Skip to content

Addictive Disorders & Their Treatment

ISSN 1531-5754

2 papers in the library · 2 citations · publishing 2019

Papers

Faces of HPPD: Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder Patient Survey Results and a Descriptive Analysis of Patient Demographics, Medical Background, Drug Use History, Symptoms, and Treatments

Addictive Disorders & Their Treatment June 10, 2019 Doreen M. Lewis 2 citations

An internet survey of 26 individuals diagnosed with hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD), predominantly young white males from North America, found that all reported a history of preexisting mood disorders. Common prior hallucinogens included LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, and mescaline. Ongoing symptoms such as visual snow, floaters, trailing afterimages, and anxiety were reported by over 96% of participants, depersonalization by 92.3%, and suicidal ideation by over 69%. Current benzodiazepine use was 34.6%, with 78% of those users reporting dependency; 19% used marijuana, all claiming dependency. Treatments included benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, neuroleptics, and counseling. The authors conclude that HPPD is understudied, with complex overlapping symptoms and high risks of suicide and drug dependency.

DOI: 10.1097/adt.0000000000000178 Psilocybin Lysergic acid diethylamide Anxiety Hallucinogen +6

Epidemiologic Investigation of the Elderly Deaths Caused by Narcotic and Psychedelic Drug Abuse Complications Referred to the Legal Medicine Organization of Tehran, Iran During 2013 and 2014

Addictive Disorders & Their Treatment June 1, 2019 S. H. Hashemi Nazari, M. Ghadirzadeh, Z. Fotokian et al.

From 2013 to 2014 in Tehran, Iran, 227 elderly people (age 60 or older) died from narcotic or psychedelic drug abuse, with 89.4% being male. The incidence of such deaths was about 2.2 per 100,000 in 2013 and 1.9 per 100,000 in 2014, with rates higher among men than women. Opium was the most common drug involved, used by 55.5% of the deceased. The average age at death was about 67 years, and the average age of first drug use was about 40 years. Most deceased were married, had their own home, and had low education levels. Factors such as low education, male gender, living in a large city, and being retired or unemployed may contribute to drug addiction risk in the elderly.

DOI: 10.1097/adt.0000000000000160 Medicine