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Many people are curious to know… What is Mescaline?
Mescaline is a drug classified as a hallucinogen. It can be synthetically created, but originally it comes from three types of cacti:
- Peyote
- San Pedro Cactus
- Peruvian Torch Cactus
Peyote commonly grows in the southwestern United States and Mexico. The San Pedro and Peruvian Torch cactus both grow in South America.
To ingest the drug, the protruding top parts of these cacti are cut off and made into tea or chewed.
Mescaline has been around for quite a while as a drug. The tradition of ingesting it started in the ancient Aztec culture and spread up to Native American cultures in North America. These cultures used the drug in religious rites and ceremonies.
Mescaline Effects
The natural form of mescaline is chewed or made into tea, while the synthetic drug can be taken in powder or pill form.
Like most hallucinogenic drugs, typical mescaline effects are produced in the mind and it has an impact on visual or auditory perception. However, the drug is much less potent than other hallucinogens such as PCP or LSD.
Common Mental Effects of Mescaline
- Changes in Thinking: Attention span usually shortens, and maintaining a train of thought can be difficult for most people.
- Impaired Judgement and Problem Solving: Individuals using the drug will believe the opposite is true and that their mind is more open and receptive to new ways of thinking.
Common Physical Side Effects of Mescaline:
- Sensory and perceptual experience enhancements
- Increased blood pressure
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Difficulty with motor control
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Increased body temperature
- Loss of appetite
- Extreme sweating
- Fever and chills
- Pupil dilation
Does it Cause a Dependence?
Mescaline doesn’t cause a physical dependence in users like other drugs such as opioids, but the drug can be addictive in a psychological sense, although it is very rare. It is more common for an individual to develop a tolerance to the drug after repeated use.
If someone you know is experiencing problems with drug usage like this or other hallucinogens, they might exhibit states of mental illness, experiencing intense fear or anxiety.
The long-term effects of mescaline can also cause what some people call “flashbacks.” This is medically referred to as “hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD).” In some cases, when a user has taken the drug only once, they can still experience flashbacks, but it is usually only limited to people with a previous psychiatric condition.
Do you have more questions about mescaline and its effects now that you know what it is? Learn more about this hallucinogen and the Effects of Mescaline Abuse and Addiction.
