In five pages this paper examines psilocybin and LSD in a consideration and classification of various types of hallucinogenic drugs. Four sources are cited in the bibliography.
Name of Research Paper File: JR7_RAhalluc.rtf
Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
properly! Introduction Hallucinogens are considered to be the "most widely diverse class of drugs," and as such include more drugs than can possibly be examined in a brief space
of time (Anonymous Hallucinogens lsd.html). The word hallucinogen is derived from the Latin "alucinare meaning to wander in mind" (Anonymous Hallucinogens lsd.html). They are also referred to as "psychotogenics,
phantastica, psychotomimetics, psychodysleptics, psycholytics, psychedelics, illusinogens, deliriants" (Anonymous Hallucinogens lsd.html). As we can easily note, the hallucinogens comprise a great number of drugs, and thereby a great deal
of classification of drugs within this particular grouping. The classification of hallucinogens has, for the most part, "been according to structural similarities to certain neurotransmitters or according to which neurotransmitter
system thought to be mostly involved" (Anonymous Hallucinogens lsd.html). And, interestingly enough, "The biochemical, pharmacological ad physiological basis for hallucinogenic activity is not well understood. Even the name for this
class of drugs is not ideal, since hallucinogens do not always produce hallucinations" (Anonymous Hallucinogens Police_hallucinogens.htm). Bearing these realities in mind, along with the fact that only two classifications and
two divisions are to be discussed, we present the following paper which examines the classes of hallucinogens known as LSD and psilocybin. LSD, lysergic acid diethylamide LSD or LSD-25,
known as lysergic acid diethylamide, was first synthesized in 1938 by Albert Hoffman. "LSD effects seem to be due to action at 5-HT2 receptors. These receptors are called autoreceptors
and when they are occupied they actually decrease the firing of serotonin neurons, thus LSD may inhibit the firing of serotonin neurons" (Anonymous Hallucinogens lsd.html). It is a drug which
induces many different feelings and perceptions: "Sympathomimetic effects: heart rate increases, body temp increases, blood pressure goes up, dilated pupils (good index of effect), sweating, slight tremor, increased salivation...hallucinogenic effects