Complete List Of Hallucinogens And Psychedelic Drugs

Hallucinogens, sometimes called psychedelic drugs, change how a person perceives the world around them by altering brain chemistry, particularly the systems that regulate mood and sensory processing. Someone using these substances might see, hear, or feel things that aren’t really there, or experience a distorted, dreamlike version of reality. While hallucinogens have a long history of use in cultural and spiritual practices across the world, using them comes with real risks.

These drugs come from both natural and synthetic sources, and while they’re not typically considered physically addictive the way opioids or alcohol are, that doesn’t mean they’re without danger.

Categories Of Hallucinogens

The two main types of hallucinogens are classic hallucinogens and dissociative hallucinogens. The main difference is the effect they have on emotions.

Dissociative hallucinogens cause feelings of detachment and depersonalization that classic hallucinogenic drugs don’t cause. Consult our list below to better understand these two categories.

List Of Classic Hallucinogens

Classic hallucinogenic drugs existed long before the creation of the newer types of dissociative drugs that are available today. These drugs are known for their hallucinatory effects, which changes the person’s perception of reality. It is common for auditory and visual hallucinations to occur the very first time hallucinogens are taken.

The four most common classic hallucinogens are:

• LSD
• Psilocybin
• Peyote
• DMT

Methods of misuse can include inhaling, swallowing, smoking, snorting, or injecting.

LSD

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is made from a fungus that grows on rye plants. The drug is commonly referred to as “acid” when it is sold or purchased on the streets. Drug dealers often place just a single drop of it on individual sugar cubes for those who buy it. Sometimes, it is also put on stickers or pieces of absorbent paper called “blotters” so that it can be licked off or chewed.

LSD is dangerous because it has no odor or smell. Small children who don’t realize what it is can easily be harmed if they come in contact with it.

Effects of LSD

Some people claim that this drug will boost their cognitive function if they take a small amount of it on a regular basis. There has been no medical research done that can prove that LSD is able to do anything more than induce paranoia, hallucinations, dry mouth, sweating, and psychosis.

In fact, some doctors believe that it may be responsible for permanent brain damage in some people.

Psilocybin

The chemical name for psilocybin is PY, 4-phosphoryloxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine.

Since psilocybin comes from special mushrooms that grow in warm, tropical regions of the world, such as Mexico and South America, the street names for psilocybin include “shrooms” or “magic mushrooms.”

Origin And Effects Of Psilocybin

Psilocybin was used as a ceremonial drug by Indigenous people who lived in Mexico and certain countries in Central and South America where the the mushrooms originated. The Aztecs, for example, called it teonanacati which means “god’s flesh.” They believed that it will help them become connected to spirits and see visions of the past and future.

When it is used for this purpose, the mushrooms are often steeped in hot water to make a tea to drink, but the mushrooms may also be consumed raw or dried. Psilocybin can cause psychosis, vomiting, coma, and, in rare cases, death from an overdose.

Peyote

Peyote is a type of cactus that grows in the southernmost region of the United States and some parts of Mexico. It has a very unpleasant taste when it is eaten raw. As a result, the top portion of the plant is often boiled for a considerable amount of time so that a tea can be made from it instead.

Some chemically synthesized versions of peyote are available too. Besides hallucinations, peyote can cause terrors, panic, intense fear, and an inability to sense time correctly. It seems to have this effect because of its impact on the neurochemical called “serotonin.”

DMT

Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a chemical found in a tea called “Ayahuasca” that is made from a combination of vines and other plants that grow only in the rain forests of the Amazon. Since most people of the world don’t have access to the plants, they often just purchase the chemical version of DMT that is made in laboratories instead.

Physical effects can include:

• agitation
• high blood pressure
• dizziness
• dilated pupils
• increased heart rate
• seizures.

The effects of DMT include intense auditory and visual hallucinations, an altered sense of time, and depersonalization.

List Of Dissociative Hallucinogens

Dissociative hallucinogens have many of the same properties of classic hallucinogens, but also cause a person to dissociate, or lose touch with reality, while abusing the drugs.

The two main hallucinogenic drugs that have dissociative properties are:

• PCP
• Ketamine

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PCP

Phencyclidine (PCP) was invented by doctors several decades ago for the purpose of blocking out pain and keeping patients unconscious during surgery. Now, it is consumed in many different ways by those who abuse it, such as swallowing, snorting, injecting, and smoking it.

It may be smoked on its own in a glass pipe that is heated up, but it is more common for people to simply add a sprinkle of it to a rolled-up cigarette that is easier to conceal.

Effects of PCP

Sometimes, PCP is mixed with other illegal drugs or hallucinogens such as ketamine. This can indicate a polysubstance use disorder.

This is especially dangerous because an overdose on this combination can cause someone to stop breathing. They may also develop seizures and convulsions or go into a coma.

Ketamine

Ketamine commonly goes by the street name “Special K.” The drug has no odor or color. It can cause hallucinations and temporarily wipe out a person’s memory. Ketamine comes mainly from veterinary offices because it works as an effective animal anesthetic, but it can be used as an anesthetic for humans and as a treatment for depression.

Ketamine is also one of three drugs commonly referred to as date-rape drugs. People who are planning a sexual assault often add it to a victim’s drink when they aren’t looking. Because of this, law enforcement officials often warn people to never let their drink leave their sight when they go to a party or club.

List Of Hallucinogens By Drug Schedule

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies all drugs (legal and illegal) into drug schedules, which are determined based on a drug’s medical value and potential for abuse.

For example, Schedule I drugs have no medical value and are highly addictive. The drugs in Schedules II-V have medical value but are listed in terms of abuse potential, which decreases as you go down the Schedules.

The following is a list of hallucinogenic drugs by DEA drug schedules.

Schedule I Hallucinogenic Drugs

Schedule I hallucinogenic drugs are not prescribed by doctors because they have no medical purpose.

They also get this rating because of the way they are commonly abused and the mental and/or physical damage that they cause the body. Most hallucinogenic drugs are listed in Schedule I.

Drugs with hallucinogenic properties that are listed as Schedule I include:

• Salvia divinorum
• Ibogaine
• N-bomb
• GHB
• DMT
• Psilocybin
• Ecstasy
• LSD
• Peyote
• bath salts
• Marijuana
• Methamphetamine (included because of the hallucinations that it causes)

Schedule II Hallucinogenic Drugs

Schedule II hallucinogenic drugs can be prescribed by doctors because they have some medical purposes.

However, there is a high risk of them being abused or causing addiction or physical dependency because of the effects they have on the body.

Two of the main hallucinogenic drugs that are listed as Schedule II include:

• Nabilone
• PCP

Schedule III Hallucinogenic Drugs

Schedule III hallucinogenic drugs are considered to be less dangerous because they have a lower risk of addiction, dependency, and damage to the mind and body.

The two hallucinogenic drugs that the DEA includes on the Schedule III list are:

• Ketamine
• Dronabinol

Risks And Dangers Of Hallucinogen Use

The unpredictability of hallucinogens is part of what makes them risky. A “bad trip,” marked by terrifying hallucinations, intense paranoia, or a complete loss of control, can happen to anyone, even someone who’s used the drug safely before. Because users are often detached from reality during these episodes, bad trips can lead to dangerous behavior, including self-harm or accidents like running into traffic.

Beyond the immediate experience, some people develop Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD), a condition where hallucinations or visual disturbances resurface long after the drug has worn off, sometimes months or years later. Physically, hallucinogen use can cause a racing heart, high blood pressure, nausea, seizures, and in rare cases, fatal overdose.

Psychologically, these drugs can trigger or worsen conditions like anxiety, depression, or schizophrenia, particularly in people with a family history of mental illness. Street hallucinogens carry an added layer of risk, since they’re often mixed with other substances, making toxic reactions or unexpected overdoses more likely.

Treatment For Hallucinogen Misuse And Addiction

While hallucinogens don’t typically lead to physical dependence, psychological dependence can still develop and may require professional support. Since there are no FDA-approved medications specifically for hallucinogen addiction, treatment tends to focus on therapy-based approaches rather than medication.

Treatment options include:

• cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to identify triggers and build healthier coping strategies
• motivational enhancement therapy to strengthen internal motivation for change
• individual counseling to address underlying mental health concerns
• group therapy for peer support and connection
• family therapy to help repair strained relationships
• dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring mental health conditions
• inpatient treatment for more severe or complex cases requiring structured care
• outpatient treatment for added flexibility during recovery
• aftercare planning, including ongoing therapy and relapse prevention support

A combination of these approaches, tailored to a person’s specific needs, can help address both the psychological patterns behind hallucinogen use and any underlying issues contributing to it.