The newspapers and news channels are filled with stories related to prescription Drug abuse, which has reach epidemic levels. We still hear stories about heroin and synthetic drug abuse. What we don’t hear much about is hallucinogens.
In the latter part of the 20th century, LSD, PCP and Peyote were the drugs of choice for a whole generation of young people. Today, people don’t tend to know much about these drugs and what they do. As a group, these drugs were often referred to as psychedelic drugs. Users take them to transport themselves into a world of abstract visions and disillusion, an true escape from reality.
With any substance being used in an abusive manner, the number one concern has to be the onset of addiction. That begs the question, “Are hallucinogens addictive and how do they compare to other recreational drugs?”
Are Hallucinogens Addictive?
There really isn’t a definitive answer. When looking at the psychedelic group as a whole, one begins to realize that some individual drugs are addictive while others aren’t. For instance, LSD really doesn’t have any addictive properties. Each hit is an isolated event, which gives the user their trip and slowly returns them back to reality.
On the other hand, PCP does have addictive properties. Of course, the user would have to be using the drug on a quite regular basis to become addicted. That unto itself would be very dangerous given the side effects related to its use.
By the way, it’s not clear if peyote and mushrooms can create an addiction. The guess is they don’t, but there really aren’t any conclusive studies pointing the arrow one way or the other. The bottom line is some hallucinogens are addictive, but a majority of them aren’t or would be classified as inconclusive.
How Would This Compare to Other Drugs
Confining the discussion to recreational drugs, the fact is most of them are highly addictive. There’s no doubt that opioids are extremely addictive. Anyone taking heroin or painkillers for even a short period of time is putting themselves in harms way. Once opioid addiction takes hold, the user is in for a bumpy ride. Any attempts to suddenly stop using these substances exposes the user to some rather severe withdrawal symptoms. That would include severe muscle cramps, hallucinations, convulsions, breathing problems and disorientation. To avoid pain a suffering, opioid users should seek help from both a detox and drug treatment center.
As for other popular substances such as Ecstasy, cocaine, marijuana, barbiturates, amphetamines and alcohol, addiction is eminent if the user persists on using them over an expended period.
Each drug comes with its own set of side effects and withdrawal symptoms. In almost all cases, professional help is required to get past addiction.
After comparing hallucinogens to these other substance, one would have to conclude that hallucinogens don’t pose as much of an addiction problem as other drugs groups. However, no one is implying that hallucinogens are safer. They are not. While in the middle of a drug induced hallucination, the user is apt to do most anything. Countless people have thrown themselves off a building because they believed they could fly after taking a hit of LSD.
The simple truth is this: the abuse of any substance is both dangerous and irresponsible. Yes, some drugs give off wonderful feelings of euphoria. That’s in the beginning. Eventually, significant life problems replace the euphoria. The user’s life revolves around trying to get from on high to the next, all in a effort to mask personal issues. That’s no way for anyone to live.