12 results for "prescription misuse"
Associations between substance use treatment and ketamine use: A hypothesis-generating analysis.
Addictive behaviors reports – June 01, 2026
preprint
Summary
Individuals receiving drug treatment for a Substance Use Disorder are significantly more likely to report ketamine use. Among 173,808 participants, 1.39% of those in treatment used ketamine, compared to just 0.22% not in treatment. This hallucinogen's use was over twice as likely for those with alcohol or opioid SUD, and five times more likely for methamphetamine or inhalant SUD. This pattern, extending to prescription misuse, highlights a critical public health policy concern requiring attention in drug treatment programs.
Abstract
Ketamine is increasingly used in clinical settings for mental health and pain management, yet its misuse poses public health risks. While prior stu...
Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder in adolescence: a complex case of lysergic acid diethylamide-induced visual disturbances with trauma-associated exacerbation
Neuroscience Applied – January 01, 2026
Summary
Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD) affects 1-5% of psychedelic users, with a higher prevalence among frequent LSD and synthetic cannabinoid users. Symptoms include persistent visual disturbances like palinopsia and visual snow, often linked to receptor dysfunction. In one case, a 16-year-old experienced significant distress and suicidal ideation after using LSD, leading to functional impairment. Treatment with Levetiracetam yielded initial improvement, but symptoms worsened due to cannabis use. Ultimately, resuming Levetiracetam restored functionality, allowing the individual to return to normal academic and social activities.
Abstract
Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD) is a condition affecting 1-5% of psychedelic users, with higher prevalence observed among recurr...
Psychedelic use in individuals living with eating disorders or disordered eating: findings from the international MED-FED survey.
Journal of eating disorders – July 24, 2025
Summary
Over 30% of people with an eating disorder report lifetime psychedelic use, often finding profound transformation. A large survey explored how individuals with conditions like Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa, Binge eating disorder, or even ARFID use substances such as LSD, Psilocybin (Magic mushrooms), or DMT. Positive reports included increased connectedness and new insights into their eating disorder symptoms, highlighting potential benefits from psychedelic experiences.
Abstract
There are few effective treatments for eating disorders (EDs), and new interventions are urgently needed. The MEDication and other drugs For Eating...
"Other" Substance Use Among American Indian Reservation-Area High School Youth.
Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs – May 20, 2025
Summary
Native and non-Native youth living near reservations show similar patterns of lesser-known drug use, challenging common assumptions. Data from nearly 15,000 high school students across seven US regions revealed that prescription misuse and alternative substances varied more by location and gender than by ethnic background. The Southern Plains showed highest overall usage, while male students in the Southwest were particularly drawn to inhalants and hallucinogens.
Abstract
High school youth have an elevated risk of substance use. Some substances (e.g., inhalants, MDMA) used by youth are overlooked or grouped in an "ot...
The Lethal Combination of Pregabalin With Other Recreational Drugs.
Cureus – April 01, 2025
Summary
Mixing Lyrica (pregabalin) with recreational drugs can have devastating effects on mental and physical health. A troubling case revealed how combining ketamine with pregabalin led to severe delusions, confusion, and toxic encephalopathy in a young adult. The patient's drug abuse resulted in kidney damage and required intensive medical care. Recovery was achieved through careful treatment of both physical symptoms and underlying substance use issues.
Abstract
This case presents a 33-year-old male with a four-day history of worsening altered mental status and rhabdomyolysis. He experienced delusions, rest...
Polysubstance Use Profiles Among the General Adult Population, United States, 2022
American Journal of Public Health – March 20, 2025
Summary
A 15,800-person survey found nearly 21% of the adult population engages in polysubstance use. A latent class model identified four patterns. While 11.5% showed medically guided use from a medical prescription, 4.0% exhibited a principal cannabis use variety, informing Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, with 31.9% having substance abuse. Another 3.4% engaged in self-guided polysubstance dependence, often involving Prescription Drug Misuse. 2.1% displayed indiscriminate coexposures, relevant to Psychedelics and Drug Studies, with 58.9% substance abuse. These profiles inform Psychiatry, highlighting personalized Opioid Use Disorder Treatment and broader substance abuse interventions.
Abstract
Objectives. To characterize present-day polysubstance use patterns in the general adult population. Methods. From a 2022 nationally representative ...
Drug dependence and prescribing ketamine for treatment-resistant depression in Australia and New Zealand.
The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry – October 01, 2024
Summary
Ketamine shows promise in treating severe depression, but its history as a recreational drug creates unique challenges. While regulations in Australia and New Zealand allow ketamine for treatment-resistant depression, restrictions vary by region - especially for patients with past drug dependence. Current evidence suggests careful prescribing can help balance treatment benefits with dependency risks.
Abstract
Ketamine is a restricted and regulated medication in Australia and New Zealand, which has implications when considering treatment for patients with...
Can mind-altering prescription medicines be safe? Lessons from ketamine and esketamine.
Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.) – August 01, 2024
Summary
As psychedelics gain medical acceptance, ketamine and its newer cousin esketamine reveal striking differences in safety outcomes. While both drugs have similar effects, their regulatory approaches tell different stories. Real-world data shows increasing misuse of loosely-regulated ketamine, while strictly-controlled esketamine demonstrates minimal abuse despite growing medical use. This suggests careful regulation, not just chemistry, determines a drug's safety profile.
Abstract
Recent decades have witnessed an extraordinary global crisis of drug misuse. Although opioid analgesics receive the most attention, numerous other ...
The entactogen 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; ecstasy) as a treatment aid in psychotherapy and its safety concerns.
Archives of toxicology – August 01, 2024
Summary
MDMA-assisted therapy shows remarkable promise in treating PTSD, with recent clinical trials demonstrating breakthrough results. While MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy) can have risks when misused, supervised therapeutic sessions have proven safe and effective. Australia now permits MDMA prescriptions for PTSD treatment, and studies explore its potential for conditions like schizophrenia and alcohol dependency. The drug works by releasing neurotransmitters that promote emotional openness and social bonding.
Abstract
The phenylethylamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'ecstasy'), is the prototypical example of an entactogen. Its original placement in ...
μ-opioid receptor agonists and psychedelics: pharmacological opportunities and challenges.
Frontiers in pharmacology – January 01, 2023
Summary
Psychedelics may hold promise in addressing opioid use disorder (OUD), a critical public health crisis linked to rising overdose deaths. With over 70,000 fatalities annually in the U.S., the interplay between opioid receptors and serotonin is crucial. Studies indicate that crosstalk between µ-opioid receptors and 5-HT2A receptors could be pivotal for new treatments. While current data on psychedelic 5-HT2A receptor agonists is limited, exploring non-hallucinogenic alternatives may unlock innovative therapies for OUD, highlighting both potential and challenges in this emerging field.
Abstract
Opioid misuse and opioid-involved overdose deaths are a massive public health problem involving the intertwined misuse of prescription opioids for ...
Psilocybin, psychological distress, and suicidality
Journal of Psychopharmacology – September 01, 2015
Summary
Lifetime psilocybin use significantly correlates with reduced psychological distress and suicidality. Among 191,832 U.S. adults, those reporting only psilocybin (a potent hallucinogen) use (2.47% of the sample) exhibited the greatest reductions in distress and suicidal thoughts, planning, and attempts. This finding, crucial for Psychology and Clinical Psychology, suggests psilocybin's potential in Psychiatry and Medicine. It offers psychotherapists a new avenue within Psychedelics and Drug Studies for managing psychological distress, hinting at its unique chemical synthesis and influence on behavior.
Abstract
Hendricks et al. (2015) found that having ever used any classic psychedelic substance—namely, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), ayahuasca, lysergic acid di...
Prevalence and Correlates of Past Year Ecstasy/MDMA Use in the United States.
Journal of addiction medicine
Summary
Approximately 0.9% of Americans aged 12 and older reported using ecstasy/MDMA in the past year, based on a survey of 315,661 individuals from 2015 to 2020. Younger age groups showed significantly higher odds of use compared to those aged 35-49, while individuals over 50 were much less likely to use (adjusted odds ratio = 0.14). Bisexual women and racial minorities, including Asians (aOR = 1.92) and Blacks (aOR = 1.70), also exhibited increased odds of use, highlighting specific subpopulations for targeted prevention efforts.
Abstract
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (also known as "ecstasy" or "Molly") has regained attention in recent years for its efficacy in treating p...