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Addiction to Hallucinogens, Dissociatives, Designer Drugs and “Legal Highs”

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Textbook of Addiction Treatment: International Perspectives

Abstract

Hallucinogenic drugs have as their primary effect the production of disturbances of perception. Hallucinogens can be classified according their chemical structure as: indoleamines (similar to serotonin), phenethylamines (similar to catecholamines), dissociatives (phencyclidines) and others (including salvinorin, dextromethorphan, muscarinic antagonists and cannabinoids). The hallucinogenic effects appear to be related to the agonistic action on 5-HT2A receptors in the cortex. Ketanserin, a 5-HT2 antagonist, blocks some of the specific effects of LSD and other hallucinogens. It also activates the dopaminergic receptors and causes a glutamatergic activation. All these actions seem to cause a functional imbalance at various levels (cortical areas, the limbic system, which is a group of brain structures involved in emotional regulation), contributing to distortion of the integrative action. The novel psychoactive substances (NPS) can induce substance use disorder, intoxication and in some cases withdrawal syndrome (for those with psychostimulant properties). Depending on the substance and pharmacological effects, the DSM-V diagnostic criteria for hallucinogens or stimulants can be applied (American Psychiatric Association 2013).

The therapeutic aim in these cases is to reduce consumption and achieve abstinence. In some cases of NPS cessation can be easy because there is no physical dependence; in other cases (with more of a psychostimulant profile) some symptoms of withdrawal syndrome can be observed. There are no specific drugs for treating the disorders caused by these substances.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pharmacology Unit Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Magi Farré

  2. Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Liliana Galindo

  3. Addiction Unit Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, Barcelona, Spain

    Marta Torrens

Authors
  1. Magi Farré
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  2. Liliana Galindo
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  3. Marta Torrens
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Magi Farré .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Alberta Gambling Research Institute University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

    Nady el-Guebaly

  2. Faculty of Brain Sciences UCL Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, United Kingdom

    Giuseppe Carrà

  3. Division of Alcoholism & Drug Abuse, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA

    Marc Galanter

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Farré, M., Galindo, L., Torrens, M. (2015). Addiction to Hallucinogens, Dissociatives, Designer Drugs and “Legal Highs”. In: el-Guebaly, N., Carrà, G., Galanter, M. (eds) Textbook of Addiction Treatment: International Perspectives. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-5322-9_27

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-5322-9_27

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