At Aliya Native American Program, we recognize that the misuse of hallucinogenic drugs and psychedelics drugs can create serious health concerns that go far beyond a single experience. While some traditional psychedelic practices—such as the ceremonial use of the peyote cactus—are sacred and meaningful within Native cultures, recreational use of psychoactive substances like lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin mushrooms, or synthetic designer drugs can lead to dangerous psychological effects, mental illness, and long-term harm. Our program offers a culturally informed treatment option for individuals and families seeking recovery from drug abuse, alcohol and drug dependence, and related substance use disorders.
What Are Hallucinogens and Psychedelics?
Psychedelics are a class of serotonergic hallucinogens that create an altered state of consciousness by interacting with serotonin receptor activity in the brain. These psychoactive drugs can distort perceptions of time, space, and reality, causing vivid hallucinations and dramatic mood changes. Common types of psychedelic substances include:
- Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) – Also known as “acid,” this powerful hallucinogenic drug was first synthesized from lysergic acid found in ergot fungus. The effect of LSD or d-lysergic acid diethylamide can last up to 12 hours and includes intense visual distortions, euphoria, or panic during a bad trip.
- Psilocybin mushrooms – Naturally occurring fungi that contain psilocybin and psilocin, producing strong visual and emotional changes. The effects of psilocybin vary depending on the amounts of psychedelics taken, but can include confusion, fear, and persistent flashbacks.
- Mescaline (peyote cactus) – A traditional psychedelic used in Native American religious ceremonies. While ceremonial use is protected in certain contexts, nontraditional misuse can still cause harmful hallucinogenic effects.
- Salvia divinorum – A plant-based hallucinogenic drug that can create sudden, intense hallucinations and disorientation.
- Synthetic psychedelic substances – Laboratory-made designer drugs and psychoactive substances that imitate the effects of classic psychedelics, often with unknown ingredients and unpredictable outcomes.
- DMT and Ayahuasca – Potent psychedelics like LSD that induce short but extremely vivid hallucinations and powerful emotional responses.
The Risks and Adverse Effects of Taking Psychedelics
Although some psychedelic research has explored the potential therapeutic use of substances like LSD and psilocybin for conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression, these drugs carry significant dangers outside controlled medical settings. Recreational use of psychoactive drugs often leads to unpredictable and harmful outcomes. Adverse effects may include:
- Bad trips – Frightening hallucinations, paranoia, panic attacks, or overwhelming anxiety.
- Psychological effects – Persistent confusion, flashbacks, or worsening of pre-existing mental illness such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD.
- Structural and functional changes – Alterations in brain chemistry that may affect mood regulation, memory, and perception long after use.
- Hallucinogenic effect accidents – Impaired judgment increases the risk of injury, violence, or self-harm.
- Drug abuse and dependency – While many types of psychedelic are not considered physically addictive, repeated use can lead to emotional dependence and harmful patterns of drugs and alcohol use.
For Native American communities, the misuse of psychoactive substances is especially concerning due to the impact of historical trauma, systemic inequities, and the complex relationship between culture, spirituality, and healing.
Balancing Tradition and Safety
At Aliya Native American Program, we honor the cultural and spiritual traditions that have used types of hallucinogenic plants such as peyote cactus for generations. We recognize the deep spiritual meaning of traditional psychedelic ceremonies and their role in cultural identity. However, we also educate our patients about the difference between safe, ceremonial practices and the dangers of taking psychedelics recreationally or in combination with drugs and alcohol.
Our team provides education on the chemical structure, receptor activity, and psychedelics effects of substances like LSD peyote, psilocybin mushrooms, and synthetic psychedelic compounds. We help patients understand the effectiveness of psychedelic therapies within controlled clinical trials while emphasizing the real dangers of self-medicating or using psychoactive substances without guidance
Treatment Options for Substance Use Disorders
Whether a person is struggling with hallucinogenic drug use, alcohol and drug addiction, or a combination of both, Aliya Native American Program offers comprehensive treatment for substance use disorders. Our services combine research-based therapy with cultural practices to create a holistic path to recovery. Treatment may include:
- Medical detoxification to safely manage withdrawal from psychoactive substances and designer drugs.
- Individual therapy using trauma-informed care to address the underlying causes of drug abuse and mental health concerns.
- Group counseling and family therapy to strengthen community connections and rebuild relationships damaged by addiction.
- Traditional healing practices, including sweat lodges, talking circles, and smudging ceremonies, are guided by elders and cultural advisors.
- Education on psychedelics research, including the potential of psychedelic therapies for posttraumatic stress disorder, while clarifying the risks of unregulated use.
Our goal is to treat not only the substance use itself but also the emotional wounds, mental illness, and intergenerational trauma that often contribute to psychedelics effects and addiction.
Begin Your Healing Journey Today
Recovery is about more than ending substance use—it is about restoring balance in mind, body, and spirit. If you or a loved one is struggling with hallucinogenic drug misuse, alcohol and drug foundation resources, or the aftereffects of taking psychedelics, Aliya Native American Program is here to help.
Call today to learn more about our culturally responsive treatment options for LSD and psilocybin, synthetic psychedelic substances, and other psychoactive drugs. Together, we can walk the path toward recovery, cultural connection, and lasting wellness.