Steroids, Dissociatives, Club Drugs, Inhalants, and Hallucinogens
Absolute Addiction Psychiatry Review January 1, 2020 Mashal Khan, Anil Thomas 3 citations
Anabolic-androgenic steroids, inhalants, hallucinogens, dissociative anesthetics, and club drugs are a diverse group of substances with high potential for misuse and serious health consequences. Steroid use often goes undetected despite causing medical and psychiatric issues. Inhalants, found in household products and used by adolescents, rapidly reach high brain concentrations. Hallucinogens alter sensory perceptions by modulating serotonin. Dissociatives like PCP, dextromethorphan, and ketamine disconnect thoughts, identity, consciousness, and memory by blocking NMDA receptors. MDMA (ecstasy) modulates monoamines in synapses, and GHB has both medical and recreational use but can cause a serious alcohol-like withdrawal syndrome. Effective management requires understanding their history, epidemiology, comorbidities, forms, pharmacodynamics, patterns of use, pathogenesis, signs, symptoms, and adverse effects.