You’ve probably heard that mescaline can’t be harmful, and it has notably milder effects compared to other drugs. Still, you or a loved one might suffer from mescaline addiction.

Mescaline indeed isn’t one of the most potent drugs out there, but it still can lead to psychological addiction. Using it for a long time can even lead to life-threatening effects.

Want to learn how to quit this drug? This guide will provide you with the information and roadmap to get reliable mescaline addiction treatment in New York.

Understanding Mescaline

Mescaline is a hallucinogen found in the peyote cactus, a species of cactus that grows in Texas and Mexico. The peyote parts with the highest concentration of mescaline are located on the plant’s roots and are referred to as “buttons.” The San Pedro cactus and Peruvian torch cactus also contain mescaline. Additionally, scientists can formulate it in labs.

Mescaline

People use mescaline for recreational purposes as it causes hallucinations and euphoria. Others use it as part of their supplement therapy or meditation practice. They take the substance by smoking, chewing, or ingesting small parts of peyote. Some consume it in the form of a pill or brew. Injecting mescaline is another way of consumption, but it’s uncommon.

That beingsaid, it’s illegal to use and trade mescaline in many countries, including the US, due to its classification as a Schedule I substance by the DEA. This classification means mescaline has a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use.

The Common Names of Mescaline

Although it’s well-known as mescaline, you might find this drug sold under other names. The following are the most common ones:

  • Cactus
  • Mesc
  • Peyote
  • Mescaline Trip
  • Buttons
  • Mescaline Molecule

How Does Mescaline Affect the User?

Contrary to popular belief, research has shown only little evidence of the positive impact of mescaline as a medicine. In contrast, using mescaline is proven to cause a bunch of adverse effects that can develop into life-threatening issues. The use of mescaline primarily affects serotonin receptors in the brain, leading to altered states of consciousness and psychoactive effects.

Once it enters your bloodstream, mescaline starts to affect your body within one to two hours. This effect can last for over 12 hours. Ingesting mescaline causes hallucinogenic effects, varying in severity based on the dose. The person’s emotional state before taking the substance can also significantly impact mescaline’s effects.

Users enjoy mescaline trips as they provide them with increased energy and euphoria. Others say they feel deep sensations of transcendence and peace when taking mescaline. Some even report experiencing enhanced senses, such as clearer vision and hearing, but at the cost of lacking concentration.

Besides these good feelings, the substance can cause auditory and visual hallucinations as well as perception distortions for some people. Increased heart rate and blood pressure, reduced appetite, depression, paranoia, and anxiety are also common effects. Some people may have terrible effects, like prolonged psychosis, when using mescaline, especially those with pre-existing mental health disorders. This terrifying experience is highly probable for people who have mental illness.

In addition, this substance can result in synesthesia, a condition in which the user encounters a mixing of senses. In other words, the drug user can “hear” a color or “see” a sound. Even worse, this substance can cause severe psychological harm, especially when experiencing a bad trip due to higher doses.

How Does Mescaline Addiction Develop?

The good news is that mescaline is one of the least potent hallucinogenic drugs. It’s also known for not causing physical addiction. Nonetheless, some users can quickly develop tolerance to the substance. This drives them to increase the doses over time to maintain the same impact of the drug. This eventually leads to developing a psychological dependency on the drug and increases the chances of experiencing a bad trip.

Worse still, continuous escalation in doses can increase the dangerous impact of the substance. The following are some of the common psychological and physical effects high doses of mescaline can cause:

  • Paranoia
  • Psychotic episodes
  • Anxiety
  • Profound hallucinations

Signs of Mescaline Addiction

Although it’s not as potent as other drugs like stimulants and opioids, mescaline can still cause psychological dependence. To determine whether someone suffers from mescaline addiction, here are a few signs to look for:

  • Facing difficulty meeting their home, work, or school responsibilities as a result of using the drug
  • Experiencing ongoing intense craving for mescaline when quitting it for a short time
  • Spending a significant amount of money and time on using the drug
  • Inability to quit the drug despite the desire to do so
  • Having many relationship issues due to drug use
  • Continuously increasing the drug dose
  • Going through mild withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety, headaches, and nausea, when stopping the drug for a short time

Is It Hard to Quit Mescaline?

Mescaline isn’t one of the hardest drugs to quit; it doesn’t often cause severe withdrawal symptoms when stopping it. However, some might experience temporary symptoms such as depression and anxiety for a while after quitting the drug. It’s worth mentioning that some people can be much more sensitive to the drug than others, especially those with pre-existing medical conditions that may interact with the substance.

In addition, some combine mescaline with other physically addictive drugs, such as cocaine or PCP, to improve their experience. Needless to say, this makes quitting both drugs way more complicated.

How to Safely Recover from Mescaline Addiction?

Despite not being physically addictive when used alone, psychological dependence on mescaline can negatively impact its user’s quality of life. It can also lead the user to start using physically addictive drugs such as marijuana. That’s why people who suffer from mescaline use disorder need to take prompt steps toward treating their addiction.

Until now, researchers haven’t produced a specific medication for the treatment of mescaline addiction. However, treating mescaline addiction is still possible using other medical and behavioral therapy methods.

Here are the steps you or your loved one should follow to break free from this drug’s dependence:

Medically-Supervised Detox

As with any other drug, patients quitting mescaline should go through a detox period. This detox process should be medically assisted and can be conducted in outpatient or inpatient settings. The detox starts with a physical assessment of the patient and a customized plan based on its results.

During this phase, the patient who recovers from mescaline will start experiencing psychological withdrawal symptoms within the first 24 hours of stopping the drug. These symptoms may continue for up to two weeks. That said, the total timeframe of this process can vary from one individual to another based on the degree of dependence on the drug.

Here comes the importance of medical supervision during detox. Some patients can’t safely handle all the withdrawal symptoms on their own. A medical intervention may be required in some cases to control and alleviate the withdrawal symptoms. As a result, it’ll help the patient stay on track and avoid relapse. This medical supervision is especially vital if the person with mescaline use disorder misuses another physically addictive drug.

Treating Underlying Mental Illness

Substance use disorder is usually accompanied by or develops as a result of underlying mental illnesses. If this applies to the patient, they should undergo psychological and psychiatric therapy to treat any underlying mental health problems.

Inpatient and outpatient programs can help in this stage as well. These programs contain intensive behavioral therapy and counseling to help the patient overcome any mental illness they may suffer from. Psychiatrists might also prescribe some medications to help the patient manage their mental illness.

Continuous Support

The recovery from mescaline and treating the underlying mental illness can take several months, depending on the patient’s condition. Taking part in support groups during this journey can make a world of difference in the patient’s ability to maintain their long-term sobriety. Support groups allow the patient to share their experience and learn from others in similar situations. As such, it’ll help the patient stay motivated to maintain sobriety.

An Aftercare Plan

After completing the initial steps above, the patient should have an aftercare and relapse prevention plan. The medical provider and addiction specialists collaborate with the patient to design the plan. The plan should include regular check-ups and ongoing therapy sessions. In addition, addiction specialists should equip the patient with the right strategies to manage future triggers and downs without losing their sobriety.

Ready to Start Your Mescaline Addiction Recovery in New York?

As you know by now, mescaline addiction treatment is relatively easier than the recovery from addiction to other more potent drugs. Still, it can be challenging if you or your loved ones go through this recovery process on your own. A team of reliable medical professionals and addiction specialists can help you overcome any treatment hurdles and challenges. This is what we offer at Long Island Interventions.

Our team will guide you or your loved one through the whole recovery process. They’ll offer evidence-based, proven methods to help you in each stage of the treatment journey, from detox until you achieve full recovery. We understand the complexities of substance abuse and mental health disorders, and our holistic approach addresses both physical and psychological aspects of addiction.

Eager to start your recovery journey now? Contact us, and let’s do it together.

Our comprehensive treatment programs are designed to address the unique needs of each individual, providing the best chance for long-term recovery and well-being. Don’t wait—reach out today to begin your path to a healthier, drug-free life.


Published on: 2024-04-07
Updated on: 2024-06-21