There are few known long term effects from hallucinogens. However, ‘flashbacks’ – times when you feel the effects of the drug again – can happen days, weeks or even years after taking the drug. Flashbacks can include visual hallucinations and other effects. They can happen without warning, last for a minute or two and can be quite disturbing.
Flashbacks may be triggered by using other drugs or by stress, tiredness or physical exercise. Regular users are more likely to experience flashbacks than people who only use the drug from time to time.
Other long term effects of hallucinogens can include damaged memory and concentration. Using hallucinogens may also increase the risk of mental problems in some people, and the use of LSD may be related to an increased risk of miscarriage.
Of an estimated 106 million emergency department (ED) visits in the U.S. during 2004, the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) estimates that 1,997,993 were drug-related. DAWN data indicates that LSD was involved in 1,953 ED visits; PCP was involved in 8,928 visits; and miscellaneous hallucinogens were involved in 3,445 visits.
