Hallucinogens
Substances that alter perception. Risk here is more psychological and situational than physical dependence.
Hallucinogens change perception, thought and mood. Physical dependence is uncommon, but psychological effects can be intense and unpredictable.
Compulsive use is less typical than with other substances, but repeated use can still cause distress, difficulty functioning and worsening of underlying mental-health conditions.
When it is an emergency
- Severe agitation or violence
- Loss of contact with reality that does not settle
- Very high temperature
- Self-harm risk
Signs worth noticing
- Distorted perception or confusion during use
- Persistent anxiety or low mood afterwards
- Withdrawal from usual activities
- Difficulty distinguishing what is real during episodes
Real risks
- Frightening acute reactions
- Accidents caused by altered perception
- Triggering or worsening of psychotic illness
- Persistent perceptual disturbance in some people
When to seek help
- Confusion or unusual beliefs continue after the effect should have ended
- Anxiety or low mood persists
- There is a personal or family history of psychotic illness
What treatment involves
- Psychiatric assessment where perception or mood remains disturbed
- Psychological therapy
- Treatment of underlying mental-health conditions
- Supportive care during acute episodes
If you are the family
- Keep the environment calm and safe during an acute episode
- Do not argue with distorted beliefs in the moment
- Seek urgent care if confusion or agitation is severe
What recovery looks like
- Regular follow-up with a clinician or counsellor
- Relapse-prevention planning that names specific triggers
- Peer or community support where it is available and comfortable
- Family involvement, when the person consents to it
- Attention to sleep, nutrition, work and daily routine
Questions to ask any centre
- What kind of assessment will be done before any treatment starts?
- Who provides medical care here, and what are their qualifications?
- Is withdrawal expected in this case, and how will it be managed?
- What therapies are offered, and how often?
- What does the fee include, and what is charged separately?
- What happens after discharge, and for how long?
Common questions
This guide is general education, not medical advice, and it cannot tell you what is happening in a specific person. Only a qualified clinician can assess that.