Transcript Recommending a Strategy

Hallucinogenic Drugs
and Dual Recovery
How do hallucinogenic drugs like
Marijuana, Ecstasy, and Acid affect
mental health?
What comes to
mind when you
hear about
“Hallucinogens?”
Hallucinogenic drugs…
Alter perception of reality
 Cause hallucinations
 Alter the senses (touch, taste, smell,

sound, sight)
Hallucinogenic Substances
(synthetic and organic)
Marijuana: THC (Cannabinoid)
 “Ecstasy:” MDMA (Hallucinogen)
 LSD: “Acid” (Hallucinogen)
 Mescaline: of Peyote Cactus (Hallucinogen)
 “Magic Mushrooms:” Psilocybin
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(Hallucinogen)

PCP: “Angel dust” (Phencyclidine)
Marijuana (Cannabis)
Obtained from hemp
plant, active ingredient is
THC
Most widely used illicit
psychoactive drug in US
 32% people ever used

(1996 survey)
Intoxication: minutes to
3-4hrs

Effects of Marijuana
Health
 Bronchitis, emphysema,
and lung cancer (more
carcinogens that
tobacco)
 Immunosuppressant
 Impotence and infertility
Effects of Marijuana
Health
 Increased heart rate and blood pressure
 Impaired coordination and movement
 Increased appetite
 Weight gain; overeating and reduced
physical activity
Effects of Marijuana
Feelings
 “High,” euphoria (during
intoxication)
 Anxiety; mild to Panic Attacks
 Irritable or anxious mood
(during withdrawal)
Effects of Marijuana
Thinking
 Hallucinations; auditory, visual, tactile
 Difficulty concentrating
 Paranoid ideation; suspiciousness to
delusional beliefs
Effects of Marijuana
Behavior
 Poor grooming and routine
 Decreased responsiveness
to others
 Disorganization
 Social withdrawal, isolation
 Apathy, lack of motivation
Influence of Marijuana on
Depression
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 Depression
 Social withdrawal
 Isolation
 Positive peer support
Influence of Marijuana on
Bipolar Disorder
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 Mood swings
 Irritability
 Sleeplessness
Influence of Marijuana on
Schizophrenia
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Hallucinations
Delusions
Paranoia, suspiciousness
Apathy, amotivation
Isolation, social withdrawal
“Ecstasy” (MDMA)
 10%
survey)
people ever used
(1996
Intoxication: minutes to a
few hours or days
 Banned in 1985
 Derivative of anesthetic

LSD (“Acid”)
Most powerful
hallucinogen
Soaked into paper, tablet,
crystalline, or tablet
 10% people ever used

(1996 survey)
Intoxication: minutes to a
few hours or days

Mescaline (from Peyote Cactus)
Derived from plants or
other sources in nature
Smoked or eaten
10% people ever used

(1996 survey)
Intoxication: minutes
to a few hours or days

“Magic Mushrooms” (Psilocybin)
Derived from plants or
other sources in nature
10% people ever used

(1996 survey)
Intoxication: minutes
to a few hours or days

Effects of Hallucinogens
Health
 Elevated body temperature
 Increased heart rate and blood pressure
 Appetite loss
 Memory loss
 Headaches
 Nausea
 Sweating
 Sleeplessness
Effects of Hallucinogens
Feelings
 Amplification of senses (smell, touch, taste,
sound, sight)
 Merging of senses
 Anxiety, panic (“bad trips”), flashbacks cause
intense fear over loss of control
Effects of Hallucinogens
Thinking
 Alteration of thinking and
self-awareness
 Anxiety and panic (“bad
trips”), flashbacks
 Confusion
 Suspicion
Effects of Hallucinogens
Behavior
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Lack of insight and judgment; jumping out of
the window out of the belief that one could “fly”
Aggression and violence
Influence of Hallucinogens on
Depression
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 Anxiety
 Fatigue
 Isolation and social
withdrawal
 Depression
Influence of Hallucinogens on
Bipolar Disorder
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 Sleeplessness
 Routine, schedule
 Mood swings
 Restlessness
Influence of Hallucinogens on
Schizophrenia
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 Hallucinations
 Paranoia
 Delusions
 Isolation and social
withdrawal
Dual Recovery from
Hallucinogenic Drugs
Dual Recovery Implications
(from Stress-Vulnerability Model*)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Take psychiatric meds as prescribed
Avoid substance use
Increase coping skills
Increase social support
Engage in meaningful activities
* Mueser, K. et al (2003). Integrated Treatment for Dual Disorders: A guide to
effective practice. The Guilford Press: New York
1. Take psychiatric medications
as prescribed
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Effective at decreasing severity
of symptoms
Effective at preventing symptom relapse
Avoid self-medicating with substances
Communicate concerns with medications
and side effects with treatment team
2. Avoid substance use
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Triggers relapse of mental health
symptoms
Decreases beneficial effects of
medications
Requires higher doses of psychiatric
medications
3. Increase coping skills
“strategies used to minimize effects of stress”
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Relaxation
Positive self-talk
Problem-solving
Exercising
Artistic expression
Talking out feelings with supports
4. Increase social support
“the help and caring people feel they can count on
from other people”
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Family members
Friends
Treatment team members
Recovery supports (groups, meetings)
Clergy member
5. Engage in meaningful activities
“tasks that provide a strong sense of purpose and
gratification to a person”
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Helps structure time
Provides something to look forward to
Examples include; work, going to school,
doing volunteer work, being a regular
participant at a support group
Thank you for coming!