What is Mescaline?
Mescaline is a type of hallucinogen which is illegal in most countries, including the United States. The use of mescaline has been illegal in the United States since the 1970s. However, in some places (such as the Native American Church) it can be used legally because it is a traditional practice. Mescaline is derived from many types of cacti including the San Pedro cactus, the Peyote cactus, and the Peruvian Torch cactus. This drug may also be derived from members of the Fabaceae bean family.
This drug is most commonly known to cause hallucinations and related dream-like states. For those who frequently abuse mescaline or other types of drugs, help at a drug treatment center may be beneficial. Programs at these drug rehab facilities provide a unique opportunity to conquer the hold drugs may have on one’s life. Also, therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy may helpful in treating a person’s psychological symptoms, enabling them to find recovery.
How is Mescaline Used?
Mescaline can be used in a variety of ways. It can be taken in pill form, chewed, swallowed as a drink, or injected. Many users of mescaline do not like to chew or drink the substance as it tastes very bitter. Often times when taken in drink form, it is mixed with coffee, a soft drink, or orange juice to mask the taste.
In order to take mescaline as a pill, users grind up the drug and fill capsules with the resulting powder. When injected, mescaline often gives the user a high that does not last as long as it may in other methods, ranging from 5 to 12 hours. Most examples of mescaline use last 12 hours at a time.
Signs/Symptoms of Mescaline
15 of the most common symptoms of mescaline use include:
- Hallucinations
- Confusion
- Increase in body temperature
- Nausea, vomiting
- Dilated pupils
- Nightmares
- Feeling hot or cold
- Sweating
- Time distortion
- Dizziness
- Raised blood sugar
- Flashbacks
- Headache
- Fear of death
- Euphoric feelings
The hallucinogen effects of this drug, also known as a trip, can last up to 12 hours. Sometimes these trips bring on good feelings but sometimes they bring on negative, bad feelings. For someone who constantly uses drugs and often experiences bad trips, help at a treatment for drug abuse center may be necessary. While a person may not be physically addicted to mescaline or another drug, they may turn to drugs and alcohol as a way of escaping life. This is an unhealthy pattern to form but one which can be treated through therapy at a drug rehab facility.
Effects of Mescaline
Effects which may result from abusing the drug mescaline include:
- Heart failure
- Psychosis
- Unconsciousness
- Low levels of glucose in the blood
- Convulsions
- Bloody diarrhea
- Tachycardia (abnormal beating of the heart)
- Anxiety
- Respiratory complications
- Mental disorders
- Death
Although abuse of this drug may ultimately result in a number of negative side effects (including death) it is not known to be a physically addictive substance. Due to this fact, treatment at a drug rehab facility is typically not needed. Every case is different however and drug treatment at a drug and alcohol rehab center is necessary for certain people.
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