Symptoms of Hallucinogens Dependence

Author: Emily Oconnor

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Hallucinogens Effects on a Person’s Body

The effects of hallucinogens on a person’s body are both physical and mental. The most common effects are the alterations of reality that users experience, such as seeing figures and people that are not real.

Chronic use of hallucinogens can lead to dependence.

Common effects and symptoms that people usually experience when using hallucinogenic drugs are blurring of vision, rapid heartbeats, feeling a of detachment from one’s body, distortion of the concept of time, and a mix up of sense such as seeing sound and hearing colors.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, hallucinogens such as peyote and LSD cause hallucinations by disrupting a person’s serotonin levels and by upsetting the contact of nerve cells.  The serotonin levels in the brain are part of the pleasure system. If imbalanced, your behavioral, perceptual, and regulatory systems start to fluctuate, which includes mood, hunger, body temperature, sexual behavior, muscle control, and sensory perception.

Hallucinogens & Dependence

A person can form a dependency to any drug that they abuse frequently. Dependence occurs when the user feels that they need the drug to function properly. If the dependency worsens, they might actually start needing the drug to feel “normal” enough to function properly.

One study from 2026 detailed how hallucinogens alter a person’s body chemistry, particularly in the brain. When people first start using hallucinogens, they typically do so because the drug makes them feel good. However, when users begin to use drugs because they cannot feel good without them, they have developed hallucinogens dependence, which only grows worse over time.

Short- and long-term usage of hallucinogens can cause serious health problems. People can have a bad experience, usually referred to as a “bad trip” while using hallucinogens, which can cause them to lose control of their body as they experience intense anxiety that can possibly lead to seizures.

Users can also overdose on hallucinogens, which require immediate medical attention before permanent organ damage occurs, which can lead to a heart attack or even death.

In addition, taking hallucinogens for long periods of time can cause the chemical makeup of your brain to become permanently damaged, making it hard to handle emotions should you decide to stop taking the drug.

Anyone who has formed a hallucinogens dependence should get help from a hallucinogen rehab and start a detox program to regain control of their life.

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