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Afterglow, when used in the context of recreational drug use, refers to positive physical and mental effects that linger after the main effects of a drug have subsided, or after the peak experience has subsided. This state is often characterized by feelings of detachment or increased psychological clarity. The term is most commonly associated with hallucinogens, particularly psychedelics and entactogens. Psychiatrist Walter Pahnke described afterglow as an “elevated and energetic mood with a relative freedom from concerns of the past and from guilt and anxiety.”
This phenomenon contrasts with hangovers, a condition that follows the use of various substances, including alcohol.
Common effects of afterglow are described by many drug users:
Most drugs do not typically cause afterglow, but some can.