Mescaline Addiction and Dependency

Mescaline is a drug with a long history in the United States and despite its illegal status, is still an unfortunately powerful and popular drug.  It is a hallucinogenic and the penalties for manufacture or sale include jail-time and a 15,000 dollar fine.

Europeans first encountered mescaline in the 16th century, when the Spaniards came to the New World seeking cities of gold.  The Native American tribes of what would become Mexico and the American Southwest had long since used mescaline for religious purposes.  The small spineless cactus known as peyote, which contains mescaline as well as a variety of other phenethylamine alkaloids, was dried and then chewed, The visions that occurred when the hallucinogenic plant was used were considered holy, and early tales of mescaline's use in religions rituals go back more than 3000 years.

Mescaline may either be ingested orally or injected and like any other drug, there are many risks that come with taking them illegally.  Mescaline is expensive to synthesize, so it is terrifyingly likely that other drugs, like PCP or LSD can be substituted at the point of sale.

There are several dangers which are associated with mescaline, despite it's reputation as a relatively mild hallucinogen.  First, there is the risk of entering states of what amount to temporary mental illness.  Users can go through periods of intense fear and anxiety, leading them to do foolish things.  In extreme cases, tranquilizers might even need to be used to control the reaction.  Mescaline can produce intensely terrifying thoughts and fears, magnifying sensation to the point where they become unbearable. 

Small doses of the drug can speed up the heart and raise the user's blood pressure, along with the possibility of nausea and illness.  Higher doses lower the blood glucose, which can cause bloody diarrhea and a loss of consciousness.  A lethal dose of mescaline results in death through respiratory failure.

Long-term effects of mescaline, according to the DEA can include flashbacks, or hallucinogen persisting perception disorder, which is a re-occurrence of hallucinations long after the drugs have left the user's system.  These effects can occur after a single experience with the drug, and the scientific community is still puzzled as to why this happens.

Mescaline Addiction and Dependency

Unlike cocaine or heroin, mescaline does not produce a physical addiction, though it has been described as intensely habit forming.  A user's tolerance increases over extended periods of usage, and the psychological dependency can be intense.  However, overcoming something that may have taken an intense toll on the user's life can be very difficult.  There are many treatment centers which take many different approaches to recovery from hallucinogen use.  It is best to find a group or support that will not only take care of the physical aspect of the drug, but treat the root cause of it as well, no matter what that is.

Determining the root cause to a problem with mescaline use can be very difficult and can require a great deal of work.  Mescaline is a drug that can be haunting in that respect, leaving the body seemingly unmarked, but the mind adrift and fearful.

If you or a friend is under a Mescaline Addiction or Dependency, seek expert help right away.