Psychoactive effects

Mescaline is considerably less potent than LSD equipotent amounts are 5 mg and 1 pg, respectively. Peyote is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Mescaline is mainly concentrated in the liver, spleen, and kidney. Up to 60% is excreted unchanged in the urine mescaline metabolites are devoid of any psychoactive effect. 

Efforts to identify the specific compounds responsible for the psychotropic effects of volatile solvents are complicated by the fact that many of these products contain more than one potentially psychoactive ingredient. Another factor obscuring the identity of the psychoactive ingredients of these agents is that patients addicted to these compounds frequendy seek the effects not of the product s primary ingredient but of a secondary ingredient such as the propellant gas (e.g., nitrous oxide). To date, the best-studied psychoactive compounds identified in volatile solvents include toluene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and trichloroethylene. However, other less well studied compounds, such as benzene, acetone, and methanol, also appear to have significant psychoactive effects. 

The involvement of the cerebellum in the psychoactive effects of marijuana and in changes in rCMR is consistent with the view that THC interacts with the high concentration of CB1 receptors in this brain area. Decreases in the cerebellar rCMR in habitual marijuana users may reflect the effects of chronic exposure to the drug. Functions known to be associated with the cerebellum, such as motor coordination, proprioception, and learning, are adversely affected both during acute marijuana intoxication and in habitual users. 

Rocio M., Carrera A., Ashley J., Wirsching P., Koob G., Janda K. A second-generation vaccine protects against the psychoactive effects of cocaine. PNAS. 98 1988, 2001. 

Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, or Ecstasy ) is an illicit drug used by young adults who attend rave dance parties in the U.S., Europe, and elsewhere. The allure of MDMA is related to its unique psychoactive effects, which include amphetamine-like stimulant actions, coupled with feelings of increased emotional sensitivity and closeness to others.1-2 Epidemiological data indicate that MDMA misuse among children and adolescents is widespread in the U.S.3-4 In... 

The clinical analgesic efficacy of THC is prominent. In a study of cancer patients, 10 mg of THC was equivalent to 60 mg of codeine (Noyes et al. 1975). This dose produced sedative but no other psychoactive effects. A dose of 20 mg was more effective, but produced additional dizziness, ataxia, blurred vision, and psychoactive effects. 

The use of cocaine for local anesthesia has been largely replaced by synthetic drugs that produce less psychoactive effects. However, cocaine is still used sometimes for topical anesthesia of the upper respiratory tract. 

Due to similarities in their names, the mescal bean is often confused with mescaline (Schultes and Hofman 1980, 1992). These derive from entirely different plants whereas mescaline derives from peyote cactus, the mescal bean grows on the shrub Sophora secundiflora. The mescal bean itself has psychoactive effects, and was used since prehistoric times by Indians in the Rio Grande basin. Samples have been found dating back... 

Toxicity from tropane alkaloids often results from their effects on autonomic function. Several species of Datura are freely available, either growing in the wild or cultivated as ornamental plants, such as angel s trumpet (Datura sauveolens). Periodic outbreaks of jimsonweed use occur, when adolescents learn about the psychoactive effects of the plant and intentionally ingest it. 

Acetyichoiine Muscarine is an agonist at muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, for which the receptor was named. It is not certain what role this plays in the psychoactive effects of amanita. 

Cannabis is one of civiiization s oidest cuitivated nonfood plants, and does not seem to exist anymore in its wiid form (figure 10.1). In addition to its psychoactive effects, the cannabis plant has also been used for its fibers. Hemp fibers have been found in China dating from 4000 B.C.E., and hemp ropes were dated to 3000 B.C.E. in Turkestan, but it is not certain that cannabis was used for psychoactive purposes at those piaces and times (Schuites and Hofman 1992). 

The Scythians are credited with spreading the use of cannabis to the Greeks from the steppes (Rudgiey 1993). The ancient Greeks knew of the psychoactive effects of cannabis, aithough the prevaience of its use is... 

Several products are derived from the cannabis plant (table 10.1). Hashish and charas are the dried resin exuded from the female flowers. These have the highest content of A9-tetrahydrocannabinol (TFIC) at 10-20% and have the most potent psychoactive effects. Ganja and sinsemilla are the dried tops of the female plants, which averages 5-8%. Marijuana and bhang are derived from the rest of the plant and have the lowest TFIC concentration (2-5%). 

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