What are Dissociative Drugs?

What are dissociative drugs? Simply put, dissociative drugs are mind-altering substances that create hallucinogenic effects and can significantly distort your perception of reality. What makes them so prone to abuse is how widely available they are.

Many over-the-counter medications, like cough syrup, are classified as dissociative drugs. Although cough syrup is legal to buy without a prescription, taking excessive amounts can create dissociative effects such as hallucinations and an altered perception of reality.

If you wonder what dissociative drugs are, the answer is that they can include substances like ketamine, commonly used for anesthesia, and nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. These drugs can create intense hallucinations and seriously alter your perception of reality, and can not only be abused but addictive. Drug addiction treatment is available by calling 866.605.0532.

Additionally, dissociatives can cause feelings of happiness and intense euphoria but are also highly dangerous when abused.

What Are Dissociative Drugs?

So, what are dissociative drugs? One of the most common types is dextromethorphan, a common ingredient in many over-the-counter cough medications. Other popular drugs in this class are ketamine, nitrous oxide, and PCP.

The common effects of dissociative drugs include:

• Depersonalization, which is feeling like you are not real
• Feeling like the outside world isn’t real
• Visual hallucinations
• Auditory hallucinations
• Altered sense of reality
• Inability to control your own actions

Dissociatives produce similar effects as hallucinogenics like LSD but with an added sensation of depersonalization and derealization. A common experience when you are under the influence of these drugs is feeling like you left your body or are having an out-of-body experience.

Likewise, the intensity of the highs produced by dissociative drugs makes them highly dangerous because of your distorted perception of reality. These effects can cause you to participate in risky behaviors or activities.

What are the Dangers of Dissociative Drugs?

Dissociative drug use carries several significant risks, including addiction, potential brain damage, and the risk of overdosing. Since these drugs are usually depressants, they can decrease your heart rate and impair your respiratory functioning. Overdoses can be fatal, causing you to stop breathing. They can also cause temporary or permanent amnesia and result in long term cognitive impairment and memory issues.

There is no question that dissociative drugs are addictive. Even experienced users who take them for their intended purpose may develop a dependence on or addiction to these substances. When this happens, it requires medical detox and treatment just like any other substance. Chronic use can result in severe withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop using the drug, making it more difficult to quit.

Since dissociative drugs are depressants, they can slow down activity in your brain and cause damage to certain regions, including the hippocampus (which is responsible for memory). Chronic use of some dissociatives has been shown to cause long-term issues with cognitive functioning like memory loss and difficulty concentrating.

It is very easy to overdose on dissociatives. This is especially if you take them at the same time as other drugs or alcohol or if they are combined with other depressants like opiates, opioids, and benzodiazepines. The effects of a dissociative overdose can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on how much you take and when the last dose was taken.

Treating Addiction to Dissociatives

If you are wondering what dissociative drugs are, chances are you are worried that you or a loved one may be abusing or addicted to them. The risks associated with these drugs are severe and require medical intervention and treatment. Reaching out for help with a substance abuse issue can be difficult and even embarrassing.

However, finding treatment is the best way to find the support you need to overcome addiction. This is why these are a few programs you may want to consider:

• Women’s detox
• Men’s detox
• Outpatient treatment
• Trauma therapy

Beaches Recovery, a leader in addiction treatment, offers established treatment programs that provide you with the resources and support you need during treatment and recovery. To learn more about our programs and learn more about dissociative drugs, call us today at 866.605.0532.