of the users are between the ages of 18 and 24 and are mostly males. At this stage, the adolescent brain is still developing.…

    • 1766 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This can cause the person to believe something that is not physically possible or believe that they are someone that they are not (“Psychological Effects of LSD,” 2009). Delusions can lead to paranoia which can lead to someone doing something harmful to themselves or someone else. Anxiety is also a common psychological effect from LSD. Such physiological effects like tremors and increased heart rate can trigger anxiety in someone who uses LSD (“Psychological Effects of LSD,” 2009). Depression is also a very common psychological effect someone can have after using LSD, and depression is also linked to suicidal thoughts someone may have also after using LSD (“Psychological Effects of LSD,” 2009).…

    • 1165 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Most current members of society are against the use of LSD in medicine and for recreational use due to the severity and longevity of its effects, as well as the possibility of the user harming themselves or others around them. In fact, people have gathered together to outlaw this drug from nearly every country, excluding Mexico and Portugal. Schools, hospitals, and parents all teach their children from a young age that LSD should never be taken for any purpose since is poses not only a huge burden on families but a burden on the user, both financially and mentally. However, there is a massive movement of people, ranging from young adults to elders, who are fighting to permit recreational LSD use by claiming that the drug can do wonders at discovering and opening our minds for the better.…

    • 492 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    (Introduction: Concession) When people hear about shamanism and psychedelic drugs they usually jump to a negative conclusion. Shamanism is often viewed as something unnecessary or archaic, and psychedelic drugs are demonized in society. In Daniel Pinchbeck’s, Breaking Open the Head, he discusses shamanism and hallucinogenic drugs in a new light. Through both personal experience and historical evidence he provides information about shamanism and psychedelics. In this essay we will be discussing the different claims that Pinchbeck makes to educated and hopefully persuade the reader to open their minds to a new world.…

    • 92 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    LSD affects the body in a variety of possibly terrifying ways. Many of these effects could become permanent after long-term usage, in the diagnosable form of; Persistent psychosis and HPPD (Detailed explanation under Long-Term Effects). These effects on the brain are unpredictable, and can occur in a variety of combinations and create what is known as a ‘good trip’ and a ‘bad trip’. Obviously, ‘bad trips’ are nightmarish, and ‘good trips’ are pleasant. Both occur over a 6-12 hour time period, their occurrence is unpredictable before they occur, and once started they cannot be stopped…

    • 95 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Psilocybin Research Paper

    • 528 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Even though psilocybin is a drug it still has many different medical uses. It treats alcoholism, it treats smokers in quitting, it treats (OCD) obsessive – compulsive disorder, and it treats depressions. The other dangerous thing about psilocybin mushroom is that it has also bad effect on person. It would cause people who take it lot yawning, drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, tearing, dry mouth, and facial flushing. It also will increase person’s heart…

    • 528 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the article “LSD Literally Gets Stuck Inside Your Brain,” Claire Maldarelli explains the neurological effects of LSD and highlights a new study about potential pharmacological advances due to LSD. Brian Roth, one of the study’s authors, is a pharmacology professor at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is studying the neurological effects of LSD and the drug’s properties. LSD is unique among other hallucinogen drugs; its effects are last the longest, clocking in at 12 to 18 hours. Roth and his colleagues have found that LSD has this unique trait due to its interaction with brain receptors.…

    • 775 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    It is interesting that behavioral or process addictions and addiction to substances have been topics of interest to those who do have dedicated their time in study why this type of issues affects a great percentage in today’s society. It is observe that this type of addiction differ one from another, due to the singularity of their effects it cannot be seen in the same way. Something that it needs to understand in the first place is that: “Behavioral addictions are non-substance related and often include compulsive acts that are repeated over a sustained period of time. Furthermore, these behaviors typically result in serious and negative consequences that can impact the person across several domains (physical, mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual.” (T. Clinton, & E. Scalise, 2013, p. 169)…

    • 421 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Long and short term effects From using hallucinogens, there could be consequences, both long term and short term. Some of long term effects of using hallucinogens are, speech problem, memory loss, weight loss, anxiety, and depression. The short term effects of using hallucinogens are, increased heart rate, nausea, and changes of sense of time. Hallucinogens can also…

    • 323 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The salvinorin A affects users psychedelic-like from physical appearing to emotionally as well. Which is visual perception, body sensations and highly modified perception of external reality and the self (1). It affects the users mood, emotional swings and feelings of detachment (1). There are different ways of taking Salvia Divinorum . Saliva has many ways of having the substance inside your body.…

    • 534 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    For those who are unaware, depression is a very common mental health disorder that effects over 300 million people worldwide. Treatments to cure or moderate this illness have constantly been updated as new technological advancements and psychological findings transpire. Currently psychotherapy and medications including SSRIs are the most common treatment methods, but unfortunately they do not cure the effects of all patients suffering with depression. Nevertheless the new studies have enticing evidence, leading us to believe that there could be a breakthrough in psychedelics, but there are several drawbacks that the United States National Institute of Drug Abuse have concerns with. Some psychedelics, for instance LSD, have lingering effects on users and in some cases can trigger flashbacks.…

    • 1180 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    What Is LSD?

    • 555 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Users build up a tolerance to LSD very quick (“L.S.D Dangers”). The five senses are more sensitive, colors seem brighter and sounds seem to sound better…

    • 555 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Club Drugs Research Paper

    • 1573 Words
    • 7 Pages

    ‘Ketamine’ developed as a derivative of “Phencyclidine (PCP)”, which is a dissociative drug, (Ibid) 8. In 1964, it was discovered that Ketamine produces minor hallucinogenic side effects and had a shorter duration with fewer effects than PCP, (Ibid)9. This discovery was found by performing testing on humans being. Hallucinogens affect the mind's perceptions, causing unpredictable behavior, and severe, sensory disturbances that place users at risk of serious injuries or death, (Ibid)10. Understanding, this drug was design (human) medically to fight off depression.…

    • 1573 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays