[Out_of_Characte]

>Maybe he really is damaged? Happy and sad states are required to be in some balance for a person to in a relative state of equilibrium.

No, your exact comment is why trippers are discouraged from talking about their life altering profound experiences because you seem to be judgemental of the fact that it is drug induced.

>But I do know drug users who can't enjoy anything any more.

This really gets me. Its such a stereotype. What effect precisely are you referring to? To my knowledge there is no substance that alters your brain that permanently. Except brain damage and extreme overdoses, which has little to do with their effect and everything to do with dose and responsible use. There's a difference between people who tend to use drugs and how drugs affect people.

strange chemicals are the few things that seem to reach people in the center of their being. exercise being the second on the list for those starved from it.

[trabant00]

Either tripping can be life altering or it can't alter your brain permanently. Both can't be true at the same time.

[Out_of_Characte]

Only if you believe that life altering moments must be rooted in a permanent change in your brain. Plenty of people have "life altering moments" without drugs. Its just interesting that a select few chemicals cause most people to believe they have had such a moment. It also seems to be backed up by actual significant behaviour change, which is rare in most social studies. This doesn't mean in any way that these changes are permanent. Nor does the effectiveness of the drug prove that it must be linked to some permanent change in the brain. Not in the same way malnutrition in children does. or b12 deficiency.

What exacly do you mean by "Alter your brain permanently"?