Hallucinogens
Examining the effective usage of hallucinogens in psychiatric research, its effectiveness in therapy and the risks associated with uncontrolled usage of hallucinogens.
Chantell Meltz
College of Science Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago
A drug according to Levinthal, (2012) is a chemical substance that, when taken into the body, alters the structure or functioning of the body in some way. Hallucinogen is a class of drugs which affects an individual’s perception, sensation, and emotions by disrupting the regular operation of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. While the use of Hallucinogens a form of therapy is a controversial topic and it does have it merits this paper examines the use of hallucinogens in psychiatric research its effectiveness as a form of therapy and the risks associated with uncontrolled usage of hallucinogens.
Hallucinogens are derived from both natural and manufactured sources. Mescaline a naturally occurring psychedelic alkaloid is obtained from the peyote cactus and certain members of the Fabaceae (bean family). Synthetic Hallucinogens include Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), Ketamine, and Phencyclidine (PCP). According to Dyck, (2005) Albert Hofmann synthesized LSD the synthetic, serotonin-related hallucinogenic drug at the Sandoz Pharmaceutical laboratories while in search of a medicine for migraine. Hofmann discovery of the chemical compound stimulated a wide range of medical curiosity.
During the fifties and sixties hallucinogens such as LSD, mescaline and psilocybin, psilocybin like mescaline is a naturally occurring chemical compound and can be found in over two hundred species of mushrooms was frequently used in psychiatric therapy. During this time thousands of articles on hallucinogens appeared in medical journals. Studies on hallucinogens comprised of testing on both animals and humans, while the studies on animals focused on the physiological effects of the drug, psychoanalysts
Chantell Meltz
College of Science Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago
A drug according to Levinthal, (2012) is a chemical substance that, when taken into the body, alters the structure or functioning of the body in some way. Hallucinogen is a class of drugs which affects an individual’s perception, sensation, and emotions by disrupting the regular operation of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. While the use of Hallucinogens a form of therapy is a controversial topic and it does have it merits this paper examines the use of hallucinogens in psychiatric research its effectiveness as a form of therapy and the risks associated with uncontrolled usage of hallucinogens.
Hallucinogens are derived from both natural and manufactured sources. Mescaline a naturally occurring psychedelic alkaloid is obtained from the peyote cactus and certain members of the Fabaceae (bean family). Synthetic Hallucinogens include Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), Ketamine, and Phencyclidine (PCP). According to Dyck, (2005) Albert Hofmann synthesized LSD the synthetic, serotonin-related hallucinogenic drug at the Sandoz Pharmaceutical laboratories while in search of a medicine for migraine. Hofmann discovery of the chemical compound stimulated a wide range of medical curiosity.
During the fifties and sixties hallucinogens such as LSD, mescaline and psilocybin, psilocybin like mescaline is a naturally occurring chemical compound and can be found in over two hundred species of mushrooms was frequently used in psychiatric therapy. During this time thousands of articles on hallucinogens appeared in medical journals. Studies on hallucinogens comprised of testing on both animals and humans, while the studies on animals focused on the physiological effects of the drug, psychoanalysts
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