Hallucinogen

While widely used in clinical and legal contexts, some researchers and communities prefer more specific terms like "psychedelic" (for serotonergic compounds), "dissociative" (for NMDA-acting compounds), or "entheogen" (for ceremonial use). The term "hallucinogen" implies that hallucinations are the primary effect, which is often not the case. Many psychedelic experiences involve perceptual shifts, emotional opening, and altered cognition rather than true hallucinations (perceiving things that are not there).