Drugs and Dissociation

Dissociation can be experienced as a result of drug and/or alcohol use.

Dissociative experiences can happen during active intoxication and/or during withdrawal from certain prescription, over the counter, and recreational substances.

Dissociative There are a variety of substances that can cause dissociative states during active use/intoxication. These include:

• Alcohol
• Barbiturates (pentobarbital, Secobarbital)
• Benzodiazepines (Ativan, Xanax, Lorazepam)
• Beta blockers (Atenolol, Propranolol)
• DXM (found in cough suppressants)
• Ketamine
• Marijuana
• PCP
• Scopolamine (anti-nausea drug)

These symptoms go away after the drug has completely washed out of a person’s system.

For most people, even serious drug abuse/addiction will not cause a dissociative disorder, although, there is some evidence suggesting that long-term alcoholism or cocaine addiction may cause chronic dissociative symptoms.