"People use drugs, legal and illegal, because their lives are intolerably painful or dull," said Wendell Berry, an American novelist and poet. Unfortunately, there are millions of people who abuse drugs just for the sheer pleasure of getting high and not under the pressure of any negative life situation.
From time to time, various laws have been implemented to keep most drugs that can get someone high strictly illegal, in fact, they have been categorized as "black market" products. Moreover, there are laws in place ensuring mandatory jail time for anyone found guilty of possessing any such banned substances. However, with time, people have also discovered smarter ways of dodging the law by resorting to items that are legally available in drug stores, the kitchen cabinet or their very own backyard.
Lately, addiction to "legal highs" has become a growing problem in the American society. Even though legal highs neither fall under Schedule I drugs such as heroin, marijuana or LSD, nor do they attract compulsory incarceration for anyone found guilty of possessing them, it doesn't make them safe either. The truth is that legal highs are designed to mimic the effects of illegal drugs to produce similar effects.
5 legal highs which can be mind-altering
Though sold legally on the streets, legal highs can prove detrimental to those who use them for a long time. Some commonly abused legal highs are:
Cough syrup: Dextromethorphan, or DXM, is a common ingredient in many cough syrups, which tends to act as a dissociative hallucinogen. These over-the-counter cough medications contain psychoactive substances, which produce mind-altering effects. Interestingly, young people commonly abuse these products since they can be easily purchased from a pharmacy without a prescription.
Fly agaric mushrooms: Bright red with white spots and known mastermind funghi bar for sale its hallucinogenic properties, this typical cartoon-toadstool-appearing edible mushroom produces a high when ingested. The effects of these magic mushrooms are best described as sedative-hypnotic and dissociative. In large doses, these can have dangerous outcomes, including delirium.
Salvia divinorum: It is a psychoactive plant, which can induce visions and other mind-altering spiritual experiences. Even a small hit of this substance is sufficient to send a seasoned tripper to another dimension or time period. Salvinorin A, the hallucinogenic compound in the Salvia leaves, has historically been used as a divinatory psychedelic to produce sensations of traveling through time and space, of floating or flying, and of twisting and spinning.
Nutmeg euphoria: Surprisingly, just 4-8 tablespoons of the household spice are capable of giving mild hallucinations. Few people are aware of the fact that nutmeg contains myristicin, a natural compound, which is known to produce mind-altering effects when ingested, snorted or smoked in large doses. The buzz can last for one to two days and can be hallucinogenic, similar to LSD.
Morning glory seeds: Several varieties of morning glory seeds contain LSA, which is a chemical identical to LSD. Many users claim to experience a calm and dreamy state of mind, as well as cheerfulness. Additionally, users also admit to getting exposed to new insights, besides a keen desire to know about things around them.