Methamphetamine Can Cause Permanent Psychosis

Severe drug trips can lead to scary situations. People have been known to suffer from hallucinations and feel intense emotions. At times it almost seems like they are losing their minds literally and figuratively. The intensity of these "bad trips" varies from person to person. Different drugs also produce different effects. Methamphetamine or meth can cause particularly horrible bouts of psychosis.

Real-world Examples of Paranoia from Meth Use

Experts say that the net effect of meth on people is the same as that of an actual mental illness. Those who have used with the drug and recovered admit to having paranoid delusions. Conspiracy theories and fear of the police were just some of the things that wore them down. They lived in constant fear that they were being followed. Inanimate objects started to move in their head. Their health deteriorated to the point that they became grossly underweight and thoroughly unsociable. 

Meth as the Root Cause of Psychosis

Some drugs like marijuana and ecstasy can trigger psychotic symptoms but only with the aid of some other mechanism. This may be sleep deprivation or an underlying anxiety disorder. With meth, there is no doubt that the drug is the main cause of the psychosis. The symptoms appear regardless of the conditions surrounding a person. It is that potent and its effects are plainly bizarre. The paranoia makes users think that other people are always after them. Strange behaviors manifest from these fears.

Persistent Effects

What's even more alarming is that these bad drug trips can have lasting effects. The brain chemistry gets changed over time. Long-time users may succumb to permanent psychosis. Even those who do recover may suffer from depression. Meth is a stimulant that triggers an initial addictive high but it depletes dopamine in the process. This is the hormone that controls the brain's perception of pleasure and reward. Once the euphoria dies down, a feeling of deep sadness takes over that is difficult to shake off. It's vital for users to get immediate treatment to prevent this. 

If You Or A Loved One Is Suffering From Drug Or Alcohol Addiction Or Abuse, There Are Always Options For Help:

What Is Ketamine and How Is It Abused?

Ketamine is a drug that's only legal if prescribed by a doctor. It's main use is to treat pain and it's often used when someone has an allergy to other types of anesthetics. Many people have taken to abusing ketamine due to its hallucinogenic properties.

On the street ketamine goes by many names including: Special K, and Vitamin K. It's popular like many other prescription drugs, because it's easier to get a hold of than other illegal recreational drugs. Like many other drugs and alcohol, an abuser will often need a higher and higher dosage to reach the same level of euphoria they initially had.

Although ketamine is a useful drug when used under the care of a doctor, it's used recreationally for the bizarre dreams and hallucinations it's known to cause. There are many side effects from ketamine and abusers can wind up in the hospital.

Although ketamine overdoes rarely cause death, there is no treatment other than to come down from the high under medical supervision. However, like many other prescription pain medications it can make the user dependent. This is where the abuse part comes in, as an abuser will try to find the drug through channels other than their doctor.

Abuse of ketamine is not as difficult to treat as other addictions. An abuser would likely need to enter a rehabilitation center to overcome their addiction under medical supervision. As long as there are no underlying mental health issues for the abuse, recovery time is usually quick.

Without proper medical supervision, ketamine can cause harm to the abuser as well as those around them due to the drug's hallucinogenic properties. It's not as dangerous as some other drugs, but an addiction problem should be addressed right away. With proper rehabilitation most abusers are able to overcome their addiction.