It can be argued that the greatest misconceptions about psychedelics emanate from discussions surrounding the risks associated with their consumption. 

That being said, there are legitimate risks that should be considered amongst all users, from novice to expert, across the entire spectrum of hallucinogens. 

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As with the positive experiences offered by any given psychedelic, adverse effects come in many forms and layers — not always as apparent or obvious, and not always as avoidable or innocuous as one may think. But first, perhaps, it’s necessary to touch on the context of why we are where we are when it comes to our historically turbulent relationship with psychedelics. 

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From Satanic Panics to Pharmacodynamics

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Much of what has shaped public perception regarding psychedelics has unfortunately come on the back of cultural apprehension spurred on by political or religious authority over the last century, if not longer.

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From the way by which religious officials condemned Peyote (mescaline) on the heels of European settlement in the late 19th Century to the momentous fears of everything from devil worship to cult ideologies a hundred years later, psychedelics have always been grouped in with delinquent behaviour that often could not be disentangled from certain perceived ideations — addictions, crime, violence. 

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Accordingly, various unfounded risks became associated with the consumption of hallucinogens, instigating a growth of misconceptions surrounding their use and effects. 

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Though, despite the innumerable socio-economic and political motivations that sought to suppress psychedelics, interest remained steadfast in the face of unreasonable suppression up until today, as psychedelics now seem to be enjoying something of a renaissance amidst their increasing acceptance into the public stream. 

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At the time of this writing, bills are currently circulating the legislatures of large states like California to comprehensively legalize and/or decriminalize many (if not most) psychedelic substances. Some countries, like Brazil and the Netherlands, have historically taken a rather lenient approach to hallucinogens and have only positive research to show for it. 

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The reason for this newfangled acceptance is largely due to the gains we’ve made in the field of pharmacodynamics — the study of physiological effects of drugs, which looks specifically at drug-receptor interactions and the chemical signaling between cells in the brain. 

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A lot has come to light which not only dispelled the myths of yesterday (that, for instance, hallucinogens cause holes in the brain) but also enlightened our horizons towards tomorrow (that such substances can be a powerful catalyst for habit reformation).

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The Not So Real Risks

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Numerous myths remain tied to the use of various psychedelics, many of which have piggy-backed atop other substances (say, opiates) or are simply misunderstood as a whole from many anti-drug campaigns of our less educated past. 

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i. Psychedelics are addictive

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One of the most-often referred to risks relating to psychedelics is that they’re addictive; that one may become dependent on the ‘high’ that is generated. 

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Of importance is the need to discern what addiction really means — whether we’re referring to the kind of physiological addictions that can develop with, say, opiates or amphetamines, or whether we’re referring to the idea of a psychological addiction that is akin to, say, gambling or videogames. 

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Psychedelics have formally fallen into the latter category, as they do not consecrate a physical dependency. Though, as will be discussed in the next section, this does not mean they aren’t exactly immune from abuse by consumers with addictive personalities.

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ii. Psychedelics are mainly used for recreational purposes or used exclusively as a ‘party drug’

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While this label will likely always be unavoidable, and while it’s true that psychedelics are often used recreationally, the utility of any particular hallucinogenic is often disregarded.

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From therapeutic to spiritual to self-developmental, psychedelics offer a tremendously effective avenue to alter consciousness for productive ends as opposed to just serving recreational habits. 

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Critics will often view psychedelics through the context of its use by more adolescent portions of the population, who would naturally supplement any conscious-altering substance with recreational purposes. Unfortunately, this undermines the tremendously productive qualities that many hallucinogens offer.

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iii. Psychedelics cause brain damage

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Many anti-drug campaigns of the 80s and 90s went so far as to claim that psychedelics like LSD destroyed parts of the brain, causing anything from physical holes in brain matter to permanent psychological defects. 

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Research has not shown that psychedelics either hinder or bolster the physical structures of brain matter and there’s nothing to indicate that brain damage is a consequence of consuming hallucinogens. 

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Much more has been understood in terms of the psychological effects (as opposed to the physiological) — in reforming thinking patterns or altering sensory experience, for instance, and much more continues to be uncovered in terms of our conscious experience under the influence of any particular hallucinogen. 

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The Real Risks

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i. Psychedelics may cause a bad trip 

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‘Bad trips’ are perhaps the most-often touted risk associated with the consumption of psychedelics, and for good reason.

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The chemical process associated with the consumption of most psychedelics effectuates real changes to our emotional states and sensory experiences, and a lot will hinge upon our perspectives while experiencing the effects of a particular hallucinogen. While the good changes are often praised (relaxation, euphoria, synesthesia), there is of course the possibility to experience negative effects, especially when they can easily compound into one another. 

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If one is to consume psychedelics in, say, an uncomfortable setting or in an unstable frame of mind, a psychedelic experience can very quickly turn into a daunting circumstance, especially if certain physiological changes are also being effectuated (i.e. rapid heartbeat or nausea). These effects can all interrelate one another to exponentiate a poor experience or a bad trip. 

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Fortunately, much can be done to mitigate the likelihood of such an experience, as will be discussed later in more detail. 

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ii. Psychedelics can be psychologically addictive 

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Most hallucinogens act as serotonin receptor agonists, which means that they stimulate the production of serotonin, boosting positive moods and relaxation. The same process occurs when we engage in most pleasurable activities — eating certain foods or watching something stimulating, for example.  

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Accordingly, we may become addicted to psychedelics in the same way we can become habitually addicted to certain activities (i.e. shopping) or risky habits (i.e. gambling). 

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Mixed with the fact that tolerance with hallucinogens develops rather quickly (over the course of days), users who take these compounds for reasons relating to achieving a level of physical pleasure will often be chasing the original sensations with diminishing returns after each use. 

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In consequence, dependency can develop in the form of a psychological need to experience the dissociative effects of a particular psychedelic, or perhaps to cope with reality in a certain way. 

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That being said, there are no physiological withdrawal risks to hallucinogens; the body does not go into a relative state of shock if prolonged use is discontinued (as it does with, say, alcohol), though a consumer may experience various psychological effects, such as mood fluctuations or mental fatigue. 

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iii. Psychedelics can effectuate real neurological and physical responses

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Consuming psychedelics does impart real neurological and physiological effects on both mind and body, some more pronounced than others: increased heart rate, excessive sweating, tremors, nausea, seizures, amnesia, flashbacks, panic.

 

These effects will vary dramatically from user to user, as many will never have experienced any such side-effects whilst others may have experienced all of the above. Some may spin into an immediate panic attack whilst others may find that it only helps them think clearer. 

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Accordingly, the subjectivity of a psychedelic trip cannot be overstated. It’s for this reason that a safe approach is paramount, and that psychedelics be treated with a relative sense of responsible consumption on a case-by-case basis. 

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