This document discusses hallucinogenic drugs like LSD and marijuana. It defines hallucinogens as drugs that cause hallucinations by altering perceptions and mood. The document categorizes hallucinogens and describes popular types like LSD and marijuana. It discusses the pharmacokinetic mechanisms of how the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes and excretes these drugs. The document also covers signs and symptoms of use, drug interactions, and treatment options for hallucinogen abuse which include cognitive behavioral therapy and counseling.

1. By: YVONNE
AKASH
DARSHINEE
HALLUCINOGENS

2. WHAT ARE HALLUCINOGENS?
• Hallucinogens are also known as ”psychedelics” or “hallucinogenic drugs”.
• These drugs change the way a person perceives the world by affecting all the
senses; altering a person’s thinking, sense of time and emotions.
• They cause a person to hallucinate – seeing or hearing things that do not exist
or are distorted. Sudden and unpredictable changes in the mood can be seen.

3. TYPES OF HALLUCINOGENS
• Hallucinogens can be classified into two subcategories:
Classic hallucinogens: Produce visual and auditory hallucinations and may
result in an altered sense of time and heightened sensory experiences.
e.g. LSD ,Psilocybin ,Peyote, DMT
Dissociative drugs: Produce feelings of detachment, such as “derealization”
and “depersonalization”.
e.g. PCP, Ketamine

4. LYSERGIC ACID DIETHYLAMIDE (LSD)
• A synthetic drug gotten from a substance found in ergot, which is a fungus that infects
rye.
• It is a very powerful drug and is the most potent hallucinogen known to man.
• Other names include: trips, tabs, microdots, dots etc.
• In its pure state, LSD is a white, odorless powder. It usually comes in the form of squares
of gelatin or blotting paper that have been dipped or soaked in LSD.
• LSD is usually administered by swallowing, sniffing, smoking or injection.

5. MARIJUANA
Cannabis, commonly known as marijuana is a psychoactive drug from the Cannabis plant used
for medical or recreational purposes.
Marijuana has mental and physical effects, such as creating a “high” or “stoned” feeling, a
general change in perception, heightened mood, and an increase in appetite.

6. The following are some of the most popular ways marijuana is used:
Smoking it (in a bong or rolling papers)
In food as “edibles”
In teas
In hash or wax form
In a vaporizer
In tonics and tinctures
Marijuana also has a distinctive smell, sometimes described as skunk-like.
Catching a whiff of this scent on a person’s clothing or hair could also be a sign that the
person has used the drug recently.

7. PHARMACOKINETIC MECHANISM
Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion.
“MARIJUANA”
Inhalation results in absorption directly through the lungs and the onset of THC action
begins in minutes.
Peak concentration occur 30-60 minutes later.
Drug effects can be experienced for 2-4 hours.
Factors that influence the amount of THC absorbed includes: potency of cannabis being
smoked, amount of time the smoke is held in the lungs and number of smokers who share
the cigarette.

8. • Almost all hallucinogens contain nitrogen and are classified as
alkaloids.
• Many hallucinogens have chemical structures similar to those of natural
neurotransmitters (acetylcholine-, serotonin-, or catecholamine-like).
• Hallucinogens are of different kinds. Some occur naturally in trees,
leaves, vines, seeds and even fungi while others are made in
laboratories.

9. Oral ingestion is much slower and relatively inefficient.
Onset of action can take up to an hour and peak levels can be delayed as long as 2-3 hours
after ingestion.
Drug effects can be experienced for longer periods of time, generally 4-6 hours.
The dose needed to create a comparable high when ingested is 3 times greater than that
needed when smoking.

11. THC is lipid soluble and is thus deposited in tissues of fatty organs.
Even when blood levels of THC are zero, levels of THC in other organs can be substantial.
Most metabolites are excreted slowly through feces and urine in about a week, yet some
can be detected in body 30 days after ingestion or up to several weeks in urine after
chronic use.

12. PHARMACOKINETIC MECHANISM

13. GI absorbs LSD easily ad completely.
80% bio transformed via liver.
Unexpectedly, LSD has the lowest distribution to brain.
Only 1% of absorbed dose makes it to the brain.
Concentration in body compartments at maximum 10-15 min after ingestion,
falls swiftly.

14. PHARMACODYNAMIC MECHANISM
“LSD”
After ingested by mouth, scientists are unsure, but believe that LSD inhibits
the reuptake of serotonin from the synapse.
Serotonin primarily in cerebral cortex and locus coeruleus:
- imbalance in cerebral cortex causes alteration in thought, mood and
perception.
- imbalance in locus coeruleus leads to bizarre sensory experiences (auditory,
visual and tactile hallucinations.

15. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
• LSD use does not appear to result in physical dependence, although tolerance can develop.
Other potential effects of LSD include:
Increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure Numbness
Profound sweating Impulsiveness
Dizziness Mood swings
Loss of appetite Hallucinations
Dry mouth Distorted thinking
Tremors

17. DRUG INTERACTION
MARIJUANA
1) Using marijuana and alcohol at the same time is likely to result
is likely to result in greater impairment than when using either one
alone.
2) Using marijuana with tobacco at the same time may also lead to
increased exposure to harmful chemicals, causing greater risks
to lungs, and the cardiovascular system.
3) Using marijuana may change how prescription drugs work.

18. LSD
1) Cocaine is a powerful stimulant .If taken in combination with LSD ,it may
trigger hallucinations, paranoia and delusional thinking.
2) Amphetamines are CNS stimulant mixed with LSD will be quite dangerous.

19. TREATMENT
1) Cognitive-behavioral therapy: It is a form of psychotherapy that help people to
identify and correct problematic behaviors in order to enhance self-control, stop drug
use, and understand harmful effect of drug.
2) Contingency management: A therapeutic management approach based on frequent
monitoring of the target behavior and the provision (or removal) of tangible, positive
rewards when the target behavior occurs (or does not).

20. 3) Motivational enhancement therapy: A systematic form of intervention designed to
produce rapid, internally motivated change; this does not treat the person, but identify his
own internal resources for change and engagement in treatment.

21. 1. Behavior modification: This type of treatment can be done through therapeutic
treatment facilities. LSD user replace the time spent using LSD with different
activities.
2. Counselling: Regular use of LSD or no longer use of it can cause mental depression
so counselling plays a important role in treatment of LSD abuse.
3. Psychological treatment: Some people might develop paranoia after use of the
drug or may experience bad trips which can cause irritational fears and other problems. So
this treatment helps to deal with the results of former LSD use.

22. REFERENCES
• https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/hallucinogens-dissociative-
drugs/what-are-hallucinogens
• https://www.pharmacytimes.com/publications/issue/2014/december2014/drug-
interactions-with-marijuana
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5591798/
• https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J175v04n01_03
• https://thecanyonmalibu.com/blog/dangers-of-combining-marijuana-and-lsd/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/LSD/comments/3vvuj6/treating_cannabis_addiction_with_lsd/