Psychedelics and hallucinogens
Forbidden Drugs 3E July 16, 2009 Philip Robson
The text discusses the challenges of naming a class of drugs that profoundly alter sensory perception, thinking, and emotion without clouding consciousness. It critiques terms like 'hallucinogen' for failing to capture the complexity of human response, reserving 'true hallucinogen' for substances causing delirium. The author endorses 'psychedelic,' coined by psychiatrist Humphrey Osmond in the 1950s from Greek roots meaning 'mind manifesting,' as the most suitable term for drugs that expand the mind without impairing orientation.