Halluzinogene

Halluzinogene, or hallucinogens, are a diverse group of chemical substances that produce perceptual changes, including visual or auditory hallucinations, altered sense of time, and shifts in mood and thought. They are commonly divided into three broad categories: classic psychedelics (serotonergic), dissociatives, and deliriants.

Classic psychedelics such as LSD, psilocybin-containing mushrooms, mescaline, and DMT primarily act as agonists at serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, leading to altered cortical processing and perceptual experiences. Dissociatives such as ketamine, PCP, and dextromethorphan block NMDA receptors, producing detachment from self and environment. Deliriants like atropine or scopolamine interfere with acetylcholine signaling, often causing confusion and amnesia. Effects are highly variable and can include intensified emotions, synesthesia, and altered sense of time; experiences range from meaningful or spiritual to disorienting and distressing.

Risks include psychological distress, anxiety, paranoia, dangerous behavior, and, rarely, persistent perceptual changes (HPPD) or the triggering of underlying psychiatric disorders. Physical toxicity is generally low, but interactions with other substances or medications can be dangerous. In medicine, research is exploring psychedelic-assisted therapies for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction, with ketamine widely used for treatment-resistant depression and psilocybin and MDMA in trials. Legal status varies by country and substance, with many hallucinogens tightly regulated, though some places have relaxed restrictions for research or decriminalization.