Drug Induced Schizophrenia, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Schizophrenia Drug Induced Overview

Can drugs cause schizophrenia? It can trigger schizophrenia, but it does not directly cause it. No test can conclusively diagnose drug-induced schizophrenia, though drug tests may confirm that a person is under the influence of drugs. Instead, doctors diagnose the condition based on symptoms. To confirm the diagnosis of schizophrenia caused by drugs, they will have the person stop using drugs. If symptoms disappear, then psychosis is drug-induced. A person may have schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder if they do not.

However, if you have an underlying mental health condition like anxiety or depression that led to excessive drug use or if you have been diagnosed with an existing psychotic disorder like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, additional treatment will be necessary to address these drug induced psychosis vs schizophrenia issues and support recovery.

Suppose drug use has caused schizophrenia as a coping mechanism for an underlying mental disease. In that case, a diagnosis must assess whether symptoms would persist in the absence of the drug, as this would not constitute drug-related psychosis.

When you quit using the drug, your initial symptoms, such as social withdrawal and a lack of drive, may gradually worsen, including hallucinations and delusions. This is when drug-induced psychosis becomes more obvious.

Antidepressants, antipsychotics, or other medications like clozapine (Clozaril) may be prescribed longer if the underlying mental health disease manifests as psychotic episodes, especially if delusions and hallucinations are frequent or extremely severe.

Skip To:

• Drug Induced Schizophrenia & Mental Health Treatment
• Schizophrenia Drug Induced Overview
• Drug Induced Mental Illness FAQs
• Drug Abuse Induced Psychosis Statistics
• What Drugs Cause Schizophrenia Like Symptoms?
• Schizophrenia Vs Drug Induced Psychosis
• Is Drug Induced Schizophrenia Permanent?
• Drug-Induced Schizophrenia Symptoms
• Drug Induced Paranoid Schizophrenia
• Can Drug-Induced Psychosis Be Permanent?
• Can Drugs Trigger Schizophrenia?
• Can Drugs Give You Schizophrenia Disorder?
• Drug Induced Schizoaffective Disorder
• Can Drug Use Trigger Schizophrenia?
• Drug Induced Schizophrenia Treatment

Learn More:

• Is Schizophrenia Hereditary?
• Schizophrenia Causes
• Schizophrenia and Heredity
• Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia
• Schizophrenia Treatment

Drug Induced Mental Illness FAQs

Drug Abuse Induced Psychosis Statistics

What Drugs Cause Schizophrenia Like Symptoms?

While substance misuse cannot directly cause schizophrenia, it can serve as a trigger in specific circumstances. After a period of heavy drug use, a person with genetic risk factors for the condition may experience an active instance of the illness. Additionally, using drugs like cocaine, marijuana, and amphetamines can aggravate and worsen the symptoms of schizophrenia.

Since the symptoms of the two disorders are similar, schizophrenia is sometimes confused with substance abuse. The diagnosis of co-occurring illnesses or schizophrenia may occasionally be challenging. To increase the precision of dual diagnosis, researchers continue to investigate the diseases separately and jointly.

Schizophrenia Vs Drug Induced Psychosis

What is drug induced schizophrenia? Both drug-induced psychosis and schizophrenia can cause symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations. However, schizophrenia can have several causes, whereas drug-induced psychosis only occurs from drug use. It also has fewer symptoms than schizophrenia.

What are the symptoms?

• Drug-induced psychosis must include delusions or hallucinations.

• Schizophrenia must include delusions, hallucinations, or disorganized speech. They may also have disorganized behavior and catatonic behavior.

What are the causes?

• Taking drugs, such as cannabis, hallucinogens, and amphetamines.

• Genetic and environmental factors. Drug-induced psychosis can also transition into schizophrenia.

How long can it last?

• Antipsychotic medications help manage the acute phase. Doctors may then try to address the underlying cause of the drug use.

• Antipsychotic medications can help with the acute phase. They can also be useful in the longer term alongside nonpharmaceutical interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Is Drug Induced Schizophrenia Permanent?

The drug induced schizophrenia symptoms brought on by drug abuse may last forever. If drug-induced psychosis is left untreated, the person may have a lifelong diagnosis of drug-induced schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia and addiction, or substance use disorder (SUD), can often co-occur. An estimated 50% of individuals suffering from schizophrenia have a history of substance abuse. Drugs that cause psychosis often affect a person’s brain function for a brief period, lasting anywhere from 30 minutes to 24 hours. Short-term drug-induced schizophrenia symptoms are typically followed by withdrawal symptoms from drugs that mirror the hallucinations and delusions of schizophrenia. Some drug-induced psychotic disorders go away on their own, but in other circumstances, medication is necessary to aid with the hallucinations and delusions.

Can Drug-Induced Psychosis Be Permanent?

Can drug induced psychosis be permanent? Both yes and no. Psychosis is a symptom and, therefore, temporary; however, if not treated early, it may develop into more intense experiences, including hallucinations and delusions. Psychosis can also signify a mental health condition like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

Is drug-induced schizophrenia permanent? It depends. Transient psychosis comes and goes. It may last for a few hours or up to a week. However, persistent psychosis can linger up to six months after quitting meth. What drug causes schizophrenia? If the individual has abused meth repeatedly over time, they risk causing long-term brain damage. Psychosis can be very serious, regardless of what is causing the symptoms. Psychosis can lead to illness, injuries, legal and financial difficulties, and even death when not treated.

Can Drugs Give You Schizophrenia Disorder?

Not all drug use leads to drug-induced schizophrenia. Research has shown that several different drugs can cause them. These include:

• Cannabis
• Hallucinogens
• Amphetamines
• Alcohol withdrawal
• Sedatives withdrawal

Causes of Psychosis

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) writes that no one cause for psychosis exists. [5] It may be a symptom of a mental health condition such as schizophrenia. Other causes include:

• Sleep deprivation
• Some prescription medications
• Alcohol misuse
• Cannabis

Can Drug Use Trigger Schizophrenia?

Can you develop schizophrenia from drugs? Although studies have indicated that drug abuse raises the likelihood of getting schizophrenia or a comparable disorder, drugs do not directly cause schizophrenia. It should be emphasized that some medications, such as amphetamines, might have transient adverse effects that resemble schizophrenia.

A person’s altered brain function may occur when they take drugs over an extended period, a condition known as substance use disorder. Your dopamine systems may become overactive due to these permanent consequences, which are comparable to certain symptoms of schizophrenia. Drugs do not cause schizophrenia, although long-term drug use can have consequences like schizophrenia.

This correlation between “drug induced psychosis vs schizophrenia” is associated with the brain’s inability to release pleasure-inducing neurotransmitters such as dopamine and glutamate. When the brain becomes dependent on a powerful drug like heroin, the substance inhibits the mind’s ability to release gratifying neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and others. It fabricates a reward of euphoria that can only be achieved by using the drug.

Can long term drug use cause schizophrenia symptoms? Yes. Once addiction has taken hold, it can alter the brain’s chemistry and cause irrevocable damage that may lead to mental health issues like depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.

Drug Induced Schizophrenia Treatment

Regardless of whether there is a drug-induced schizophrenic episode, a sizable portion of those with schizophrenia also abuse drugs, which can make their schizophrenic symptoms worse or return. Due to this reality, dual diagnosis treatment is essential for people with both issues.

Unfortunately, schizophrenia continues to be widely misunderstood and stigmatized. People with this mental condition would be more able to receive the necessary care they need and deserve if more accurate information was available. Drug misuse can surely result in a schizophrenic episode, but there is no evidence to imply that it causes schizophrenia, according to a study.

The We Level Up FL primary mental health center stands ready to help. We Level Up FL can inspire a support system through our mental health treatments to make you feel valuable. You can trust the treatment backed by leading recovery specialists practicing evidence-based therapy. We Level Up FL Treatment Center offers therapy under one roof. Get comprehensive therapy for mind, body & spirit.