HALLUCINOGENIC AGENTS

An article in this issue of The Journal highlights a growing medical and social problem in the United States: the ingestion of drugs that drastically alter sensory perception and produce hallucinations. These drugs include stramonium, mescaline or peyote, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25), psilocybin, marijuana, and morning-glory seeds, which contain amides of lysergic acid. Public interest in these psychotomimetic drugs is increasing, and their use to produce hallucinations dates back centuries. Recently, new forms of these hallucinogens have been discovered, along with a subtle promotion designed to encourage the general public to try them.

Study at a glance

Abstract

An article on stramonium intoxication in this issue ofThe Journal(p 882) calls attention to a growing medical and social problem in this country—the ingestion of a number of drugs which have the common property of drastically altering sensory perception. The drugs all produce hallucinations. In addition to stramonium, the drugs include mescaline or peyote, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25), psilocybin, marijuana, and, as a recent addition, morning-glory seeds (Rivea corymbosa). The morning-glory seeds contain amides of lysergic acid. General public interest in these psychotomimetic drugs is now on the increase in many parts of the United States. Use of the drugs to produce hallucinations goes back for centuries, but in recent years we have discovered new forms of these hallucinogens; and we have witnessed the development of a new and subtle promotion designed to interest the general public in trying them out. The promotion of the drugs is having