Hallucinogen Use Disorder

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KEY POINTS

• Hallucinogen use disorder is a pattern of using hallucinogens that leads to serious personal, family, and health problems. Examples of hallucinogens are LSD, PCP, and peyote.
• Hallucinogen use disorder can be treated. For any treatment to be successful, you must want to stop using hallucinogens. Your healthcare provider may prescribe a medicine that will help you get through withdrawal symptoms. Self-help groups such as Narcotics Anonymous, support groups, and therapy may be helpful.
• The best way to help yourself is to see your healthcare provider and make plans to stop using hallucinogens.

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What is hallucinogen use disorder?

Hallucinogens are drugs that cause you to see, hear, and feel things that are not real. Some of these drugs cause intense mood swings that can lead to violence or suicide.

There are many plant and man-made hallucinogens. Some of the more common hallucinogens include:

• LSD, which is made from a chemical found in a fungus found on rye and other grains
• Peyote, which is from a cactus found in northern Mexico and southwest United States. The main ingredient is mescaline, which can also be man-made.
• Psilocybin, which is found in certain types of mushrooms from South America, Mexico and the United States
• PCP, which is a man made drug
• Ketamine, which is used for anesthesia for humans and animals

These drugs can be very dangerous. Harmful chemicals may be in these drugs. Different batches of drugs are not always the same. There is no way to know how the drug will affect you.

Hallucinogen use disorder is a pattern of using drugs that leads to serious personal, family, and health problems. The more of these statements that apply to you, the more severe your hallucinogen use disorder is.

1. You use more or use the hallucinogen for longer than you planned.
2. You want to cut down or quit, but are not able to do so.
3. You spend a lot of time and energy getting drugs, using drugs, and getting over the effects.
4. You crave hallucinogens so much that you have trouble thinking about anything else.
5. You have problems at work or school, or stop taking care of people who depend on you.
6. You have relationship problems because you don’t keep your promises, or you argue or get violent with other people.
7. You stop doing things that used to matter to you, such as sports, hobbies, or spending time with friends or family, because of your hallucinogen use.
8. You use hallucinogens even when it is dangerous, such as while driving or operating machinery.
9. You keep using hallucinogens even though you know that it is hurting your physical or mental health.
10. You need to use more and more of the drug, or use it more often to get the same effects. This is called tolerance.
11. You have withdrawal symptoms when you stop using.

Hallucinogen use disorder may also be called drug abuse, substance abuse, dependence, or addiction.

What is the cause?

The brain makes chemicals that affect thoughts, emotions, and actions. Hallucinogens change the balance of these chemicals in your brain. When you use hallucinogens, your brain starts to get used to them. Some of these changes may last even after you have stopped using hallucinogens.

You have a higher risk of becoming dependent on drugs if you:

• Have a family history of drug or alcohol abuse
• Have abused alcohol or drugs in the past
• Are easily frustrated, have trouble dealing with stress, or feel like you aren’t good enough
• Are regularly around people who use alcohol or drugs
• Have a mental health problem
• Have constant pain

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of hallucinogen use disorder depend on how much and how often you use the drugs. The symptoms can be mild to severe, such as:

• Having nausea, or loss of appetite
• Having a fast or pounding heartbeat, heavy sweating, dry mouth, or shaking
• Having poor balance or poor coordination
• Thinking that others are out to get you when they are not
• Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not real
• Having panic attacks
• Having sudden mood changes, such as laughing for no reason, getting angry or irritable, becoming violent or suicidal

If you use hallucinogens, you can have flashbacks, which is feeling the effects of the drug even though you have not taken any of the drugs recently. Flashbacks can happen days, weeks, or even years after you stop taking the drug.

If you are a heavy user, you may have signs of brain damage, such as memory loss, short attention span, and trouble thinking. It can also lead to serious depression or suicide.

A very serious problem with hallucinogens is that they change your sense of reality. For example, you may believe you can fly or drive 1000 miles an hour. Thousands of people end up in emergency rooms with injuries caused by the unreal feelings they have while taking drugs.

An overdose of hallucinogens can be life threatening.

How is it diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will ask how much and how often you use hallucinogens. Be honest about your drug use. Your provider needs this information to give you the right treatment. He will also ask about your symptoms and medical history and examine you. You may have blood or urine tests.

How is it treated?

Hallucinogen use disorder can be treated. For any treatment to be successful, you must want to stop using hallucinogens. Do not try to use alcohol and other drugs to reduce withdrawal symptoms. Your healthcare provider may prescribe medicine to help you get through withdrawal.

If you want to quit, get help.

Self-help groups such as Narcotics Anonymous, support groups, and therapy may be helpful. Kinds of therapy may include:

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT helps you look at your thoughts, beliefs, and actions, and understand which ones cause problems for you. Then you learn to change unhealthy ways of thinking and acting.
• Family therapy. Often people with substance use disorders don’t realize they have a problem or aren’t ready to accept treatment. This leaves loved ones frustrated and confused. Family therapy treats all members of the family rather than working with one person alone. It helps the whole family understand each other better and make changes.
• Substance use disorder treatment programs. Your healthcare providers and counselors will work with you to develop a treatment program. You may be able to go to therapy a few times a week (outpatient therapy). Or you may need treatment in a hospital or rehab center. You may need to stay there for several weeks, or you may be able to go to a clinic or hospital each day.

Recovery is a long-term process. Many people with substance use disorders try to quit more than once before they finally succeed. Don't give up. You can quit and quit for good. Get help and try again. Follow-up treatment is very important so that you don’t go back to using drugs.

If you have overdosed, or are having severe withdrawal symptoms you will need to be treated in a hospital. You will also be treated for any health problems such as a heart attack, stroke, or other life-threatening problems.

How can I take care of myself?

The best way to help yourself is to see your healthcare provider and make plans to stop taking drugs. If you are already seeing a healthcare provider, it is important to take the full course of treatment he or she prescribes.

Get support. Talk with family and friends. Consider joining a support group in your area.

Learn to manage stress. Ask for help at home and work when the load is too great to handle. Find ways to relax. For example take up a hobby, listen to music, watch movies, or take walks. Try yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises when you feel stressed.

Take care of your physical health. Try to get at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Eat a healthy diet. Limit caffeine. If you smoke, quit. Don’t use alcohol or drugs. Exercise according to your healthcare provider's instructions.

Avoid situations where people are likely to use alcohol or drugs.

Check your medicines. To help prevent problems, tell your healthcare provider and pharmacist about all the medicines, natural remedies, vitamins, and other supplements that you take.

Contact your healthcare provider or therapist if you have any questions or your symptoms seem to be getting worse.

People and resources in your community that can help you include your healthcare providers, therapists, support groups, mental health centers, and alcohol or substance abuse treatment programs. You may want to contact:

• Narcotics Anonymous
  818-773-9999
  http://www.na.org
• The Addiction Recovery Guide
  http://www.addictionrecoveryguide.org/resources/recovery/