The exact definition of hallucinogens is still under debate, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Some researchers classify all psychedelic and dissociative drugs as hallucinogens, while others think only some fall under this label. But by slightly modifying the 5-MeO-DMT toad toxin compound, the researchers created another compound, called 4-F,5-MeO-PyrT. This new molecule interacts primarily with similar yet lesser-studied serotonin receptors called 5-HT1A, a pathway that appears to offer the same antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects without inducing hallucinogenic trips. Most well-known psychedelic molecules (such as LSD) bind to serotonin receptors in the brain called 5-HT2A, which leads to the hallucinations typical of psychedelic experiences. When threatened or startled, the Colorado River toad (also called the Sonoran desert toad) exudes 5-MeO-DMT, a hallucinogenic compound that discourages predators, from…
