Simply put, knowledge is power. The more you know about something, the better equipped you are to deal with it when you come across it in your life. Whether this means knowing how to start a fire in the wilderness, or how to solve a complex problem at work, having the knowledge means having the self-determination to solve the problem.
Hallucinogens Statistics
1. Little is known about the long-term effects of using hallucinogens.
2. Some scientists point to the formation of radicals in the blood stream after use.
3. As these radicals can sometimes be linked to various kinds of neurological symptoms and conditions, it is thought that taking hallucinogens may increase the likelihood of diseases like Huntington’s and Schizophrenia.
4. Per year, the rates of LSD use have remained highest in young adults, between the ages of 17 and 30.
5. Of that age range, the % using hallucinogens has ranged from as low as 4.4% to as high as 13.6%.
6. On average, it is believed that 7.2% of high-school students in the United States will use hallucinogens.
7. That number is much higher in Europe, where hallucinogen use is considered less dangerous and detrimental.
8. In the United States, hallucinogens are considered a schedule 1 drug. That means that it has no beneficial use, is highly addictive, and very unstable.
9. Though there is a mounting degree of evidence that would suggest otherwise, the US government has yet to change their minds in the hallucinogens classification. As more is learned, this may change.
The idea that knowledge is power has not always been the case. Rather, individuals and governments have at one time or another attempted to hide the truth, believing that simply talking about a topic would lead people to experiment with it. Sex, drugs, alcohol, and anything else considered a vice (including playing cards) has been covered up and forbidden to talk about. While done with the best intentions in mind, it has led to more trouble than simply telling people the truth. If knowledge is power, then ignorance is foolishness.
So let’s talk about hallucinogens. Often considered a taboo subject with little hard scientific evidence existing to back claims and word of mouth, hallucinogens go frequently un-talked about. Instead, they get grouped into the large pot of illicit drugs that range the gambit from life threatening to benign. In addition, we will review whatever hallucinogens statistics we find. With any luck, we will be able to provide you with the knowledge you need to act.
So, What Are Hallucinogens?
Hallucinogens are a group of pharmacological agents. They are normally subdivided into three primary categories, including deliriants, dissociatives, and psychedelics. In particular, hallucinogens are preferred by individuals because it can alter the state of things around them. Individuals who take hallucinogens report altered perception, thought, emotion, and consciousness. Whereas opioids or stimulants which amply effects, hallucinogens can create experiences completely different from your surroundings. More often than not, these altered forms of being are considered trances, meditations, dreams, and even insanity.
How do we classify Hallucinogens?
L. E. Hollister created criteria for labeling something as a hallucinogen. This greatly aided in creating hallucinogens statistics and categories that are still used today. According to Hollister, a hallucinogen must change thoughts, perceptions, and moods. This will be a primary effect. In addition, there will be a minimal amount of impairment of memory or intelligence. Also, stupor, excessive stimulation, or narcosis will all be either minor or non-existent. There should also be only minor if any autonomic nervous system affects. Finally, hallucinogens will not create an addition to the drug.
The Implications of This Classification
The interesting thing about L. E. Hollister’s classification is that whatever is considered a hallucinogen is inherently not addictive. That means that unlike opioids or other drugs that are known for being harmful and addictive, hallucinogens are not. In addition, the primary purpose of hallucinogens is not to feel good, but rather to induce an altered mental or emotional state. This is the reason why hallucinogens have been used for generations as a means for people to communicate with their interpretation of the divine or otherwise as a stimulant to meditation. It has been used to great effect to help people deal with psychological problems, resulting afterwards in profound realization.
In its ability to create self-reflection however lies its major fault. Not everyone is capable of reflecting in on themselves. Sometimes what can be learned when someone takes hallucinogens is more then they can handle in the moment causes the individual to harm themselves and sometimes others. Though rare, it is the reason why there is normally a buddy system when someone takes drugs. As one person takes the hallucinogen, the other is responsible for guiding that person and being a fallback incase the first person becomes overwhelmed.