The document describes the effects of several hallucinogenic drugs: - LSD causes hallucinations and distortions lasting around 12 hours and can potentially cause flashbacks later. Its effects are due to blocking serotonin. - Mescaline causes intensified sensory experiences lasting around 12 hours and sometimes flashbacks. It is found in peyote cacti. - Psilocybin causes milder hallucinations lasting 6 hours. It is found in magic mushrooms. - THC is the active compound in marijuana causing relaxation and enhanced senses acutely and potential apathy long term. The structures of LSD, mescaline and psilocybin are similar to serotonin, enabling effects by binding its

1. D10

2. D.10.1 Describe the effects of lysergic acid
diethylamide (LSD), mescaline, psilocybin and
tetrahydrocannabinol
• Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)
• - does not occur naturally but is derived from ergot,
a fungus that grows on wheat
• - it takes a small amount to have an effect on
people
• - only .028 mg of LSD will produce a noticeable
effect in most people
• - people think it works my blocking the action of
serotonin, one of the compounds responsible for
transmitting impulses across synapses in the brain

3. D.10.1 Continued Describe the effects of lysergic acid
diethylamide (LSD), mescaline, psilocybin and
• LSD
•Short term effects
•- lasts for about 12 hours
•- restlessness
•- dizziness
•- desire to laugh
•- distortions in sound and visual perceptions
•- unpleasant hallucinations can lead to feelings of
despair and suicide can be attempted
•- may lead to the belief that you can fly
•- this is why driving while on LSD is extremely
dangerous.
•- “Tripping.”

4. D.10.1 contd Describe the effects of lysergic acid
diethylamide (LSD), mescaline, psilocybin and
tetrahydrocannabinol
• Long term
• - severe depression
• - possibility of recurrences of LSD effects
“flashbacks” months or even years afterwards
• - no lasting physical negative effects
• - although it can lead to psychological dependence
• - has in the past been used medically in
psychotherapy, but is no longer used legitimately as it
may lead to psychosis in susceptible patients

5. D.10.1 contd Describe the effects of lysergic acid
diethylamide (LSD), mescaline, psilocybin and
tetrahydrocannabinol
• Mescaline
•can be produced synthetically or is found in the spineless cactus,
Lophophora williamsii, Peyote.
•Physical effects
•· Increased blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature
•· Nausea commonly occurs just before the desired mental effects
•· Numbness, weakness and tremors
•· Loss of appetite
•· Diarrhea

6. D.10.1 Contd.
• Mescaline Contd
• Short-term effects
• · does not create delusions
• - everything that the user perceives are intensified states of
reality but not manifestations of non-present objects.
• · Mescaline trips usually last 12 hours
• · Sometimes mescaline may cause enjoyable feelings, other times
it causes anxiety and terror
• Long-term effects
• · Similarly to LSD flashbacks may occur after using mescaline only
once
•

7. • Psylocybin
• - hallucinogenic compound found in certain mushrooms.
• - similar structure to that of serotonin
• - affects serotonin functioning in order to produce its effects.
• Physical effects
• · appear within 20 minutes of ingesting the drug and last for
about 6 hours
• · vomiting, nausea, muscle weakness and lack of coordination

8. D.10.1 contd
• Psylocybin
• - Short-term effects
• · milder than LSD and mescaline
• · Feelings are altered and the senses are
distorted
• · May cause enjoyable emotions, but also those of
fear and panic of death
• Long-term effects
• · Flashbacks

9. D.10.1 Contd
• Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
• - active ingredient in marijuana
• - mild hallucinogen made from the flowering tops, stems,
leaves, and seeds of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa
• - Hashish, which is made from the resin of the plant, is
about five times stronger than marijuana

10. D.10.1 contd- THC
• Short term effects
• - feeling of relaxation and enhanced auditory and visual
perception
• - loss of sense of time, confusion, and emotional distress can
result
• - hallucinations occur in very rare cases
• - can have a synergistic effect and increase the risk of
sedation with depressants
• Long term effects
• - apathy and lethargy
• - lowering of fertility together with all the risks associated with
tobacco smoking

11. D.10.2 Discuss the structural similarities and
differences between LSD, mescaline, and psilocybin
• - The chemical structures of lysergic acid
diethylamide, mescaline, and psilocybin are
similar to those of natural neurotransmitters,
especially serotonin.
• - function by temporarily binding to the
neurotransmitters’ binding sites and disrupting
the interaction of nerve cells.

12. D.10.2 contd
• - they all contain an indole-ring-like structure
that is a 6-sided benzene ring with a fused 5-
sided ring that contains nitrogen.
• - . They vary from serotonin because of the
methyl groups attached to them, which enable
them to penetrate the central nervous system
more easily
• - Psilocybin has a phosphoric acid group attached
to it and for LSD and mescaline, although the
structure is not specifically an indole-ring, it is
based around that form.
• *Images on worksheet

13. D.10.3 Discuss the arguments for and against the
• - Pro
• - medicinal use: research on the medical uses of cannabis provides
evidence that it is useful to prevent vomiting (anti-emetic), as a pain killer in
cancer chemotherapy and AIDS and for the treatment of glaucoma,
epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s chorea
• - lower crime rate- the police freed to concentrate on other criminal
activities, and gang activity will be reduced
• - Economically beneficial, if it is taxed appropriately
• - Freedom of the individual
• - Anti
• - possibly increased risk of heart disease and cancer through smoking
• - some people claim that smoking cannabis can lead to the usage of
harder drugs
• - increased risk of dangerous driving while under the influence