Current and Future Uses of Hallucinogens

Course overview

Hallucinogens are a diverse group of chemical compounds that cause alterations in perception, thought, or mood. This heterogeneous group consists of compounds with different chemical structures, mechanisms of action, and adverse effects. Despite their description, most hallucinogens do not consistently cause hallucinations. The drugs are more likely to cause changes in mood or in thought than actual hallucinations. Hallucinogenic substances that form naturally have been used worldwide for millennia to induce altered states for religious or ceremonial purposes. While these practices still exist, the more common use today involves the recreational use of synthetic hallucinogens.