Substances
The term psychedelic was coined in 1956 by the psychiatrist Humphry Osmond to describe the effects of drugs like LSD and mescaline. Osmond chose the Greek psykhē for “mind” and dēloun for “show,” translating this new term as “mind manifesting.” Another term for this class of substances, entheogen, was coined in 1979 and connotes spiritual intention or effects. The older term hallucinogen is still found in some laws and scientific literature.
There are hundreds of psychedelic compounds, and cataloging them is an ever-evolving process. Some of them occur naturally; others are created in the lab. The late chemist Alexander “Sasha” Shulgin estimated he created nearly two hundred new psychedelics, including 2C-B and 2C-T-7, which are phenethylamines, in the same category of chemical structures as mescaline and MDMA.
This guide is divided into classic and non-classic psychedelics. It is far from comprehensive. For now, it focuses on the compounds that have been the subject of significant research in recent decades, though BCSP may add compounds to this list as scientific and academic research continue.