The New Straits Times, January 29, 1996
Q: What is a hallucinogen and the physical and psychological risks associated with using it?
A: Hallucinogenic drugs are substances that change the perception of the user. The most well-known hallcinogens include phencyclidine (known as PCP), 'angel dust' or 'love boat', lysergic acid diethylamide (commonly known as LSD); mescaline and peyote; and psilocybin or 'magic mushrooms.'
In Malaysia, the most common hallucinogenic drug substance used is marijuana (known as 'ganja'. In fact, marijuana is not one drug but a hundred active and inactive drugs in one.
These drugs change the way users perceive the world, and their place within it. A person having a visual hallucination sees something that isn't there, while a person having auditory hallucination hears non-existent noises.
Users will experience symptoms such as: 1) voices giving instruction; 2) talking or listening to someone who isn't there: 3) feeling invisible fingers touching one's body; 4) thinking that is disordered or disturbed; and 5) feeling extremely anxious and confused.
The effects of hallucinogen can last for 12 hours. Sensations and feelings change much more dramatically than physical signs. The senses of direction, distance, and time become disoriented. It can affect learning and memory.
These drugs can produce unpredictable, erratic and violent behaviour in users (also towards others). Terrifying thoughts and feelings, fear or insanity and death, injury, and fatal accidents may occur during states of intoxication.
Abuse of drugs and alcohol may also result in hallucinations. Sometimes people hallucinate as a reaction to a toxic substance such as poisonous muchrooms.
