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Dissociative Drug Abuse Fact Sheet

There are many drugs that were originally developed for medical purposes but have since been abused and misused for illegal purposes. Drugs like PCP and ketamine were originally developed for doctors to use to anesthetize their patients, but currently, they are often used improperly and dangerously with consequences that can be deadly.

At The Canyon, we can help you if you are addicted to dissociative drugs like PCP, dextromethorphan or ketamine. We offer a variety of therapies that, in combination, help those who are struggling with addiction recover and gain the strength they need to move forward free of the constraints of drug addiction.

Dissociative Drugs Versus Hallucinogens

Dissociative drugs work by acting on parts of the body that are in charge of transmitting glutamate through the brain. This neurochemical is what is in charge of making the memory work and communicating the perception of pain as well as the perception of changes in the environment. These types of drugs alter how a person perceives the world, including things that they feel, see, smell and hear, causing a dissociation from the world around them. This is different from how hallucinogens like PCP-drugs known as dissociative anesthetics-operate. Hallucinogens work by inducing hallucinations in people who take them; dissociative drugs, on the other hand, do not produce hallucinations.

Dissociative Drugs: PCP

The effects that PCP causes in users are extremely unpredictable and can be dangerous and even deadly. They usually start a few moments after the drug is taken and can last for many hours, making the drug popular in the rave scene. People who take the drug may experience different symptoms and effects each time, ranging from violent hallucinations and panic to distortions in time and space. PCP use can cause addictions to form, and there are withdrawal symptoms that are associated with PCP if use is suddenly discontinued. Some of the effects of PCP are long lasting; some have even been reported to last for over a year.

Dissociative Drugs: Dextromethorphan

DXM, or dextromethorphan, is a drug that is commonly found in over the counter (OTC) drugs such as cough suppressants. This drug acts in ways similar to how PCP operates and can cause dissociative effects if taken in large doses. Most people who abuse this drug obtain it from cough medications, particularly from extra strength medications commonly found in drugstores.

Dissociative Drugs: Ketamine

Ketamine, commonly known as 'K,' is a drug that was developed in the 1960s as an anesthetic designed to replace PCP. It is commonly used in veterinary care and in human anesthesia, and most of the ketamine that is sold on the street has been derived from the supplies intended for veterinarians. Ketamine is manufactured in a liquid state but can be retooled into a powder suitable for snorting as well. The effects of ketamine are similar to those of PCP but on a smaller scale.

Drug Rehab at The Canyon

At The Canyon, if you are suffering from dissociative drug abuse, we can help you get your life back on track. We have experience treating all types of drug and substance abuse, and we can help you break your drug addiction and achieve a long lasting abstinence. If you would like more information about what we can do for you, contact us at The Canyon today at .

Articles on Club Drug Addiction

• GHB Abuse Fact Sheet
• The Short-Term Effects of LSD
• Hallucinogen Abuse Fact Sheet
• The Long-Term Effects of LSD
• PCP Abuse Fact Sheet
• A Fact Sheet on Inhalant Abuse
• A Fact Sheet on Stimulant Abuse
• Ecstasy Abuse Fact Sheet
• LSD Abuse Fact Sheet
• Dissociative Drug Abuse Fact Sheet
• Ketamine Linked to Memory Loss
• Ecstasy & PTSD
• Ketamine Abuse Continues
• Rave Parties Continue, Can Be Deadly