Drugs&Behavior Final: Hallucinogens

DMT

associated with afterlife/near death experiences because small amounts of this chemical release at TOD

categories

psychedelic, dissociative, deliriants

psychedelics

an additive to our experience - people do not lose themselves

what do psychedelics cause

changes in mental processes (though, perception), with limited intellectual or memory deficit or ANS activation (won’t black out; won’t get much heart pounding, etc)

dissociative

perception of dream-like outside world, depersonalization

what is seen in dissociative use?

deficits in memory (look more like sedatives); often will have “black-out like” experiences

deliriants

hard to gain control of people on these drugs, makes people scary, kids can experience this from high-grade fevers

what do deliriants cause

extreme confusion, unable to control one’s actions (reduction in pain)

ergot

fungus that grows on various grains (rye); common in colder environments

ergotism

“St. Anthony’s Fire” - affects the nervous system, causing burning pain and tissue death in limbs (gangrenous), and spasms, hallucinations, and neurological issues (convulsive)

examples of religious/cultural use of hallucinogens

• shamanism

• spirit journey

• witchcraft

LSD FDA approved in 1956

possible “tx” for schizophrenia; allowed “insight” into the psychotic mind - not actually using to treat mental illness

main serotonin agonist

LSD

1966 lost legal status

schedule 1 because of association with hippies/young people using it to get high - not addictive or dangerous

acid

slang for LSD

ED50 for LSD

10 micrograms

acute effects of serotonin agonist

activation of SANS and sensory distortion (synesthesia, closed eye visualizations, perception of alternations in realities)

chronic effects of serotonin agonist

hallucinogen persisting perception disorder; not a lot of LT examples

myths about LSD

use leads to substance dependency, causes panic attacks and schizophrenia, damages DNA, increases in deviant behavior and creativity

causal influence

the real, independent effect on a variable has on another - first mental breaks around the age people first try drugs (men, particularly)

other serotonin agonists

psilocybin, lysergic acid amide (LAA), N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT)

psilocybin

• shrooms

• used to treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, and EDs/body dysphoria

lysergic acid amide (LAA)

morning glory seeds

N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT)

• found in various plants (ayahuasca) and toads

• used to treat depression and anxiety

Norepinephrine Agonist

Mescaline, DOM, MDMA

Mescaline

• peyote - cactus

• “buttons” - street name

Norepinephrine Agonist effects

similar to LSD, higher ED50, greater physiological impact, non-dissociative with not many LT effects

Acetylcoline Agonist

tend to be classified as deliriants; amanita muscaria, belladonna, mandrake, henbane

Acetylcholine Agonist effects

aggressive and repetitive behaviors, minimal memory, and reduction in pain

amanita muscaria

fly agaric mushroom, “soma”; association with various war tribes

belladonna, mandrake, henbance

atropine and scopolamine; association w/ witchcraft

dissociative

phencyclidine (PCP), Ketamine, Salvia Divinorum

phencyclidine (PCP)

produces stimulant effects; “angel dust”

ketamine

produces sedative effects; “special K”

sedative effects of ketamine

• depersonalization/derealization (“K-Hole”: ketamine intoxication)

• inability to move or remember effects (date rape drug)

salvia divinorum

not on the federal controlled substance effects; illegal at some state levels

psychedelic treatment approaches

• depression/anxiety

• PTSD

• substance abuse

• EDs/body dysmorphia

what drugs treat depression/anxiety

ketamine, psilocybin, DMT/5-Meo-DMT

what drugs treat PTSD

MDMA, psilocybin, LSD

what drugs treat substance abuse (alcoholism)

LSD

what drugs treat EDs/body dysmorphia

psilocybin