Differences Between Dissociatives and Psychedelics

One of the gravest mistakes that those curious about using drugs can make is by approaching a particular substance like another substance. This has happened a lot with chemicals such as DXM, which is a dissociative. Many users who have done psilocybin or LSD approach DXM with the same mindset and the same set of expectations for the effects, side-effects, and overall experience. Unfortunately, dissociatives are much different from psychedelics and demand a more informed approach. This article will help to outline the important differences between dissociatives such as DXM, ketamine, and PCP and psychedelics such as psilocybin mushrooms, LSD, or peyote.

The most commonly-used dissociatives fall under a category of what are known as NMDA receptor antagonists. Many of the NMDA receptor antagonist dissociatives originally or still do have a medical use. Ketamine and PCP are both used as anesthetics in animals and DXM is the most common ingredient in commercial cough syrups. These drugs work in such a way that signals from areas of the brain such as those that decipher the five senses are blocked on their way to being deciphered by the conscious mind. Therefore, dissociatives are capable of producing synthetic sensory deprivation by the brain. At sufficiently high doses of DXM for examply, a user can get the sensation of being above or outside their bodies, having been deprived of the sensation of touch.

Conversely, psychedelics primarily act on brain receptors that fall under a chemical umbrella known as 5HT receptors. Action on these receptors affects the amount of serotonin, glutamate, as well as other neurotransmitters present in the brain. When compared to dissociatives, psychedelics can produce marked visual, auditory, and tactile distortion, but the user largely remains in his or her consciousness. The common description of psychedelics "expanding the mind" is not far from truth. Perception is expanded while on psychedelics, whereas on dissociatives perception is actually divided from conscious thought.

Probably the hallmark of dissociatives and psychedelics in popular culture is the presence of hallucinations. Actually, dissociatives and psychedelics both fall under a larger category of "hallucinogens." However, psychedelics work much differently in the production of visual and auditory hallucinations. In both cases, significantly high doses of either category of drug must be taken in order to produce noticeable hallucinations. LSD and other psychedelics begin their road toward hallucinations by blending and bending of colors and shapes. DXM and other dissociatives on the other hand tend to "flange" images or break visuals up into shorter, choppier phases. Dissociative visual hallucinations are also facilitated by the absence of light, by the user either being in a dark place or closing his/her eyes. Psychedelics are much more capable of producing visual hallucinations in bright locations with the eyes open.

In terms of toxicity and potential for permanent damage when abused at high levels for long stretches of time, dissociatives are generally the more toxic of the two categories. Although more clinical data must be produced to support this theory, work has been done to suggest that high doses of dissociatives can cause what are known as "Olney's lesions." These lesions occur on the cortex and can lead to permanent scarring of the brain and brain damage. However, clinical trials were performed using DXM in very high amounts for extended periods of time on rodents. The implication of dissociatives in human brain damage is not as well-understood. Psychedelics are generally non-toxic even at high doses, but can carry with them the potential for long-term effects. For example, high usage of LSD can increase the risk of memory lapses and flashbacks. In both cases, high dosages and high incidence of use are central to the long-term adverse effects of these drugs. In terms of dependence, dissociatives and psychedelics both have a potential for dependence-formation, but this largely depends on the personality of the user. Dissociatives and psychedelics have a much lower potential for habit-forming than opiates or amphetamines.

In conclusion, before you decide to undertake a new drug experience, be sure to educate yourself about the substance. Everything from chemical makeup to mechanism on the brain will help you to make a more informed decision. Your mental and physical health with thank you later for doing the research before deciding to put a psychoactive drug into your body. More information on most drugs known to man may be found on Erowid.org.