An excessive intake of drugs, alcohol, or both can cause someone to enter a state of psychosis, known as a drug-induced psychosis.
Psychosis is a mental condition, accompanied by delusions and hallucinations. When a person is experiencing a period of psychosis, their thoughts and understanding of the world are skewed. It even affects a person’s ability to judge what is truly happening in reality and what is not. The individual experiences a complete psychological break from the world where they cannot register or comprehend. In some cases, they are likely to harm themselves or others.
Immediate medical assistance is suggested for the safety of the person with psychosis and everyone else involved. It also provides a chance of recovery from their drug-induced psychosis.
Are you looking for Drug-Induced Psychosis treatment? Call us to book an appointment with our counsellor or mental health professional.
Drug-Induced Psychosis Symptoms
Symptoms are visible depending on the individual’s mental state. Some of the drug-induced psychosis symptoms include:
- A noticeable drop in school or work performance.
- Difficulties concentrating or thinking clearly.
- Paranoid ideas, suspiciousness, or trust issues.
- Social withdrawal and isolation.
- Intensive or manic ideas/feelings or emotional withdrawal.
- Poor self-care and hygiene.
- Difficulties differentiating between reality and imaginary.
- Difficulties in speaking or communicating.
- Hallucination.
- Delirium
- Body tremor.
- Seizures.
- Sensitivity to light/sound/touch
- Agitation/excitement.
- Irritability/ Restlessness.
- Confusion/disorientation
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
What Causes a Drug-Induced Psychosis?
Drug-induced psychosis is caused by an over-intake of drugs, alcohol, or a combination of both. When too many are taken at one time or they are combined in the wrong way, an individual can fall into a state of psychosis.
According to, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders 7 to 25 percent of individuals are diagnosed with Drug-Induced Psychosis.
- Alcohol- Alcohol can cause delusions, mental confusion, disorganized speech, and disorientation. There can be episodes caused by both active drinking and withdrawal symptoms.
- Marijuana- Marijuana is a mild hallucinogen that causes extreme paranoia. Not all marijuana users experience this; some can comfortably intake marijuana with little to no problem.
- Amphetamines - Amphetamines such as methamphetamine, cocaine, or Adderall commonly can lead to paranoia, persecution delusions, and auditory and visual hallucinations.
- Hallucinogens- Hallucinogens do not cause long-term drug-induced psychosis. However, while having a “trip” perpetual anomaly, hallucination, and other substantial subjective changes in thoughts, emotions, and consciousness are evidenced.
Treatment for Drug-Induced Psychosis
It is always advised to take individuals with drug-induced psychosis symptoms to doctor or psychiatrist as soon as possible. There are 4 steps:
- Assessment: There the individuals undergo an assessment to determine the severity of their psychosis and accordingly, the doctor or psychiatrist will diagnose and treat the individual. Sometimes, it is difficult to determine the severity of the drug-induced psychosis symptoms when the person is still drunk or high. Since the drugs and alcohol are mind-altering, they impact the individual’s ability to see the world through a proper frame of mind.
- Detox: The first step in recovery will involve sobering the individual up. For each individual with Drug-induced psychosis, recovery is different, it totally depends on their mental state while sober. Accordingly, the doctor will determine if Detox is needed or not. In some cases, if there is high dependency seeking addiction or alcoholism treatment may be beneficial.
- Medications: Psychotic symptoms such as hallucination, delusions and disordered thinking can be reduced by antipsychotic medications.
- Psychotherapy: Therapies such as CBT help individuals in recovering. Individuals struggling with alcoholism and addiction learn to live sober with help from Inpatient rehab or an intensive outpatient program. The best possible idea is to remove them from the temptation of drugs and alcohol for their recovery.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to recovery and sobriety since every individual’s recovery differs just as every episode of drug-induced psychosis differs. To know more about drug-induced psychosis, do contact us at 97414 76476.
