Understanding Substance Use
Health is a state of total well-being—physical, mental and social—helping us both survive and thrive in our everyday lives.
Learn About Tripping
Hallucinogens cause people to have experiences that are different from their ordinary reality. The conscious mind becomes aware of things that it normally is not aware of. Hallucinations can range from mild distortions of our senses to an intense experience where we believe a vision or other altered perception is real and we are unaware it is the effect of the drug.
The Language We Use to Talk About Mental Health and Substance Use
Words matter. They impact the assumptions we make about others, the way we understand someone else’s experiences, and the value we place on others.
Hallucinogens
When a person says they are “tripping,” it means they are experiencing the effects of hallucinogens. Hallucinogens are psychoactive (mind-altering) drugs that significantly alter our senses and perceptions. Some common ones are magic mushrooms, LSD and ecstasy. Cannabis can also cause hallucinogenic effects at high doses.
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Treatments: What Works?
It seems like everyone has an opinion when it comes to treatments for mental health or substance use problems. To add to the confusion, it isn’t always obvious who is basing their opinions on real evidence and who is not. And while we often hear people talk about evidence-based treatments, it’s also clear that complementary and alternative medicine approaches are helpful for some.
Learn About Tripping Reference List
The list below provides the references to the research studies discussed in Learn About Tripping.
Finding the Right Help - Navigating the System
While it's common to talk about the mental health system, the system isn’t a singular entity. The system might include primary care, mental health, substance use, housing, income assistance, and justice. They are not always accessed the same way, through similar gatekeepers.
Recovery
When we talk about mental illnesses and substance use problems, it’s easy to talk in clinical terms: that person has this symptom, or that person uses a certain drug. But recovery is so much bigger than a checklist.
Safer Tripping: Magic mushrooms, LSD, and other hallucinogens
Reduce your risk of bad trips (scary and stressful experiences), injuries from falls or accidents, and mental health problems.
Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens are substances that change the way you sense or perceive things around you. Some hallucinogens, such as peyote, magic mushrooms and salvia, are found in nature. Others, such as LSD (acid), angel dust and ketamine, are man-made.
