Written by: THE BALANCE
Medically reviewed by Dr. Sarah Boss, MD
Last updated: January 20, 2026
Fact checked
Quick Summary
  • Abusing and misusing illicit drugs and prescription medications often lead to a cascade of adverse side effects.
  • One severe result of this activity is the development of psychosis, an extremely debilitating and bewildering mental issue that blurs the lines between reality and fantasy for the afflicted.
  • When someone experiences a psychotic episode triggered by drug abuse, their speech, behavior, and thinking become so unpredictable and erratic that they could potentially present a danger to others as well as themselves.
Reading time: 6 min

Abusing and misusing illicit drugs and prescription medications often lead to a cascade of adverse side effects. One severe result of this activity is the development of psychosis, an extremely debilitating and bewildering mental issue that blurs the lines between reality and fantasy for the afflicted. When someone experiences a psychotic episode triggered by drug abuse, their speech, behavior, and thinking become so unpredictable and erratic that they could potentially present a danger to others as well as themselves.

Psychosis due to drug abuse usually indicates an underlying chemical dependency, and it also hints toward an underlying mental health issue that is yet to be recognized and managed. A high-end psychosis rehab offers innovative assessments to diagnose the causative factors of your or your loved one’s psychotic episode and customize a treatment program to prevent it in the future while providing relief from any concurrent behavioral health issues if any.

Out of the hundreds of illicit and prescription drugs, the ones most commonly associated with psychotic episodes include the following:

  • Methamphetamine
  • Psychedelic drugs such as LSD
  • Club drugs such as MDMA and ecstasy

The symptoms of psychosis may vary depending on which drug you consume and its quantity. Heavier and excessive drug use has been linked with prolonged and more severe symptoms.

Drugs such as cannabis, cocaine, and hallucinogens also trigger symptoms of psychosis while worsening an existing mental illness. Cannabis, in particular, can also lead to schizophrenia-like psychotic symptoms, including delusions, paranoia, hallucinations, and anxiety, making it difficult to differentiate it from drug-induced psychosis.

Drug-induced psychosis is sometimes associated with the use of prescription medication. This is particularly common in cases where individuals are not taking the medication in the recommended dose or using it beyond the advised period of time. Common prescription drugs capable of kicking in psychotic symptoms, such as disorganized thinking and delusions, include ketamine, cephalosporins, etc.

The first step in the management of drug-induced psychosis is establishing treatment needs. This can be done by understanding how psychosis and drug misuse are intertwined and which one predates the other. If psychosis occurs first, followed by the pattern of drug abuse, the treatment protocols focus on managing the combination of a psychotic episode and acute intoxication. In addition, it plans to institute a longer-term strategy incorporating psychiatric medications and behavioral therapeutic interventions to manage all underlying mental health issues.

On the contrary, if drug abuse occurs first, followed by psychosis as a byproduct of the former, treatment focuses on managing the acute psychotic symptoms with the help of anxiolytics and antipsychotic medication. In some cases, a safe and quiet place is all an afflicted person needs to recover. Once the symptoms subside, standard addiction treatment therapy can begin.

Most drug induced psychosis treatment centers are well-equipped with highly-qualified clinical teams specializing in integrated treatment that focuses on addressing the acute symptoms and long-term addiction at the same time.

Co-occurring disorders, if any, are treated through a comprehensive program that incorporates:

  • Skills training
  • Support groups
  • Therapy for addiction
  • Educational sessions on mental health and drug misuse

Different types of addiction treatment programs are also available for such patients depending on their individual needs. These include:

  • Medical detox:  that provides an opportunity to cleanse the body from drugs under the supervision of medical professionals in a safe environment
  • Inpatient addiction treatment: that offers on-campus accommodation to clients to live in and recover in a supportive environment
  • Outpatient addiction treatment: that offers patients with scheduled therapy sessions of varying intensities while they continue with their daily responsibilities of life
  • Sober living houses: that provide a structured community to support recovery and sobriety

FAQs

What are the common symptoms of drug-induced psychosis?
Psychosis from drugs often causes a noticeable change in an individual’s behavior. Some of these significant drug induced psychosis symptoms are mentioned below:
Hallucinations (of visual, tactile, and auditory origins)
Delusions (false beliefs about self, others, and the world)
Disorganized speech and thinking patterns
A loss of emotional responsiveness
Withdrawal from social interactions
Neglect in self-care
Forgetting important responsibilities
Bizarre behaviors that may be dangerous to self or others
How long does drug-induced psychosis last?
Drug-induced psychosis usually lasts until the causative drug has been cleared from the body. Hence, heavy drug users may continue to experience long-lasting symptoms as their bodies have higher levels of drugs. In general, an episode of psychosis clears up before the end of the day. However, certain types of this issue, including cocaine induced psychosis, may persist for longer, sometimes extending to several weeks.
Very rarely, certain drugs change the brain structure and functions by damaging the neurons and altering neurotransmitters’ levels. These alterations pave the way for mental health issues like schizophrenia, leading to longer psychotic episodes.
Can psychosis due to drug use become permanent?
Drugs that trigger psychosis usually exert short-term effects on brain function, usually lasting between 30 minutes to 24 hours. These temporary symptoms are often followed by withdrawal symptoms that mimic the delusions and hallucinations experienced in schizophrenia. Most symptoms resolve on their own without treatment, while others need medications for management. These symptoms carry the potential to become permanent by converting into another issue called drug-induced schizophrenia, a lifelong diagnosis that requires prolonged management using medications and therapy.
Can schizophrenia be caused by drugs?
Drugs do not play a direct role in causing schizophrenia. However, studies have proven that misusing drugs increases the risk of acquiring this condition or a similar illness. Cannabis, LSD, cocaine, and amphetamines are particularly associated with triggering the symptoms of schizophrenia in susceptible individuals. At the same time, drugs like amphetamines, cocaine, and marijuana may exacerbate the symptoms of schizophrenia and worsen their severity.
Drug induced psychosis vs. schizophrenia: what is the difference?
According to DSM-5, the difference between drug-induced psychosis and schizophrenia is the duration of symptoms. If the symptoms persist for more than one month after the last exposure to the implicated drug, the condition is known as schizophrenia. Alternatively, early resolution of symptoms before 30 days indicates drug-induced psychosis.

The Article

+

About This Article

+

Do you need help?

Sister Topics

Drug Abuse in Athletes Drug Addiction Statistics Drugs Abuse Drugs Addiction In India Drugs That Cause Serotonin Syndrome Drugs That Induce Psychosis Heroin Addiction Heroin Addiction Treatment How To Recover From Being Roofied How To Recover From Edibles Inpatient Drug Rehab Ketamine Addiction Treatment Khat, a herb or a drug Kratom Addiction Luxury Drug Addiction Rehab MDMA Addiction Monkey dust Addiction  Nicotine Withdrawal Poppers Drug Solpadeine Addiction Spice Addiction UK Steroid Abuse Steroid Addiction Symptoms Of A Comedown Vaping And Mental Health Vaping Dangers UK What are the Effects of Drugs on Heart What is 2C-B Worst Drugs for Your Heart