What is the Difference Between Hallucinogens and Psychedelics

The main difference between hallucinogens and psychedelics is that hallucinogens are a large, diverse group of psychoactive drugs that produce altered states of consciousness, whereas psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs that can produce an apparent expansion of consciousness.

Hallucinogens and psychedelics are two types of drugs that are psychoactive. Generally, they make major alterations, including thought, mood, and perception.

Key Areas Covered

1. What are Hallucinogens
     – Definition, Types, Features
2. What are Psychedelics
     – Definition, Types, Features
3. Similarities Between Hallucinogens and Psychedelics
     – Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Hallucinogens and Psychedelics
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Hallucinogens, Psychedelics

What are Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens are a diverse group of psychoactive drugs that produce altered states of consciousness. Generally, major changes produced by hallucinogens include mood, thought, and visual perception. There are several types of hallucinogens, such as psychedelics, deliriants, and dissociatives. The other types of hallucinogens include fly agaric and GABAergic. Hallucinogens are a type of hypnotics and a subcategory of drugs that alter visual perception.

Figure 1: Hallucinogens

Furthermore, hallucinogens have minimal intellectual and memory impairment. Stupor, excessive stimulation, and narcosis are not integral effects. In addition, hallucinogens have minimal side effects on the autonomic nervous system. They also do not cause addictive cravings. Apart from that, psychedelics are serotonergic, while dissociatives are anti-glutamatergic. Generally, deliriants are anticholinergic. Salvinorin A, ibogaine, entactogens, and cannabinoids are types of hallucinogens. Normally, some hallucinogens come as extracts from plants and mushrooms. However, other hallucinogens are synthetic.    

What are Psychedelics

Psychedelics are a type of hallucinogens, which are chemical substances that induce hallucinations and other sensory substances. Generally, they trigger apparent expansions of consciousness. True psychedelics cause specific visual, auditory, and psychological changes as well as altered states of consciousness. There are three families of psychedelics. They include tryptamines, lysergamides, and phenethylamines. Both tryptamines and lysergamides are two types of LSD.

Figure 2: Psychedelics

Moreover, LSD is a derivative of lysergic acid, and the hydrolysis of ergotamine produces LSD. Generally, ergotamine is an alkaloid that occurs in the fungus claviceps purpurea. Another example of psychedelics is psilocin, which is a dephosphorylated active metabolite of indole alkaloid psilocybin and substituted tryptamine. Over 200 species of fungi produce these substances. In addition, phenethylamine is an alkaloid that occurs in various species of cacti. Another indole alkaloid that is DMT occurs in various species of plants.     

Similarities Between Hallucinogens and Psychedelics

• Hallucinogens and psychedelics are two types of psychoactive drugs.
• They make major alterations, including thought, mood, and perception.
• Technically, they are hypnotics that can alter visual perception.

Difference Between Hallucinogens and Psychedelics

Definition

Hallucinogens refer to a large group of psychoactive drugs that can produce altered states of consciousness, while psychedelics refer to powerful psychoactive substances that alter perception and mood and affect numerous cognitive processes.

Family

Hallucinogens are a diverse group of psychoactive drugs, while psychedelics are a type of hallucinogens.

Altered States

Moreover, hallucinogens alter thought, mood, and perception, while psychedelics help in the expansion of consciousness.

Types

Psychedelics, deliriants, and dissociatives are the types of hallucinogens, while tryptamines, lysergamides, and phenethylamines are types of psychedelics.

Conclusion                                                      

In brief, hallucinogens and psychedelics are two types of psychoactive drugs that later the states of consciousness. Generally, hallucinogens are a diverse group of psychoactive drugs that trigger non-ordinary mental states. They alter the thoughts, moods, and perceptions. Psychedelics are a type of hallucinogen responsible for the expansion of consciousness. In addition to that, psychedelics alter visual perception. Therefore, the main difference between hallucinogens and psychedelics is the type of psychoactive alterations they cause.             

References:                

1. Hallucinogens Drug Facts. National Institute of Drug Abuse. 
2. Nichols DE. Psychedelics. Pharmacol Rev. 2016 Apr;68(2):264-355. doi: 10.1124/pr.115.011478. Erratum in: Pharmacol Rev. 2016 Apr;68(2):356. PMID: 26841800; PMCID: PMC4813425.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Salviadivinorum” By Erowid – Own work (Copywrited free use) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Synthetic mescaline powder i2001e0151 ccby3” By Wastingmytime – Own Work (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia