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Drug-induced psychosis is feeling disconnected from the world around you where you see and hear things that inevitably are not real.
The delusions or hallucinations that occur can be caused by a variety of substances, including medicines. Amphetamine substances, marijuana, and other hallucinogens are notorious for inducing psychotic symptoms.
For instance, drug-induced psychosis has been reported by 8 to 46 percent of amphetamine users, according to ScienceDirect.
Methamphetamine users can frequently experience psychosis in the form of feeling like bugs are crawling all over their skin, or the drug is coming out of their bodies, reports MDedge Family Medicine.
Marijuana, the most widely used illicit substance in the U.S., is often cited for its ability to induce symptoms of psychosis. Common symptoms from marijuana or cannabis-induced psychosis (CIP) are depression, anxiety, and hypomania.
Either way, drug-induced psychosis requires the specialized intervention of a professional treatment program that addresses the substance use and a mental health disorder.
Without treatment, this condition can levy undue distress and chaos in your life, harming relationships, employment prospects, and overall well-being.
There is no known cause for what exactly causes drug-induced psychosis. The clinical term for this condition is substance/medication-induced psychotic disorder, which is caused by the use of or withdrawal from drugs like hallucinogens, according to WebMD.
Common symptoms of substance/medication-induced psychotic disorder can include:
Other dangers tied to drug-induced psychosis include suicidal ideation (thinking about or planning suicide), violent, or aggressive behavior.
A wide variety of substances and medications can trigger substance/medication-induced psychotic disorder. According to the Merck Manual, commonly abused substances that can spark this condition include:
The Merck Manual also says that the symptoms of psychosis tend to be brief and subside once a drug is cleared from the system. However, the psychosis that is set off by cocaine, amphetamines, or phencyclidine (PCP) can last for weeks.
Verywell Mindstates that the following medicines have been linked to this condition:
Certain over-the-counter (OTC) medicines have been linked to this condition as well, like pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine products.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5), which is considered the principal authority for psychiatric diagnoses, lists certain criteria that can indicate substance/medication-induced psychotic disorder.
According to the DSM-5, the criteria to determine whether someone has this condition are as follows:
A patient must meet all of the above criteria before an official diagnosis for substance/medication-induced psychotic disorder is made.
For people with drug-induced psychosis, it is recommended that they enter into dual diagnosis treatment.
Dual diagnosis is a specialized treatment plan that addresses substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders, including those derived from psychosis.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), there is a significant correlation between substance use disorders and mental health conditions.
Along with psychotic symptoms, common mental health conditions that accompany substance abuse include:
Thus, a reputable dual diagnosis treatment program will provide clients with detoxification, substance abuse treatment, behavioral therapy, housing resources, medications for mental health disorders, and support group connections.
Frieden, J. (2019, January 18). Skin Manifestations May Signal Crystal Meth Use: Think 'meth mites' when patients are picking at their skin and think they have insects crawling on them. from https://www.mdedge.com/familymedicine/article/26173/dermatology/skin-manifestations-may-signal-crystal-meth-use-think-meth
Hartney, E. (2019, June 06). What You Need to Know About Substance-Induced Psychotic Disorder. from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-substance-medication-induced-psychotic-disorder-21938
Merck Manual. (n.d.). Substance/Medication–Induced Psychotic Disorder – Psychiatric Disorders. from https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/psychiatric-disorders/schizophrenia-and-related-disorders/substance-medication–induced-psychotic-disorder
National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.). NAMI. from https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Related-Conditions/Dual-Diagnosis
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (n.d.). Part 1: The Connection Between Substance Use Disorders and Mental Illness. from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/common-comorbidities-substance-use-disorders/part-1-connection-between-substance-use-disorders-mental-illness
ScienceDirect. (n.d.). Drug Induced Psychosis. from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/drug-induced-psychosis
WebMD. (n.d.). What are the symptoms of substance-induced psychotic disorder? from https://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/qa/what-are-the-symptoms-of-substanceinduced-psychotic-disorder