Aasai

DRUG INDUCED PSYCHOSIS.

Drug refers to any substance that when taken/consumed/injected alters normal body functioning from normalcy to abnormalcy.Normalcy is a situation in which the body functioning is operating at a normal level while abnormalcy refers to any alterations in the physiological, physical and mental functioning.To induce is to result to.Therefore,drug induced psychosis refers to a mental health condition which is caused by excessive use of substances.

Drug induced psychosis is characterised by break from reality including hallucinations and delusions. Hallucinations refers to perceiving things that are not real for example hearing sounds that do not exist or seeing things that do not exist in real life situation.Hallucinations have also been identified as one of the main effects of drugs and substances.

Drugs which can lead to drug induced psychosis include stimulants,hallucinogens and depressants (Khat, cocaine, alcohol,bhang,glue).These mentioned drugs when taken in excessive amounts,they result to drug addiction after which drug induced psychosis results.

SYMPTOMS OF DRUG INDUCED PSYCHOSIS.

With Hallucinations and Delusions being the main signs and symptoms of drug induced psychosis as they are associated with break from reality,there are other symptoms including agitations, aggression and panic attacks.The signs and symptoms can vary from one person to the other.Not all can experience the above mentioned signs and symptoms.Is drug induced psychosis acquired or inherited?This is the main question.

RISK FACTORS TO DRUG INDUCED PSYCHOSIS.

Risk factors to drug induced psychosis refers to conditions or behaviours that can increase the likelihood of getting psychosis.The various risk factors include Genetics.Some research have been done on the parents and children.Some parents who suffer from drug induced psychosis pass the condition to their offsprings.Even if not directly passed through parents,it can arise from grandparents and great grandparents.By use of your family tree,it can be clearly understood.

Lifestyle factors such as excessive smoking and excessive use of psychotive drugs increase the rate of getting drug induced psychosis .Commonly abused drugs as earlier mentioned include Bhang, cocaine, tobacco and alcohol.These drugs lead to disruptions in the mind thus psychosis which is rooted from Greek word,psyche to mean mind and osis to mean disease or abnormal condition.

TREATMENTS.

Life can continue to the normal functioning when this condition is treated and well maintained.Prescriptions of medications have proved to be a very helpful way of assisting individuals battling with drug induced psychosis.Counseling through the use of cognitive behavioural therapy assist clients in changing the thought patterns therefore,one can change their disorganised thinking patterns.In addition,in counseling,there is integration of social support groups.