Clin Ter. 1996 Nov; 147(11): 537-42.

[The ethnopharmacology of hallucinogens: from "primitive rites" to their "presence" on TV. Proposals for the year 2000]

Cugurra F.

Dipartimento di Oncologia, Laboratorio Ricerche Farmaco-tossicologiche Vecchi e C.-PIAM, UniversitÃ degli Studi di Genova.

Hallucinogens are the chemicals which in nontoxic doses produce changes in perception, mental confusion, memory loss, or disorientation for person, place and time, with organic brain reactions. Mescaline and LSD are historically the most interesting hallucinogens. Today the cannabis is very important, socially. Traditional hallucinogens survive everywhere in the world. A dramatic increase in use of cartoons in drug education and prevention programs prove great damages: in comics and films often have stimulated the appetite for drug experimentation (seduction of innocent, R. K. Siegel). Cartoons and comics are instruments for correcting perceptions and behaviour of youth and youthful drug abusers. As the hallucinogens.