Designer"
Mescaline-like Drugs
A large number of variations on the structure of mescaline were first "designed" during the original chemical
studies of mescaline. The names sound
like an alphabet soup: DOM (2, 5 dimethoxy-4-methylphenylisopropylamine, also known as STP), MDA
(methylenedioxyamphetamine), DMA
(dimethoxyamphetamine), MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or Ecstasy). All of these drugs are less
specific than mescaline and produce
strong amphetamine-like effects in addition to hallucinations. As a result, all are more toxic than mescaline and
appear much more rarely on the street
today. Ecstasy provides a unique profile of effects, discussed in the "Ecstasy" chapter.
'fhe spices nutmeg and mace
deserve a final note as we discuss the mescaline-like
hallucinogens. Someone who takes several teaspoons of nutmeg
(if he can figure out how to avoid the overwhelming taste) might experience a very mild hallucinogenic state that
includes perceptual distortions,
euphoria, and sometimes mild visual hallucinations and feelings of unreality. The active compounds in nutmeg and mace are myristicin and
elemicin, compounds with structures somewhat like mescaline. These compounds are very weak hallucinogens, and the dose required to evoke changes in perception causes a number of unpleasant side effects including
vomiting, nausea, and tremors. Furthermore, an aftereffect of sleepiness or a
feeling of unreality can persist into the next day.
