As we know, drugs affect our bodies in different ways and lead to various alterations in our physical and mental health.

When there is an abuse of some substance, we can suffer from intoxication and the “famous” withdrawal syndrome, but there are also some disorders that are directly related to the habitual use of drugs . This article focuses on the latter: substance-induced disorders.

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The Complexity of Drug Effects

The abuse of any drug affects our daily activity and performance. It modifies our behavior, our perception, our sociability, causes impairments and physiological, social, affective, and occupational changes, and affects most of the important aspects of a person’s life.

However, neither the immediate harmful effects of the drugs nor the after-effects that may remain after their consumption are always expressed in the same way. However: the trace that the drug leaves in our organism has to do with intoxication as well as with abstinence .

Intoxication and Abstinence

When we speak of substance-induced disorders we refer to the effects produced by both intoxication and withdrawal.

  • Poisoning is the direct effect of recent ingestion of the substance . It produces psychological changes or maladaptive behaviour due to the effect of the substance on the central nervous system.
  • By abstinence we understand the specific syndrome of the substance due to its reduction or cessation in prolonged or large quantities of consumption.

Both intoxication and withdrawal cause clinically significant discomfort in the individual, as well as a deterioration in the activity of important areas of their life (social, work, etc.).

Types of substance-induced disorders

Below are some drug and substance-induced disorders and their characteristics.

1. Delirium

Delirium can occur both from intoxication and from withdrawal from the substance.

It causes an alteration of consciousness and perception , as well as changes in cognitive functions (memory, orientation, language, etc.). These affectations usually occur in a short period of time (hours or days).

Classically, delirium is produced by the use of alcohol, hallucinogens, amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, inhalants, opiates, sedatives, hypnotics or anxiolytics.

2. Dementia

When we speak of substance-induced dementia , it manifests itself through a clear cognitive impairment , that is, the person’s memory, language, motor activity, the execution of various tasks, etc. are affected. Will show difficulties in learning new information or in remembering what has been learned, will have failures in the recognition of objects or when planning or organizing…

All these deficits represent a significant reduction in the level of activity of the person before the disorder, which will affect their daily life, in the different areas. (social, work…).

The substances that produce it are alcohol, inhalants, sedatives, hypotonics and anxiolytics.

3. Psychotic disorders

Psychotic disorders can be initiated during intoxication or during withdrawal. When this disorder is expressed, the person will suffer hallucinations or delusional ideas, a catatonic pattern of behavior will appear, and disorganized use of language will occur. These conditions may lead to social and occupational impairment. Symptoms appear during or within one month of the intoxication or withdrawal.

The substances that induce the appearance of this disorder are alcohol, hallucinogens, amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, inhalants, opiates, sedatives, hypnotics and anxiolytics.

4. Mood disorders

If we refer to mood disorders as well they are evident during intoxication or during abstinence .

Depressive and/or manic symptoms (elevated mood, euphoria or irritability) may occur during its expression. The symptoms cause significant clinical discomfort and considerable impairment in important areas of the person’s activity.

Substances associated with mood disorders are alcohol, hallucinogens, amphetamines, cocaine, inhalants, opiates, sedatives, hypnotics and anxiolytics.

5. Anxiety disorders

Finally, anxiety disorders can occur equally in both phases: intoxication or withdrawal.

This group of disorders will be differentiated according to whether anxiety, distress, obsessions and compulsions, or phobias predominate. The symptoms will be those characteristic of the particular disorder (palpitations, tremors, fear, excessive worry, recurrent thoughts, irritability, etc.).

They are produced by the consumption of alcohol, hallucinogens, amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, inhalants, opiates, sedatives, hypnotics or anxiolytics.

Tinting

It should be noted that it is to some extent impossible the degree to which a disorder is more or less produced by previous consumption of substances that affect our nervous system. Both the habits linked to drug consumption (or the amount of a single consumption) and the genetic predispositions and autobiographical history of each one, which leaves traces in our brain, come into play.

However, one thing is certain: the best way to avoid these disorders is simply to stay away from drugs .