Psychedelics - Mescaline Final Exam Study Guide PDF

Psychedelics: Mescaline Source: Active ingredient in peyote cactus, San Pedro cactus, and Peruvian torch cactus. ○ Peyote cactus: Native to deserts in Mexico and Southwestern U.S. ○ San Pedro and Peruvian torch: Found in South America. History: ○ Isolated in...

Psychedelics: Mescaline Source: Active ingredient in peyote cactus, San Pedro cactus, and Peruvian torch cactus. ○ Peyote cactus: Native to deserts in Mexico and Southwestern U.S. ○ San Pedro and Peruvian torch: Found in South America. History: ○ Isolated in 1897 by German pharmacologist Arthur Heffter. Named after the Mescalero Apache, Indigenous peoples who introduced him to peyote. ○ First psychedelic synthesized in a lab in 1919 by Ernest Späth. Cultural and Religious Use: ○ Used historically in Aztec religious ceremonies and traditional healing. ○ Legal for members of the Native American Church under the U.S. Freedom of Religion Act. Church conducts weekly ceremonies (Saturday night to Sunday). Peyote considered a sacred sacrament by the Church's hundreds of thousands of members in Canada and the U.S. Modern Popularity: - Entered mainstream culture in the 1950s with Aldous Huxley’s book The Doors of Perception, describing mescaline experiences. - Widespread use in university settings until LSD and government laws restricted psychedelics Psychedelics: Mescaline Routes of Administration: 1. Mescal Buttons (Dried Peyote Cactus): ○ Chewed and Swallowed: Direct consumption. ○ Brewed into a Drink: Cactus crushed and boiled in water with added lemon juice or another ascorbic acid. Boiled for 3-4 hours, strained to remove plant material, then the beverage is consumed. Pharmacokinetics: Absorption: Rapid and complete. ○ Significant concentrations achieved within 30-90 minutes after ingestion. Duration: Effects last 4-12 hours. Typical Dose: 200-500 mg (~5-15 mescal buttons). Key Characteristics: Taste/Smell: Bitter taste and nauseating odor. Structure: Similar to norepinephrine but acts as an agonist at serotonin type 2A receptors. ○ This serotonin interaction is responsible for its psychedelic effects. ***Important Notes: Due to its long-lasting effects, mescaline is typically consumed in ceremonial or controlled environments to manage its intense and extended psychoactive experience Psychedelics: Mescaline Effects, Tolerance, and Dependence: Effects: Potency: Similar to LSD, but 1/2000th as potent. Early Symptoms (within the first hour): ○ Nausea, vomiting, tremors, and incoordination. Psychedelic Effects (after ~1 hour): ○ Vivid hallucinations, including: Brightly colored lights. Geometric designs. Images of animals and occasionally people. ○ These effects contribute to its ceremonial and introspective use. Tolerance: Develops Rapidly: Often after a single dose or within a few uses. Dissipates Quickly: Tolerance typically fades within 7 days of abstinence. Dependence: Physical Dependence: None reported. Psychological Dependence: Minimal to none due to: ○ Lack of compulsive use. ○ Long duration of the experience (4-12 hours). ○ Emotional intensity of the trip, which can be mentally exhausting. ○ Similar to LSD, these factors discourage frequent use. Key Insights: Mescaline is primarily used in spiritual, ceremonial, or introspective settings rather than recreationally