Recreational stimulants, herbal, and spice cannabis: The core psychobiological processes that underlie their damaging effects

Parrott, Andrew C.; Hayley, Amie C.; Downey, Luke A.

doi:10.1002/hup.2594

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 101 publications

(139 reference statements)

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“…Yet in order for this practice to become usual, psychiatrists and physicians need to be educated about its adverse effects. Mental health improves after cessation of other recreational stimulants, such as amphetamines or cocaine, and similar gains have been found following Ecstasy/MDMA cessation (Parrott, 2015;Parrott, Hayley et al, 2017). Morgan, McFie, Fleetwood, and Robinson (2002) found that current and former MDMA users displayed heightened psychopathology scores, while former users were less impaired.…”

Section: Psychiatric Disturbancesmentioning

confidence: 63%

Clinical and Medical Management of Conditions Caused by MDMA or ‘Ecstasy’

Parrott¹

2018

Handbook of Novel Psychoactive Substances

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Section: Psychiatric Disturbancesmentioning

confidence: 63%

Clinical and Medical Management of Conditions Caused by MDMA or ‘Ecstasy’

Parrott¹

2018

Handbook of Novel Psychoactive Substances

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“…The most common mental health consequences were mood disturbances (e.g., dysphoria), anxiety, panic attacks, sleep disturbances, and memory loss. Previous studies have attributed such consequences to the use of cannabis, ecstasy, amphetamine, and cocaine [5,29,[33][34][35][36][62][63][64], which are also the drugs most frequently used by participants in the present study. A recent meta-analysis shows that ecstasy users display deficits in the serotonergic transporter in several brain areas.…”

Section: Consequencesmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…Cocaine and amphetamine use has also been associated with an increased risk of psychotic symptoms and myocardial infarction, which in turn can trigger fatal cardiac arrhythmias and stroke [ 1 , 32 ]. In addition, regular use of cannabis and the abovementioned three central stimulants is associated with mood fluctuations, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and cognitive deficits [ 5 , 29 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Illicit Drug Use and Associated Problems in the Nightlife Scene: A Potential Setting for Prevention

Feltmann

Elgán

Strandberg

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Illicit drug use is prevalent in the nightlife scene, especially at electronic dance music (EDM) events. The aim of the present study was to investigate illicit drug use patterns and consequences of drug use among frequent visitors of EDM events. Young adults (18–34 years old) who had visited at least six EDM events in Sweden during the past year participated in a web-based survey on drug use patterns and its consequences. Fifty-nine percent of participants had used illicit drugs during the past year, most often cannabis followed by ecstasy, cocaine, and amphetamine. Nightlife venues were identified as the main setting for the use of central stimulants, while cannabis was mostly used at home. Frequent alcohol and tobacco use was associated with illicit drug use. The most prevalent negative consequences of drug use were related to mental health, such as impairments in mood, sleep, and memory problems, but physical manifestations were also reported, such as palpitations and collapsing. These findings confirm that drug use is prevalent and associated with negative health effects among EDM nightlife attendees. The nightlife scene is a setting with promising potential to reach a high-risk target group with illicit drug use prevention interventions.

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“…These symptoms of cannabis withdrawal have been formalized in standardized questionnaires such as the Cannabis Withdrawal Discomfort Scale [ 47 ], and the Marijuana Craving Questionnaire [ 48 ]. The high addictiveness of cannabis does make it difficult to understand current movements to make its usage legal [ 49 ].…”

Section: Mood State Fluctuationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hence spice displays far greater addictiveness, with some users committing suicide when they cannot access their normal drug supplies [ 6 , 29 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 ]. The practical consequences of cannabis dependency can be severe [ 49 ]. In the USA around 300,000 individuals approach professional drug addiction services for cannabis dependency every year [ 59 ].…”

Section: Mood State Fluctuationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mood Fluctuation and Psychobiological Instability: The Same Core Functions Are Disrupted by Novel Psychoactive Substances and Established Recreational Drugs

Parrott

2018

Brain Sciences

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Many novel psychoactive substances (NPS) have entered the recreational drug scene in recent years, yet the problems they cause are similar to those found with established drugs. This article will debate the psychobiological effects of these newer and more traditional substances. It will show how they disrupt the same core psychobiological functions, so damaging well-being in similar ways. Every psychoactive drug causes mood states to fluctuate. Users feel better on-drug, then feel worse off-drug. The strength of these mood fluctuations is closely related to their addiction potential. Cyclical changes can occur with many other core psychobiological functions, such as information processing and psychomotor speed. Hence the list of drug-related impairments can include: homeostatic imbalance, HPA axis disruption, increased stress, altered sleep patterns, neurohormonal changes, modified brain rhythms, neurocognitive impairments, and greater psychiatric vulnerability. Similar patterns of deficit are found with older drugs such as cocaine, nicotine and cannabis, and newer substances such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), mephedrone and spice. All psychoactive drugs damage human well-being through similar basic neuropsychobiological mechanisms.

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Recreational stimulants, herbal, and spice cannabis: The core psychobiological processes that underlie their damaging effects

Abstract: Recreational stimulants such as cocaine or MDMA (3.4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) and sedative drugs such as cannabis damage human homeostasis and well-being through similar core psychobiological mechanisms.

Cited by 11 publications

References 101 publications

Clinical and Medical Management of Conditions Caused by MDMA or ‘Ecstasy’

Clinical and Medical Management of Conditions Caused by MDMA or ‘Ecstasy’

Illicit Drug Use and Associated Problems in the Nightlife Scene: A Potential Setting for Prevention

Mood Fluctuation and Psychobiological Instability: The Same Core Functions Are Disrupted by Novel Psychoactive Substances and Established Recreational Drugs

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