Other hallucinogen intoxication reﬂects the clinically significant behavioral or psycholog- ical changes that occur shortly after ingestion of a hallucinogen. Depending on the specific hallucinogen, the intoxication may last only minutes (e.g., for salvia) or several hours or longer (e.g., for LSD [lysergic acid diethylamide] or MDMA [3,4-methylenedioxymetham- phetamine]).
The prevalence of other hallucinogen intoxication may be estimated by use of those sub— stances. In the United States, 1.8% of individuals age 12 years or older report using hallu- cinogens in the past year. Use is more prevalent among younger individuals, with 3.1% of 12- to 17-year-olds and 7.1% of 18- to 25-year-olds using hallucinogens in the past year, compared with only 0.7% of individuals age 26 years or older. Twelve-month prevalence for hallucinogen use is more common in males (2.4%) than in females (1.2%), and even more so among 18- to 25-year-olds (9.2% for males vs. 5.0% for females). In contrast, among individuals ages 12—17 years, there are no gender differences (3.1% for both gen- ders). These figures may be used as proxy estimates for gender-related differences in the prevalence of other hallucinogen intoxication.
Other hallucinogen intoxication may lead to increased suicidality, although suicide is rare among users of hallucinogens.
Other hallucinogen intoxication can have serious consequences. The perceptual distur- bances and impaired judgment associated with other hallucinogen intoxication can result in injuries or fatalities from automobile crashes, physical fights, or unintentional self- injury (e.g., attempts to ”ﬂy” from high places). Environmental factors and the personality and expectations of the individual using the hallucinogen may contribute to the nature of and severity of hallucinogen intoxication. Continued use of hallucinogens, particularly
MDMA, has also been linked with neurotoxic effects.
Other substance intoxication. Other hallucinogen intoxication should be differentiated from intoxication with amphetamines, cocaine, or other stimulants; anticholinergics; in— halants; and phencyclidine. Toxicological tests are useful in making this distinction, and determining the route of administration may also be useful.
Other conditions. Other disorders and conditions to be considered include schizophre- nia, depression, withdrawal from other drugs (e.g., sedatives, alcohol), certain metabolic disorders (e.g., hypoglycemia), seizure disorders, tumors of the central nervous system, and vascular insults.
Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder. Other hallucinogen intoxication is dis- tinguished from hallucinogen persisting perception disorder because the symptoms in the latter continue episodically or continuously for weeks (or longer) after the most recent in- toxication.
Other hallucinogen-induced disorders. Other hallucinogen intoxication is distinguished from the other hallucinogen-induced disorders (e.g., hallucinogen—induced anxiety disor— der, with onset during intoxication) because the symptoms in these latter disorders pre- dominate the clinical presentation and are severe enough to warrant independent clinical attention.
Diagnostic Criteria 292.89 (F16.983)
A. Following cessation of use of a hallucinogen, the reexperiencing of one or more of the perceptual symptoms that were experienced while intoxicated with the hallucinogen (e.g., geometric hallucinations, false perceptions of movement in the peripheral visual fields, flashes of color, intensified colors, trails of images of moving objects, positive afterimages, halos around objects, macropsia and micropsia).