When you think of “psychedelic myths,” you probably remember tall tales like “LSD Will Drive You Insane,” “MDMA Eats Holes In Your Brain,” and “Magic Mushrooms Cause Addiction.” These are just a few examples of the many myths and misconceptions widely spread about psychedelics. Most of these myths were spawned during the War on Drugs era, which saw campaigns like “Your Brain on Drugs” use scare tactics to demonize psychedelic compounds.
It’s important to get rid of these false ideas about psychedelics. Whether you are a consumer or not , below are meant to give you some easy-to-understand guidance and insight. Here are some of the common myths about psychedelics that you may encounter.
Myth 1: Psychedelics Are Party “Drugs”
People think of psychedelics like LSD and MDMA as “club drugs” that people use at parties to have fun. MDMA in its pure form has been tested in clinical studies along with psychotherapy to treat social anxiety, PTSD, and anxiety about end-of-life illnesses. Also, LSD has been looked at as a possible way to help people who are under drug addiction or alcohol addiction.
Myth 2: All Psychedelics Are Addictive
There is no truth to the idea that all psychedelic substances are addictive. Contrary to the myth that if you try a this once, you’ll be hooked, psychedelics are not habit-forming in healthy people. For instance, LSD isn’t considered to be an intoxicant because it doesn’t make people want to use it all the time. Many people who have tried LSD say that it is very intense. This may make people less likely to try it again. For the same reason, psilocybin is not thought to be addictive either.
Myth 3: Psychedelics Are “All-Natural’
By definition, psychedelics, also called hallucinogens, are a group of psychoactive substances that change how people see, feel, and think. But not all psychoactive substances that make you feel strange are the same. Ayahuasca comes from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine, which is usually brewed into tea. It is a natural substance.
Psilocybin is another naturally occurring substance and can be found in many types of mushrooms. This is where the term “magic mushrooms” comes from. Other hallucinogenic substances are either made in a lab or changed from their natural form in a lab. For instance, LSD is a man-made substance made from ergot, which is a fungus that grows on rye.
Myth 4: All People Who Use Psychedelics Have The Same Experiences
Different psychedelic substances affect the brain in different ways, and the same substance can affect different people in different ways. In the same way, psychedelics can have various effects on an individual depending on how they feel and where they are when they take them.
How psychedelics affect a person depends a lot on their “set and setting,” or where and how they take the drug, along with their state of mind and what they hope to get out of the experience.
Myth 5: LSD (Acid) Will Put Holes in Your Brain
Science just doesn’t back up this myth. People have also said that LSD and other psychotropic substances can kill brain cells. Many studies are being done on how LSD affects the brain. We recognize that LSD is a hallucinogen that affects serotonin and dopamine levels and can change a person’s state of waking consciousness, but no serious side effects have been found in recent LSD studies. LSD has been shown to be generally safe for your body, particularly compared to amphetamines and other substances.
