Basic Facts about Psychedelic and Dissociative Drugs

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Increase Your Awareness with Basic Facts about Psychedelic and Dissociative Drugs

Nikki and Anne Heart ♥ September 29, 2026

*Picture displayed is a general picture and should not be used as identifier of the drugs discussed in this informational sheet.

The following highlights the general information. More information can be obtained through the sites listed below as well as many other informational sites regarding psychedelic and dissociative drugs. New information about these drugs is becoming available regularly. Always verify you have the most up-to-date information before entering into any drug use.

General Information You Need to Know

Psychedelic drugs:

Some are derived from plants and fungi with a long history of use in many cultures
These drugs primarily influence the way the brain processes the chemical serotonin
It can bring on vivid visions
May affect a person’s sense of self

Types of Psychedelic drugs include:

Psilocybin
LSD
Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)
Mescaline
NBOMes

Dissociative Drugs:

Primarily affect how the brain processes the chemical glutamate
Can make people feel disconnected from their body and environment

Types of Dissociative Drugs include:

Ketamine
PCP

Psychedelic and Dissociative Drugs classification:

These drugs are generally grouped according to how they work in the brain
Some people refer to these drugs as hallucinogens

Reported uses for Psychedelic and Dissociative drugs are:

Mind and mood altering effects
Recreation
Emotional or spiritual experience
Hope to improve mental health, well-being, ease of pain or stress, but research is needed to determine this effectiveness

Highlights of Psychedelic and Dissociative Drugs

Both can temporarily alter a person’s mood, thoughts and perceptions
People who use these substances can feel strong emotions ranging from bliss to fear
Some people can expericence broad changes in how they perceive reality
NIDA supports and conducts research on these drugs

Effects of Psychedelic and Dissociative Drugs are difficult to predict and depend on many factors:

Concentration and strength
Person’s unique biology
Age
Sex
Personality
Mood
Expectations
Mindset
Environment
Use with other substances
Prescription medications

Psychedelic and Dissociative drugs can alter thought patterns, mood and perception or reality temporarily. Effects can include:

Intense happiness
Fear
Anxiety
Confusion
Seeing vibrant shapes, colors, and scenes
Reliving a memory
Distorted vision and hearing
Many people using Dissociative drugs report feelings of floating or disconnection from their body.

Other effects can include:

High rates of suicidal ideation has been found in analysis
Possibly worsening symptoms of schizophrenia
Short-term episodes of psychosis
Some individuals may develop a tolerance to psychedelic drugs causing the need to take more for the same experience
A few studies show ketamine can lead to cravings and symptoms of withdrawal

Psychedelic and Dissociative Drugs and Pregnancy:

PCP use during pregnancy can be linked to a range of abnormalities in the infant
MDMA can cause abnormalities and motor delays in infants
Effects on pregnancy are not well understood

Important Warning

Adverse health effects can include:

Headache
Nausea
Changes in heart rate
Fear
Anxiety

BE AWARE: Illicitly manufactured/processed drugs can be contaminated with colorless and odorless fentanyl or other dangerous substances causing serious adverse effects such as overdose and death.

NOTE: Research is ongoing to better understand short and long term health effects of Psychedelic and Dissociative Drugs.

DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR AND INJURIES LINKED TO PSYCHEDELIC AND DISSOCIATIVE DRUGS:

These drugs can impair thought processes and perception causing individuals to behave in unusual and dangerous ways.

This may lead to injuries and other safety issues.

Microdosing: What is it?

It is when an individual takes a very small amount of a psychedelic and dissociative drug.

Microdosing is reported to be done to help with symptoms of depression, stress, improve productivity and ease pain.

However, to date research has not proven microdosing to be safe or effective.

Is Microdosing legal?

Ketamine is legal in certain forms with a prescription from a doctor
As of this post, the use, sale and possession of psyilocybin in the United States is illegal under federal law.
Most therapies are not FDA-approved at this time
Some states have descriminalized psyilocybin.
Oregon passed a 2020 ballet measure making it the first state to both desciminalize psilocybin and legalize supervised use. Other states are following with similar measures.
Most other hallucinogenic drugs aren’t legal at the time of this article.
Research is being done on their therapeutic use, which could change laws in the future.

Important resources regarding Psychedelic and Dissociative Drugs:

Refer to the DEA Drug Fact Sheets listed in the sources used section for more detail information on a particular drug.

It is imperative to your well-being to do your research before participating in any treatment progam or taking any drug whether prescriptions or otherwise.

Sources used:

MedlinePlus, National Institute of Health, National Institute of Drug Abuse, Psychedelic and Dissociative Drugs, accessed September 28, 2026.
MedlinePlus, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Drug Abuse, Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms), accessed September 28, 2026.
National Institute of Drug Abuse, Commonly Used Drugs Charts, accessed September 28, 2026.
DEA Drug Fact Sheet, Ketamine, accessed September 28, 2026.
DEA Drug Fact Sheet, Psilocybin, accessed September 28, 2026.
DEA Drug Fact Sheet, Mescaline, accessed September 28, 2026.

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