This paper considers the nature of the religious experience involved in hallucinogenic drug ingestion and the percentage of students using drugs for this purpose or using a vocabulary of mysticism as a subterfuge and rationalization for motivated activity. The operational characteristics of religious experience are described. Neo-mystics draw their language from the East, and consistent through it are the following: (1) loss of normal ego-functioning, (2) reduction of reality testing, (3) dropped learned patterns, and (4) lowered defense patterns. This mystical ego loss is similar to the psychotic condition and verbal reports of drug induced experiences. An experiment noting behavioral similarities between drug induced experineces and mystical consciousness is cited. Other studies suggest some people are predisposed to readiness for religious experience. Additional research is suggested to determine similarities and differences in the ego loss experience of mystics, psychotics and acidheads. Synthesization of mystical experience is raised as a moral question. (NG)