Psychedelic drug
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Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary mental states (known as psychedelic experiences or "trips") and an apparent expansion of consciousness.[2][3] Also referred to as classic hallucinogens or serotonergic hallucinogens, the term psychedelic is sometimes used more broadly to include various types of hallucinogens, such as those which are atypical or adjacent to psychedelia like salvia and MDMA, respectively.[4]
Classic psychedelics generally cause specific psychological, visual, and auditory changes, and oftentimes a substantially
Most psychedelic drugs fall into one of the three families of chemical compounds:
Many psychedelic drugs are illegal worldwide under the
Etymology and nomenclature
The term
Aldous Huxley had suggested his own coinage phanerothyme (Greek phaneroein- "to make manifest or visible" and Greek thymos "soul", thus "to reveal the soul") to Osmond in 1956.[29] Recently, the term entheogen (meaning "that which produces the divine within") has come into use to denote the use of psychedelic drugs, as well as various other types of psychoactive substances, in a religious, spiritual, and mystical context.[30]
In 2004, David E. Nichols wrote the following about the nomenclature used for psychedelic drugs:[30]
Many different names have been proposed over the years for this drug class. The famous German toxicologist Louis Lewin used the name phantastica earlier in this century, and as we shall see later, such a descriptor is not so farfetched. The most popular names—hallucinogen, psychotomimetic, and psychedelic ("mind manifesting")—have often been used interchangeably. Hallucinogen is now, however, the most common designation in the scientific literature, although it is an inaccurate descriptor of the actual effects of these drugs. In the lay press, the term psychedelic is still the most popular and has held sway for nearly four decades. Most recently, there has been a movement in nonscientific circles to recognize the ability of these substances to provoke mystical experiences and evoke feelings of spiritual significance. Thus, the term entheogen, derived from the Greek word entheos, which means "god within", was introduced by Ruck et al. and has seen increasing use. This term suggests that these substances reveal or allow a connection to the "divine within". Although it seems unlikely that this name will ever be accepted in formal scientific circles, its use has dramatically increased in the popular media and on internet sites. Indeed, in much of the counterculture that uses these substances, entheogen has replaced psychedelic as the name of choice and we may expect to see this trend continue.
Robin Carhart-Harris and Guy Goodwin write that the term psychedelic is preferable to hallucinogen for describing classical psychedelics because of the term hallucinogen's "arguably misleading emphasis on these compounds' hallucinogenic properties."[31]
While the term psychedelic is most commonly used to refer only to serotonergic hallucinogens,[11][10][32][33] it is sometimes used for a much broader range of drugs, including empathogen–entactogens, dissociatives, and atypical hallucinogens/psychoactives such as Amanita muscaria, Cannabis sativa, Nymphaea nouchali and Salvia divinorum.[22][34] Thus, the term serotonergic psychedelic is sometimes used for the narrower class.[35][36] It is important to check the definition of a given source.[30] This article uses the more common, narrower definition of psychedelic.
Examples
- 2C-B (2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromophenethylamine) is a substituted phenethylamine first synthesised in 1974 by Alexander Shulgin.[37][page needed] 2C-B is both a psychedelic and a mild entactogen, with its psychedelic effects increasing and its entactogenic effects decreasing with dosage. 2C-B is the most well known compound in the 2C family, their general structure being discovered as a result of modifying the structure of mescaline.[37][page needed]
- DMT (N,N-dimethyltryptamine) is an indole alkaloid found in various species of plants. Traditionally it is consumed by tribes in South America in the form of ayahuasca. A brew is used that consists of DMT-containing plants as well as plants containing MAOIs, specifically harmaline, which allows DMT to be consumed orally without being rendered inactive by monoamine oxidase enzymes in the digestive system.[38] In the Western world DMT is more commonly consumed via the vaporisation of freebase DMT. Whereas Ayahuasca typically lasts for several hours, inhalation has an onset measured in seconds and has effects measured in minutes, being significantly more intense.[39] Particularly in vaporised form, DMT has the ability to cause users to enter a hallucinatory realm fully detached from reality, being typically characterised by hyperbolic geometry, and described as defying visual or verbal description.[40] Users have also reported encountering and communicating with entitites within this hallucinatory state.[41] DMT is the archetypal substituted tryptamine, being the structural scaffold of psilocybin and – to a lesser extent – the lysergamides.
- LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) is a derivative of lysergic acid, which is obtained from the hydrolysis of ergotamine. Ergotamine is an alkaloid found in the fungus Claviceps purpurea, which primarily infects rye. LSD is both the prototypical psychedelic and the prototypical lysergamide. As a lysergamide, LSD contains both a tryptamine and phenethylamine group within its structure. As a result of containing a phenethylamine group LSD agonises dopamine receptors as well as serotonin receptors,[42] making it more energetic in effect in contrast to the more sedating effects of psilocin, which is not a dopamine agonist.[43]
- Echinopsis pachanoi). Mescaline has effects comparable to those of LSD and psilocybin, albeit with a greater emphasis on colors and patterns.[44][page needed] Ceremonial San Pedro use seems to be characterized by relatively strong spiritual experiences, and low incidence of challenging experiences.[45]
Uses
Traditional
A number of frequently mentioned or traditional psychedelics such as
Although people of
]Psychedelic therapy
Psychedelic therapy (or psychedelic-assisted therapy) is the proposed use of psychedelic drugs to treat mental disorders.[58] As of 2021, psychedelic drugs are controlled substances in most countries and psychedelic therapy is not legally available outside clinical trials, with some exceptions.[33][59]
The procedure for psychedelic therapy differs from that of therapies using conventional psychiatric medications. While conventional medications are usually taken without supervision at least once daily, in contemporary psychedelic therapy the drug is administered in a single session (or sometimes up to three sessions) in a therapeutic context.[60] The therapeutic team prepares the patient for the experience beforehand and helps them integrate insights from the drug experience afterwards.[61][62] After ingesting the drug, the patient normally wears eyeshades and listens to music to facilitate focus on the psychedelic experience, with the therapeutic team interrupting only to provide reassurance if adverse effects such as anxiety or disorientation arise.[61][62]
As of 2022, the body of high-quality evidence on psychedelic therapy remains relatively small and more, larger studies are needed to reliably show the effectiveness and safety of psychedelic therapy's various forms and applications.[21][22] On the basis of favorable early results, ongoing research is examining proposed psychedelic therapies for conditions including major depressive disorder,[21][63] and anxiety and depression linked to terminal illness.[21][64] The United States Food and Drug Administration has granted "breakthrough therapy" status, which expedites the assessment of promising drug therapies for potential approval,[note 1] to psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder.[33]
Recreational
Recreational use of psychedelics has been common since the psychedelic era of the mid 1960s, and continues to play a role in various festivals and events, including Burning Man.[16][17] A survey published in 2013 found that 13.4% of American adults had used a psychedelic.[66]
Microdosing
Psychedelic microdosing is the practice of using sub-threshold doses (
A 2022 study recognized signatures of psilocybin microdosing in natural language and concluded that low amount of psychedelics have potential for application, and ecological observation of microdosing schedules.[71][72]
Pharmacology
While the method of action of psychedelics is not fully understood, they are known to show affinities for various 5-HT (serotonin) receptors in different ways and levels, and may be classified by their activity at different 5-HT sub-types, particularly 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, and 5-HT2C.
Tryptamines
Phenethylamines
Lysergamides
Psychedelic experiences
Although several attempts have been made, starting in the 19th and 20th centuries, to define common
During a speech on his 100th birthday, the inventor of LSD, Albert Hofmann said of the drug: "It gave me an inner joy, an open mindedness, a gratefulness, open eyes and an internal sensitivity for the miracles of creation... I think that in human evolution it has never been as necessary to have this substance LSD. It is just a tool to turn us into what we are supposed to be."[92] With certain psychedelics and experiences, a user may also experience an "afterglow" of improved mood or perceived mental state for days or even weeks after ingestion in some cases.[93] In 1898, the English writer and intellectual Havelock Ellis reported a heightened perceptual sensitivity to "the more delicate phenomena of light and shade and color" for a prolonged period of time after his exposure to mescaline.[94] Good trips are reportedly deeply pleasurable, and typically involve intense joy or euphoria, a greater appreciation for life, reduced anxiety, a sense of spiritual enlightenment, and a sense of belonging or interconnectedness with the universe.[95][96] Negative experiences, colloquially known as "bad trips," evoke an array of dark emotions, such as irrational fear, anxiety, panic, paranoia, dread, distrustfulness, hopelessness, and even suicidal ideation.[97] While it is impossible to predict when a bad trip will occur, one's mood, surroundings, sleep, hydration, social setting, and other factors can be controlled (colloquially referred to as "set and setting") to minimize the risk of a bad trip.[98][99] The concept of "set and setting" also generally appears to be more applicable to psychedelics than to other types of hallucinogens such as deliriants, hypnotics and dissociative anesthetics.[100]
Classic psychedelics are considered to be those found in nature like psilocybin, DMT, mescaline, and LSD which is derived from naturally occurring ergotamine, and non-classic psychedelics are considered to be newer analogs and derivatives of pharmacophore lysergamides, tryptamine, and phenethylamine structures like 2C-B. Many of these psychedelics cause remarkably similar effects, despite their different chemical structure. However, many users report that the three major families have subjectively different qualities in the "feel" of the experience, which are difficult to describe. Some compounds, such as 2C-B, have extremely tight "dose curves", meaning the difference in dose between a non-event and an overwhelming disconnection from reality can be very slight. There can also be very substantial differences between the drugs; for instance, 5-MeO-DMT rarely produces the visual effects typical of other psychedelics.[11]
Potential adverse effects
Despite the contrary perception of much of the public, psychedelic drugs are not addictive and are physiologically safe.[18][19][11] As of 2016, there have been no known deaths due to overdose of LSD, psilocybin, or mescaline.[11]
Risks do exist during an unsupervised psychedelic experience, however;
Psilocybin-induced states of mind share features with states experienced in psychosis, and while a causal relationship between psilocybin and the onset of psychosis has not been established as of 2011, researchers have called for investigation of the relationship.[102] Many of the persistent negative perceptions of psychological risks are unsupported by the currently available scientific evidence, with the majority of reported adverse effects not being observed in a regulated and/or medical context.[103] A population study on associations between psychedelic use and mental illness published in 2013 found no evidence that psychedelic use was associated with increased prevalence of any mental illness.[104]
Using psychedelics poses certain risks of re-experiencing of the drug's effects, including flashbacks and hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD).[102] These non-psychotic effects are poorly studied, but the permanent symptoms (also called "endless trip") are considered to be rare.[105]
Serotonin syndrome can be caused by combining psychedelics with other serotonergic drugs, including certain antidepressants, opioids, CNS stimulants (e.g. MDMA), 5-HT1 agonists (e.g. triptans), herbs and others.[106][107][108][109]
Potential therapeutic effects
Psychedelic substances which may have therapeutic uses include psilocybin, LSD, and mescaline.
It has long been known that psychedelics promote neurite growth and neuroplasticity and are potent psychoplastogens.[110][111][112] There is evidence that psychedelics induce molecular and cellular adaptations related to neuroplasticity and that these could potentially underlie therapeutic benefits.[113][114] Psychedelics have also been shown to have potent anti-inflammatory activity and therapeutic effects in animal models of inflammatory diseases including asthma,[115] and cardiovascular disease and diabetes.[116]
Surrounding culture
Psychedelic culture includes manifestations such as
Legal status
Many psychedelics are classified under Schedule I of the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971 as drugs with the greatest potential to cause harm and no acceptable medical uses.[123] In addition, many countries have analogue laws; for example, in the United States, the Federal Analogue Act of 1986 automatically forbids any drugs sharing similar chemical structures or chemical formulas to illicit or prohibited substances if sold for human consumption.[124]
U.S. states such as Oregon and Colorado have also instituted decriminalization and legalization measures of psychedelics[125] and states like New Hampshire are attempting to do the same.[126] J.D. Tuccille argues that increasing rates of use of psychedelics in defiance of the law are likely to result in more widespread legalization and decriminalization of the substances in the United States (as has happened with alcohol and cannabis).[127]
See also
- Aztec use of entheogens
- Bwiti
- Cognitive liberty
- Concord Prison Experiment
- Designer Drugs
- Dissociative drug
- Deliriant
- Drug harmfulness
- Entheogenic drugs and the archaeological record
- Entheogenics and the Maya
- Hallucinogenic fish
- Hallucinogenic plants in Chinese herbals
- Hamilton's Pharmacopeia
- History of lysergic acid diethylamide
- Ibogaine
- List of designer drugs
- List of psychedelic drugs
- List of psychedelic plants
- Marsh Chapel Experiment
- Morning glory
- Mystical psychosis
- PiHKAL
- Psychedelia – Film about the history of psychedelic drugs
- Research chemical
- Serotonergic cell groups
- Serotonin syndrome
- Tabernanthe iboga
- TiHKAL
Categories
Notes
- ^ The Food and Drug Administration describes the designation of breakthrough therapy as "a process designed to expedite the development and review of drugs that are intended to treat a serious condition and preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the drug may demonstrate substantial improvement over available therapy on a clinically significant endpoint(s)."[65]
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Further reading
- Echard W (2017). Psychedelic Popular Music: A History through Musical Topic Theory. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-02645-3.
- Halberstadt AL, Franz X. Vollenweider, David E. Nichols, eds. (2018). Behavioral Neurobiology of Psychedelic Drugs. Vol. 36. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer. ISBN 978-3-662-55878-2.
- Jay M (2019). Mescaline: A Global History of the First Psychedelic. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. S2CID 241952235.
- Letheby C (2021). Philosophy of Psychedelics. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-884312-2.
- Richards WA (2016). Sacred Knowledge: Psychedelics and Religious Experiences. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-54091-9.
- Siff S (2015). Acid Hype: American News Media and the Psychedelic Experience. Champaign, Illinois: University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0-252-09723-2.
- Winstock, Ar; Timmerman, C; Davies, E; Maier, Lj; Zhuparris, A; Ferris, Ja; Barratt, Mj; Kuypers, Kpc (2021). Global Drug Survey (GDS) 2020 Psychedelics Key Findings Report.
External links
Psychedelic Timeline by Tom Frame, Psychedelic Times