To dissociate is to disconnect or separate from oneself. This is one of the hallmarks of dissociative mental health disorders. However, this effect can be achieved using dissociative drugs.
What are dissociative drugs?
Dissociative drugs, also known as dissociatives, are psychedelic anesthetics. Some dissociative drugs are used medically for powerful pain relief when a person is allergic to more commonly used anesthetics. However, most dissociative drugs are created illicitly for recreational use. Their powerful effects make people feel detached from oneself and one’s environment. As psychedelic drugs, they may cause hallucinations that distort the perception of reality.
Dissociatives are often taken orally, by smoking, inhaling, or snorting. The route of administration can affect how quickly the dissociative effects begin and how long they last. In addition to the dissociative effects that cause out-of-body experiences, users may experience a host of unpleasant side effects like motor impairment or memory loss.
Ketamine
Ketamine is a powerful human and animal anesthetic that can be used during surgery. When used illicitly, its psychedelic effects make people feel like they’re separated from their body, making them see and hear things that aren’t really there.
DXM
Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a medication that is used as a cough suppressant. It exists as a pill, syrup, spray, or lozenge. When taken in excessive amounts, it can create dissociative and psychedelic sensations like more powerful dissociatives such as ketamine or PCP. It’s particularly dangerous because it’s readily available in many over-the-counter medications.
PCP
Phencyclidine, or PCP, is a dissociative hallucinogen that can make people feel like they’re in a deep trance where they are removed from the world. PCP is injected, snorted, smoked, or ingested. This dissociative drug is often used to cut drugs like marijuana, creating a more dangerous and unpredictable effect.
Salvia divinorum
Salvia divinorum is a naturally occurring compound that comes from a plant that can be dried and smoked, chewed, or brewed as tea. It creates intense short-term psychoactive effects that include detachment from reality, vivid hallucinations, and delusions.
Nitrous oxide
Nitrous oxide is a dissociative anesthetic gas that can be used to sedate and alleviate pain. Though it’s most often used in medical settings, it can also be found in the household in aerosol cans. When used recreationally, it can cause a sense of dissociation, euphoria, and distorted perception.
Dissociative drugs are characterized by the feelings they produce that one is separated from their body or environment. Outside of this effect, dissociative drugs may have a variety of unwanted or unexpected psychological or physical effects. These include:
- Dizziness
- Numbness
- Confusion or stupor
- Sensory hallucinations
- Nausea and vomiting
- Amplified or altered perception of the senses
- Increased heart rate
- Increased respiratory rate
- Elevated blood pressure
- Fever
- Paranoia
- Panic
- Psychosis
- Memory loss
- Seizure
These short-term effects may vary according to the type of drug used, the amount of the drug used, the duration of continuous use, as well as the route of administration. Larger doses increase the likelihood of experiencing more of these effects as well as experiencing them with greater intensity.
In addition to these direct short-term effects, dissociative use can increase the likelihood of indirect harm from dangerous or life-threatening situations. Since dissociatives can severely alter perception, there is a greater risk of accidents, violence, or suicidal impulses while under the effect of the drug.
The use of dissociatives can severely impact physical and psychological health, particularly when they are used for prolonged periods. These long-term effects may last for months or years after last use, and in some cases, they may become permanent. They include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Suicidal ideation
- Speech problems
- Memory problems
- Excessive weight loss
- Vitamin deficiency
- Incontinence
- Anemia
- Tolerance
- Withdrawal
Signs and symptoms of dissociative addiction
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), addiction to dissociative drugs can be diagnosed according to the criteria for substance use disorder. Diagnosis requires a minimum of two of the following signs and symptoms:
- Continued dissociative use despite the impairment and distress it may cause
- Inability to control the dose or length of time dissociatives are used
- Continued dissociative use that affects one’s ability to fulfill professional or social obligations
- Failed attempts to stop using dissociative drugs
- Intense cravings for dissociative drugs
- Increased amount of time invested obtaining, using, or recovering from dissociative drug use
- Giving up hobbies and recreational activities because of dissociative drug use
- Needing higher doses to achieve the same effects, known as tolerance
- Withdrawal symptoms when dissociative drug use is discontinued
Increased irritability, social withdrawal, or hostility may be noticeable to outsiders as signs of dissociative drug addiction and abuse.
Dissociative drug overdose
Toxic overdose when using dissociative drugs is possible because of their powerful effects as sedatives. This risk increases considerably when dissociative drugs are combined with depressants like alcohol and benzodiazepines or other dissociatives. That’s because the effects of each individual substance becomes compounded and is significantly more potent, leading to the dangerous slowing of vital functions like breathing. Some signs of dissociative drug overdose include:
- Seizure
- Respiratory depression
- Loss of consciousness
- Stomach or intestinal spasms
- Coma
- Blue lips and fingernails
Getting help for dissociative drug use
The powerful effects on perception and pain-numbing properties of dissociative drugs make it a dangerous drug of potential abuse. If dissociative drug use has begun to interfere with one’s usual responsibilities or physical well-being, addiction may require professional treatment. Treatment available for dissociative drug abuse includes medical detox, inpatient treatment, and outpatient treatment.
Medical detox is typically the first step in addiction treatment as it helps individuals safely eliminate the drug from their system. This process is completed under close supervision by medical professionals who can monitor vital markers and alleviate symptoms of withdrawal. Following detox, individuals can begin therapeutic intervention for their problematic dissociative drug use.
Inpatient treatment involves full-time treatment that occurs while living full-time at a rehabilitation facility. By being in a safe and supportive environment and engaging in personalized therapy, people can focus on their recovery. Therapy can help uncover triggers and foster healthier coping skills and habits. Outpatient treatment also provides part or full-time treatment but allows individuals to live at home. This may follow inpatient treatment.
Dissociative drugs FAQs
What do dissociative drugs do in the brain?
Dissociative drugs work by disrupting the neurotransmitter glutamate, which is necessary for important cognitive functions like memory, learning, and cognition. It’s also linked to the perception of pain and emotion. This is why dissociative drugs can affect these functions or cause severe and sometimes unpredictable cognitive or emotional effects.
Can I become addicted to dissociative drugs?
Dissociative drugs can cause tolerance, which is one of the key elements of addiction. When the body becomes accustomed to the drug, a higher dose is required to achieve the same effect. This forms the basis of addiction.
Why are dissociates associated with near-death experiences?
Dissociative drugs may cause sensations similar to near-death experiences, when one feels like they leave their own body. These episodes can be terrifying and make people believe they’re dying. The phenomenon of profound dissociation is known among users of ketamine as a K-hole.
How are dissociative drugs different from other types of drugs?
Dissociative drugs are unique in their ability to disrupt the neurotransmitter glutamate, which plays a crucial role in cognitive functions and emotion. This sets them apart from other drugs that primarily target different neurotransmitters or receptors in the brain. Dissociatives have distinct effects on perception, memory, and consciousness, leading to experiences that can be both fascinating and potentially dangerous.
Dissociative Drug Abuse Recovery at Austin Pines Ranch
If you’re looking for a peaceful and private place to focus on your recovery from dissociative abuse or addiction, Austin Pines Ranch is waiting for you. Located on a sprawling 14-acre ranch in the Austin Metropolitan area, we provide empirically-supported addiction treatment services that are individualized for people from all walks of life.
If you or a loved one is suffering from dissociative abuse or addiction, contact our treatment center today at (877) 982-3600. Our knowledgeable team of medical doctors, nurses, addiction specialists, therapists, and case workers are committed to your care. Whether you live in Texas or you’re looking for a fresh start in a new environment, Austin Pines can be your safe haven and provide the tools you need to start a healthy life free from dissociative drug use.
