Peyote (Lophophora williamsii or Lophophora diffusa) is a small, spineless cactus that is found in the southwest United States, northern Mexico and Peru. The plant has been used for about six thousand years by native tribes for religious and healing purposes. Peyote’s principal active ingredient is mescaline, a psychedelic compound that can also be man-made through chemical synthesis.1

The peyote buttons, protrusions found on the tops of the cactus plants, are usually dried and then chewed or soaked to be made into a liquid such as tea for consumption. They can also be ground into a powder and used in capsules or smoked with tobacco or cannabis.2

As a Schedule I substance, peyote is considered an illegal and addictive drug in the United States. However, the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA) Amendments of 1994 gives Native Americans the legal right to use peyote for their religious services.3 This exemption has been an ongoing and contentious issue for many years, although case law has determined that even members of the Native American Church who do not have Native American ancestry can legally use peyote in this context.

Also Known As: Peyote is also known as buttons, cactus, mesc, peyoto, blue cap, broken, bad seed, britton, hikori, hikuli, half moon, hyatari, P, nubs, seni, and tops

Drug Class: Peyote is classified as a hallucinogen.

Common Side Effects: Peyote is known to cause nausea and vomiting, increased body temperature, hallucinations, altered perceptions of space and time, impaired motor coordination, euphoria, and anxiety.2

Peyote is a hallucinogen, meaning it can cause profound distortions in a person’s perceptions of reality (known as hallucinations), including seeing, hearing, and feeling things that seem real but are not. Hallucinogens are thought to affect neural circuits in the brain involving the neurotransmitter serotonin, which plays a role in mood, sensory perception, sleep, hunger, body temperature, sexual behavior, and muscle control.4

The effects of peyote, which can range from a deeply mystical transcendental state to a “bad trip” and dysphoric symptoms, depending on the potency and amount ingested, as well as the user’s expectations, mood, surroundings, and mental health history. Many describe the high as dream-like.5

The effects are often intensified when the drug is combined with substances like alcohol or stimulants, which can be potentially harmful to a person’s mental health.6

The hallucinogenic effects typically peak around two hours after ingestion, and gradually decline over the next eight to 12 hours.7

Some users compare these peaks to LSD trips in that they profoundly alter perceptions of self and reality and can intensify emotions. The effects are also similar to other hallucinogens like psilocybin (the hallucinogen in magic mushrooms) and PCP.7

According to a 2014 study on the prevalence of peyote use in Native Americans, there was a fairly large surge in the number of Native Americans who used peyote for roughly four years after the AIRFA passed.8 Researchers believe the increase in use was likely due to more people admitting to using peyote once it was legal. Since that time, the number leveled to just under 10%.

Though peyote can certainly cause negative effects such as those mentioned above, the research that has been done indicates that ingesting peyote doesn’t appear to be life-threatening and most adverse effects go away in time.9

The mescaline in peyote, however, is known to be potentially harmful to developing fetuses, so if you’re pregnant or think you’re pregnant, you should not use peyote.10

Peyote has been used by Native Americans for thousands of years in religious ceremonies and for the treatment of various physical ailments.

The use of peyote is illegal in the United States and classified as a Schedule 1 controlled drug, although there remains an exception for members of the Native American Church who, when assisted by a a healer or “roadman” (similar to a priest or minister) use the drug to facilitate communication with the Great Spirit, also called the Creator.

Peyote and other hallucinogens have also been studied as a possible treatment for a variety of mental health conditions including schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, and dementia, which are all associated with perceptual distortions.11

The amount of mescaline needed to produce hallucinations is very small—usually 0.3 to 0.5 grams. The effects can last up to 12 hours, but this depends on your size, metabolism, and how much you ingest.

The physical effects of peyote tend to be similar to those of LSD and include:12

• Increased body temperature
• Increased heart rate
• Uncoordinated movements
• Weakness
• Profound sweating
• Severe nausea and vomiting
• Increased blood pressure
• Numbness
• Appetite loss
• Flushing
• Difficulty sleeping

Mental effects that can occur include:2

• Hallucinations
• Anxiety
• Euphoria
• Altered sense of time (i.e., it passes slowly or quickly)
• Altered awareness
• Inability to focus or concentrate
• Panic
• Paranoia
• A sense of relaxation
• Altered feelings and perceptions

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there isn’t much known about the long-term effects of the majority of hallucinogens, including peyote.13 However, it is known that repeated or long-term use of hallucinogens can cause the following effects:

• Prolonged psychosis: Though this condition is rare, symptoms include visual disturbances and scattered thinking, as well as periods of paranoia or mood disturbances.14
• Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD): Rarely—about 4% of people who use hallucinogens—will use of peyote and other hallucinogens such as LSD contribute to the development of HPPD, which is when you develop flashbacks of hallucinations and visual disturbances that don’t go away and may even begin to interfere with your daily tasks of living.15 These symptoms can be mistaken for neurological disorders such as a stroke or a brain tumor.

According to the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, if a loved one is using peyote, there will be some telltale signs, including:16

• Flushed skin
• Loss of appetite
• Dry mouth
• Sleep problems
• Uncoordinated movements
• Excessive sweating
• Panic
• Paranoia
• Sensory confusion (such as “seeing” sounds or “hearing” colors)
• Disordered thinking or detachment from reality

Peyote is often considered a relatively safe drug due to its presence in nature and long history of use in religious ceremonies, but peyote use is not without its negative effects.

There is also often confusion about peyote’s legal status under the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, which ensured that native people can exercise their traditional religious ceremonies, including those that incorporate peyote use. While legitimate religious use is permitted under the law, the recreational use of peyote is illegal in the United States. It is legal to grow peyote in Texas, however, so long as licensed peyote distributors are registered with the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.17

Like other psychedelics, peyote is not necessarily addictive when used sparingly, and in some cases, can be used to treat addiction and substance abuse. However, peyote users are more susceptible to building a high tolerance, requiring the use of more and more peyote to achieve the same effects. Peyote tolerance can build quickly with regular use and in as few as three to six days.2

Peyote can be detected in the human body for as few as two days and for up to three months. The length of time that peyote stays in your system depends on individual factors, such as your metabolism, body mass, age, hydration level, physical activity, and health conditions.

Due to all of these factors, there isn’t a definite period of time that peyote can remain in your body. However, there is an estimated range of times during which peyote can be found with certain tests, including:18

• Urine: 2 to 3 days
• Blood: Up to 24 hours
• Saliva: 1 to 10 days
• Hair follicle: Up to 90 days

Screening for peyote use isn’t included in routine drug tests, so mescaline must be tested for specifically.

Peyote does not appear to be addictive, but further research is needed to determine if addiction is possible.

Some general signs of addiction you may want to watch out for:

• Spending a lot of time getting, using, or recovering from the trip
• Using peyote, despite any consequences or negative effects
• Taking higher doses than necessary for a greater high
• Tolerance, or needing more of the drug to get the effects experienced the first time

While more research is needed to determine the specific withdrawal symptoms linked to peyote, the drug has been known to cause psychological symptoms of withdrawal, such as depression or dysphoria.19

If you or someone you love is showing signs of peyote misuse, or any other type of illicit substance, it’s important to know that help is available. While there’s no specific treatment for peyote addiction, there are evidence-based addiction treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), support groups, life skills training, and relapse prevention that may be a good fit.