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However, at least one psychedelic, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), can cause tolerance. Tolerance means that a person may need to take higher dosages to achieve the same effect. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) notes that increasing the dosage can be an “extremely dangerous practice.” The reason for this is that more side effects and risks are associated with higher dosages. Psychedelics have certain effects, such as mystical experiences, that make them attractive for recreational use. Limited research suggests that they may also have medical uses, such as reducing depression and anxiety, as well as promoting abstinence from smoking and alcohol. Keep reading to learn more about the recreational and medical use of psychedelics, including the side effects and risks of these drugs. What are psychedelics Share on PinterestEyeWolf/Getty ImagesA 2021 study describes psychedelics as serotonergic hallucinogens, which are agonists of serotonergic 5-HT2A receptors. This means that they bind to these receptors, producing a certain response. Some serotonergic hallucinogens are present in nature, including psilocybin, a compound in mushrooms of the genus Psilocybe, or N,N-dimethyltryptamine, a compound in the botanical beverage ayahuasca. They can also be synthetic, such as the recreational drug LSD. The effects that psychedelics produce are dependent on various factors, such as dosage and the personality of an individual. However, they include the following:hallucinations, mainly visualblissful mood or euphoriachanges in cognition, or thinking, such as:mystical experiencesself-consciousnessaltered time passageintrospection What are their uses Psychedelics have both recreational and medical uses: Recreational uses In addition to producing visual hallucinations, euphoria, and mystical experiences, psychedelics have other effects that underlie their recreational use. According to one clinical trial, these include derealization, which is when a person feels detached from their surroundings, and depersonalization, which is when they feel detached from their body or mind. According to the NIDA, people may misuse psychedelics with the hope of:detaching from realitycoping with stressentering a spirit world or a more enlightened way of thinking Medical uses More research is necessary to provide proof, but a few studies suggest that psychedelics may have a few uses relating to mental health and substance use disorders. Reduce depression and anxiety Research from 2016 investigated the effects of psilocybin on 12 people with treatment-resistant depression. Following two doses — 10 milligrams (mg) and then 25 mg — of the drug, the symptoms diminished, and the improvements remained significant for 3 months. Additionally, a 2016 clinical trial explored the effects of psilocybin on the symptoms of depression and anxiety in 51 individuals with a diagnosis of potentially life threatening cancer. The results suggested that psilocybin produced a substantial and long lasting reduction in depression and anxiety, as well as increases in optimism and quality of life. An older 2014 study examined the use of LSD in 12 people who had anxiety associated with life threatening conditions. The findings indicated that two moderate doses of 200 micrograms decreased anxiety, with these effects persisting throughout a 12-month follow-up period. Help with smoking and alcohol abstinence Research from 2016 assessed the use of psilocybin in helping 15 individuals quit smoking. An analysis of the data indicated that the drug might hold promise in fostering long-term smoking abstinence. A 2015 clinical trial evaluated the value of psilocybin in 10 participants with alcohol dependence. The results suggested that the drug reduced cravings for alcohol and increased abstinence. For the most part, the benefits lasted throughout a 36-week follow-up period. Are they addictive Research from 2016 reports that psychedelics do not lead to dependence or addiction. Dependence refers to a physical reliance on a drug, whereas addiction refers to a behavioral change arising from a compulsion to continue taking a drug. However, the NIDA warns that LSD produces tolerance. This means that a person has to take larger dosages to receive the same effect. LSD also can cause tolerance to other hallucinogens, such as psilocybin. Side effects and risks of psychedelics Psychedelics have various side effects and risks, including: Side effects The NIDA cautions that short-term side effects of psychedelics include:nauseaincreased heart ratechanges in the sense of time, such as a feeling that time is passing slowlyheightened feelings and sensory experiences, such as seeing brighter colors Long-term side effects include persistent psychosis. The effects of psychosis may involve:paranoiavisual disturbancesdisorganized thinkingmood changes Another long-term effect is a phenomenon called hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD). This involves flashbacks of a prior drug experience that can happen without warning and cause significant distress or impairment. The flashbacks may occur within a few days or more than 1 year after drug use. HPPD can cause alarm, as a person may mistake the symptoms for a brain tumor or stroke. Risks The following risks are associated with psychedelics: Risks from a bad trip Older research from 2008 reports that the most common risk is what people call a “bad trip.” It may involve:feardysphoriapanicfrightening illusionstroubling thoughts about one’s life or evil forceshyperawareness of physiological processes Risks from dangerous behavior Psychedelics can impair judgment, which may sometimes cause a person to believe that they have superhuman powers. This belief may induce them to do hazardous things, such as jump off a building. Risks from high dosages Experts note that high dosages can affect the blood vessels, potentially causing:thrombus formationaccumulation of plateletscoronary artery spasms Risk of death According to the Department of Justice, an overdose of LSD or psilocybin rarely causes death. When death does occur, it usually stems from:accidentssuicideinadvertent ingestion of poisonous plant material Risks from contaminants Drugs of abuse pose the danger of having metal or bacterial contamination, which can cause toxicity or infections. Should people with a history of substance use disorder use them People with a history of a substance use disorder should not use psychedelics. Repeated drug use can lead to brain changes that make self-control more challenging. Some psychedelics, such as LSD, can cause tolerance, which can increase the risk of an overdose and potentially cause death. The bottom line is that psychedelics are drugs that can be very dangerous if a person uses them without proper medical guidance. As those with a history of harmful drug use may find it more difficult to limit their dosage, it is safer for them to abstain. Seeking help for addiction may seem daunting or even scary, but several organizations can provide support. If you believe that you or someone close to you is struggling with addiction, you can contact the following organizations for immediate help and advice:Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): 800-662-4357 (TTY: 800-487-4889)National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255 Summary Psychedelics are generally not addictive, but LSD may cause tolerance, which creates the need to take larger dosages. As psychedelics can produce euphoria and a feeling of detachment from the surroundings, some people use them recreationally to reduce feelings of stress. Research on the possible medical uses of psychedelics is still at a preliminary stage, but early studies suggest that psychedelics may decrease depression and anxiety. These drugs may also help a person quit smoking or abstain from alcohol. There is certainly a lot of potential, but many more studies are necessary to confirm the safety and benefits of using psychedelics as a medical treatment. Despite their general safety, psychedelics pose a number of risks and dangers, which increase with higher dosages. Last medically reviewed on March 30, 2022DepressionMental HealthAlcohol / Addiction / Illegal DrugsAnxiety / StressSmoking / Quit Smoking 16 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Bogenschutz, M. P., et al. (2015). Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence: A proof-of-concept study [Abstract]. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25586396/Carhart-Harris, R. L., et al. (2016). Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: An open-label feasibility study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(16)30065-7/fulltext#%20dos Santos, R. G., et al. (2021). The use of classic hallucinogens/psychedelics in a therapeutic context: Healthcare policy opportunities and challenges. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC7943545/Drug fact sheet: Hallucinogens. (2020). https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Hallucinogens-2020.pdfGasser, P., et al. (2014). Safety and efficacy of lysergic acid diethylamide-assisted psychotherapy for anxiety associated with life-threatening diseases. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC4086777/Griffiths, R. R., et al. (2016). Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC5367557/Hallucinogens: DrugFacts. (2021). https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/hallucinogensHallucinogens: Just the facts. (2020). https://archives.drugabuse.gov/blog/post/hallucinogens-just-factsJohnson, M. W., et al. (2008). Human hallucinogen research: Guidelines for safety. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC3056407/Johnson, M. W., et al. (2016). Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC5641975/Liechti, E. M. (2019). Role of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor in LSD-induced altered states of consciousness (LDR-Study) (LDR). https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03321136Nichols, D. E. (2016). Psychedelics. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC4813425/Publications. (n.d.). https://nida.nih.gov/drug-topics/publicationsSchimmel, J., et al. (2018). Metal and bacterial contamination of illicit drugs. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC6279659/Understanding drug use and addiction drug facts. (2018). https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/understanding-drug-use-addictionWhy do people take hallucinogenic or dissociative drugs? (2015).https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/hallucinogens-dissociative-drugs/why-do-people-take-hallucinogensFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Karin Gepp, PsyD — By Mary West on March 30, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? 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