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Psychedelics are a subcategory of psychotropics, which includes all psychoactive substances. Psychedelics are a hallucinogenic class of psychoactive drug whose primary action is to trigger psychedelic experiences via serotonin receptor agonism, causing specific psychological, visual and auditory changes, and altered state of consciousness. Major psychedelic drugs include mescaline, LSD, psilocybin, and DMT. Marijuana is also known for producing psychedelic effects due to active cannabinoids.

Psychedelic drugs can be divided into 5 categories of substances classical psychedelics, empathogens, cannabinergics, dissociatives, and deliriants. These 5 categories are known to produces a range of effects on consciousness that will be discussed later. The psychedelic experience is often compared to non-ordinary forms of consciousness such as trance, meditation, yoga, religious ecstasy, dreaming, and even near-death experiences. Most of these psychedelic drugs fall into one of the three families of chemical compounds: tryptamines, phenethylamines, or lysergamides. These chemicals act on key circuits in the brain involved with broadcasting reality. The produced altered state of consciousness of these chemical effects is what cause the division between psychedelic substances.

Studies show that psychedelics are physiologically safe and do not lead to addiction. Studies conducted using psilocybin in a psychotheraputic setting reveal that psychedelic drugs may assist with treating depression and alcohol addiction, and possibly also nicotine addiction. Although they are still putting the pieces together, researcher shows that psychedelics have the potential to treat certain psychopathologies.

Many psychedelic drugs are illegal worldwide under the UN conventions, occasionally excepting use in a religious or research context. Despite these controls, recreational use of psychedelics is common.