Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens. Nichols DE. Pharmacol Ther. 2004;101 :131– 181OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed

National Institute on Drug Abuse Web Site. Available at http://www.drugabuse.gov

The Psychopharmacology of Hallucinogens. Abraham HD, Aldridge AM, Gogia P. Neuropsychopharmacol. 1996;14 :285– 298OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed

Toxic Psychoses as Pharmacological Models of Schizophrenia. Potvin S, Stip E, Roy J. Curr Psychiatr Rev. 2005;1 :23– 32OpenUrlCrossRef

The hallucinogens comprise a group of drugs that alters perception, cognition, and mood. Despite their name, hallucinogens only sometimes cause true hallucinations, defined as perceiving experiences that do not occur. These substances exert their mind-altering effects primarily through agonism at serotonin receptors (specifically 5-HT_2a) in the central nervous system. There is some controversy over which drugs of abuse fit neatly into the category of hallucinogens. Although phencyclidine (PCP) may cause hallucinations, it is classified as a dissociative drug. Other drugs of abuse such as cocaine, anticholinergics, marijuana, and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or “ecstasy”) can alter perception or produce hallucinations, but these drugs are not classified …