Addiction can take many forms. One of the characteristics of addiction is impulsivity, recklessness, lack of foresight (thinking about consequences), and thrill-seeking. Together, these character traits can cause someone to become a walking, talking experiment. Willing to try anything, an addict in the making is susceptible to try getting intoxicated or high off of obscure substances. Commonly, the information about the “high” is rarely accompanied by information about the side effects. Consequently, many can find themselves getting sick or putting themselves at risk for severe health complications or even death.
Hallucinogen Trip
One of the most potentially harmful way to recklessly experiment with substances is with hallucinogens. Typically, once a person who is prone to substance abuse experiences their first psychedelic or psychoactive “trip” from a hallucinogenic substance, they are inspired to seek more. Hallucinogens can cause wild hallucinations both visual, physical, and auditory. Seeing what cannot otherwise be seen is intoxicating in itself. Wanting to push the boundaries of the brain, users see what else they can hallucinate on.
Here are some of the unexpected hallucinogens many find themselves experimenting with:
- “Triple C’s”. Triple C is the slang term used to hide the name “Coricidin Cough & Cold”, an over the counter cold medicine. Abusing the medication in high doses causes hallucinations and physical sensations. Addiction to Coricidin is often found in teenagers who have a harder time buying more commonly known substances. Most over the counter cold medicine has the active ingredient dextromethorphan, also known as DXM.
- Nutmeg. The favorite holiday spice can cause hefty hallucinations when taken in high doses. However, nutmeg is known to cause flu-like symptoms before the hallucinations take hold.
- Robitussin. For most people, even reading the word Robitussin elicits negative memories of flu’s and illnesses past having to take the bitter cough syrup. Robitussin is another substance containing DXM. While DXM causes hallucinations, it is also a dissociative. Dissociated trips can cause psychosis, loss of touch with reality, and permanent hallucinatory sensations.
Abusing common substances to achieve a hallucinogenic effect is dangerous. Overdose, seizure, death, or permanent psychosis is always a risk when experimenting with hallucinogenic substances.
Avalon By The Sea offers medically assisted detox treatment from the luxury of our beautiful residential home in Southern California. Our residential treatment programs are designed to help you find freedom from substance abuse in mind, body, and spirit. For confidential assessment or more information on our treatment programs, call 1 888-958-7511.
