Hallucinogenic Drugs and Dual Recovery

1. Hallucinogenic Drugsand Dual Recovery How do hallucinogenic drugs like Marijuana, Ecstasy, and Acid affect mental health?

2. What comes to mind when you hear about “Hallucinogens?”

3. Hallucinogenic drugs… • Alter perception of reality • Cause hallucinations • Alter the senses (touch, taste, smell, sound, sight)

4. Hallucinogenic Substances (synthetic and organic) • Marijuana: THC(Cannabinoid) • “Ecstasy:” MDMA(Hallucinogen) • LSD: “Acid”(Hallucinogen) • Mescaline: of Peyote Cactus(Hallucinogen) • “Magic Mushrooms:” Psilocybin(Hallucinogen) • PCP: “Angel dust”(Phencyclidine)

5. 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

6. Effects of Marijuana Health • Bronchitis, emphysema, and lung cancer (more carcinogens that tobacco) • Immunosuppressant • Impotence and infertility

7. Effects of Marijuana Health • Increased heart rate and blood pressure • Impaired coordination and movement • Increased appetite • Weight gain; overeating and reduced physical activity

8. Effects of Marijuana Feelings • “High,” euphoria (during intoxication) • Anxiety; mild to Panic Attacks • Irritable or anxious mood (during withdrawal)

9. Effects of Marijuana Thinking • Hallucinations; auditory, visual, tactile • Difficulty concentrating • Paranoid ideation; suspiciousness to delusional beliefs

10. Effects of Marijuana Behavior • Poor grooming and routine • Decreased responsiveness to others • Disorganization • Social withdrawal, isolation • Apathy, lack of motivation

11. Influence of Marijuana on Depression • Depression • Social withdrawal •  Isolation •  Positive peer support

12. Influence of Marijuana on Bipolar Disorder • Mood swings • Irritability • Sleeplessness

13. Influence of Marijuana on Schizophrenia • Hallucinations • Delusions • Paranoia, suspiciousness • Apathy, amotivation • Isolation, social withdrawal

14. “Ecstasy” (MDMA) • 10% people ever used (1996 survey) • Intoxication: minutes to a few hours or days • Banned in 1985 • Derivative of anesthetic

15. 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

16. 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

17. “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

18. Effects of Hallucinogens Health • Elevated body temperature • Increased heart rate and blood pressure • Appetite loss • Memory loss • Headaches • Nausea • Sweating • Sleeplessness

19. 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

20. Effects of Hallucinogens Thinking • Alteration of thinking and self-awareness • Anxiety and panic (“bad trips”), flashbacks • Confusion • Suspicion

21. Effects of Hallucinogens Behavior • Lack of insight and judgment; jumping out of the window out of the belief that one could “fly” • Aggression and violence

22. Influence of Hallucinogens on Depression •  Anxiety •  Fatigue •  Isolation and social withdrawal •  Depression

23. Influence of Hallucinogens on Bipolar Disorder • Sleeplessness •  Routine, schedule • Mood swings • Restlessness

24. Influence of Hallucinogens on Schizophrenia • Hallucinations • Paranoia • Delusions • Isolation and social withdrawal

25. Dual Recovery from Hallucinogenic Drugs

26. Dual Recovery Implications(from Stress-Vulnerability Model*) • 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

27. Take psychiatric medications as prescribed • 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

28. 2. Avoid substance use • Triggers relapse of mental health symptoms • Decreases beneficial effects of medications • Requires higher doses of psychiatric medications

29. 3. Increase coping skills “strategies used to minimize effects of stress” • Relaxation • Positive self-talk • Problem-solving • Exercising • Artistic expression • Talking out feelings with supports

30. 4. Increase social support “the help and caring people feel they can count on from other people” • Family members • Friends • Treatment team members • Recovery supports (groups, meetings) • Clergy member

31. 5. Engage in meaningful activities “tasks that provide a strong sense of purpose and gratification to a person” • 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

32. Thank you for coming!