How Long Does Drug-Induced Psychosis Last?

Drug-induced psychosis, also known as substance-induced psychosis or psychotic episode, is a mental disorder that occurs after taking certain drugs.

Though often temporary, drug-induced psychosis can lead to the development of chronic psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia, dissociative disorder, and anxiety disorder.

This article answers everything you need to know about drug-induced psychosis, including how long drug-induced psychosis lasts, its symptoms, and its stages.

What Do People Experience During a Drug-induced Psychotic Episode?

People who experience drug-induced psychosis perceive reality in different ways from other people. They may experience hallucinations, such as seeing, feeling, or hearing things that don’t exist, or delusions, like people on TV sending them special messages or believing that powerful people are spying on them.

People who have preexisting mental health conditions, specifically depression, anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia, are more prone to drug-induced psychosis. Other risk factors include genetics, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and a history of psychiatric hospitalization.

How Long Does Drug-Induced Psychosis Last?

Drug-induced psychosis typically lasts anywhere from a few hours to a few days, depending on the type of drug used, the amount consumed, the person’s overall health, and whether they have any underlying mental health conditions.

However, it isn’t unheard of for psychosis to last weeks or even years. Psychosis caused by methamphetamine, PCP, and other “hard” mind-altering drugs can persist for weeks or even years, and may even require medical intervention and psychiatric treatment to manage symptoms.

A study published in the Shanghai Arch of Psychiatry found that 30% of people who used methamphetamine saw their psychotic symptoms resolved between 1 to 6 months, while 10% experienced symptoms for more than 6 months.

Symptoms may dwindle over time, but some may experience flashes of hallucinations, delusions, or paranoia even after the drug’s effects have worn off. 

Here’s a table detailing how long drug-induced psychosis lasts on average depending on the drug used:

Drug	Duration of Psychosis
Methamphetamine	Days to weeks, though it may persist longer if the drug use has induced brain damage (6+ months).
PCP (Phencyclidine)	Hours to days
Cocaine	Hours to days, resolves when the drug has completely left the person’s system.
Cannabis (high THC levels)	Hours to 1 day
LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide)	Hours to 1 to 2 days, though flashbacks can occur weeks or months later.
Ecstasy (MDMA)	Hours to days
Opioids (Heroin, Oxycodone, Morphine, Fentanyl, Codeine, Tramadol, etc.)	Hours to days, resolves when the drug has completely left the person’s system.
Alcohol	As long as the alcohol is in the system, usually a few hours

Common Symptoms of Drug-Induced Psychosis

Symptoms of drug-induced psychosis can appear all at once or come and go. Here are some of the most common:

• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Feelings of grandiosity (i.e., a person might believe they have special powers or are someone important)
• Hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren’t present, like bugs on skin)
• Sudden bursts of violence, aggression, or hostility
• Difficulty speaking clearly, often leading to incoherent or fragmented speech
• Restlessness, rapid movements, or an inability to sit still
• Trouble focusing, organizing thoughts, or making sense of what is happening
• Lethargy
• Sense of detachment from the environment or one’s own thoughts and actions
• Memory problems
• Heightened sensory perception
• Mixing of perceptions like “hearing color” or “seeing sounds”

How Common Is Drug-Induced Psychosis?

Drug-induced psychosis is extremely common. Research found that up to 25% of drug users experience drug-induced psychosis, with it occurring in up to 50% of methamphetamine and cannabis users and as much as 85% of cocaine-related cases. This means that one in four people who use drugs may experience drug-induced psychosis.

Can Drug-Induced Psychosis Be Permanent?

Drug-induced psychosis can indeed trigger permanent psychosis.

Long-term drug use, especially with substances like methamphetamine, cocaine, cannabis, or alcohol, can cause lasting damage to brain structures involving mood regulation, perception, and decision-making.

Such damage can sometimes result in permanent mental health disorders, including schizophrenia. In fact, a meta-analysis found that 25% of individuals diagnosed with substance-induced psychosis later transitioned to schizophrenia.

Risk factors of permanent psychosis resulting from drug use include:

• A family history of psychotic disorders, particularly schizophrenia
• Starting substance use at a young age
• Taking a large quantity of the substance
• Prolonged or repeated drug use
• Having pre-existing mental health conditions like ADHD
• Consuming large quantities or potent forms of substances
• Childhood abuse, PTSD, or other psychological traumas
• Having previously had an episode of drug-induced psychosis

How Is Drug-Induced Psychosis Treated?

Psychiatric treatment for drug-induced psychosis includes medications like antipsychotics and benzodiazepines.

In cases where the patient experiences severe psychosis, causing them to harm themselves or others, they may be taken to the hospital for medical detox to flush out the drug from the system.

Once the initial burst of psychosis disappears, patients may need to attend psychotherapy to manage symptoms and prevent relapse.

Drug-induced psychosis can trigger or worsen underlying mental health issues like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or depression, especially if the person has a genetic predisposition to these disorders.

As such, patients who experience psychotic episodes following drug use should think twice about using these substances again. Repeated use can cause lasting damage to both the mind and the brain.

Stages of Psychosis

Drug-induced psychosis comes in three stages, according to the Yale School of Medicine:

Prodrome

In the prodrome stage of psychosis, the person affected may experience “mild” symptoms like anxiety, reduced concentration, sleep disturbances, and depressive moods.

These symptoms are often vague and hardly noticeable if you don’t know what you’re looking for. It’s the calm before the storm, so to speak; the symptoms are manageable and could be brushed off as brief shifts in mood.

Acute

The acute stage is when the person affected begins to experience intense hallucinations, such as seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren’t actually present.

They may also develop delusions, believing things that are not based in reality, like thinking they are being persecuted or have special powers. They may have difficulty thinking or understanding what’s happening to them.

This stage can be extremely distressing and may force the person affected to do or say things they wouldn’t normally do.

Recovery

In the final stage, the symptoms of psychosis start to lessen and the person may feel good enough to return to their normal routine. This stage usually occurs after the person receives treatment or stops using the substance that induced the psychosis. Recovery can take a few days to months, depending on the drug used.

Can Drug-Induced Psychosis Go Away On Its Own?

In most cases, drug-induced psychosis goes away on its own even without treatment. Symptoms often disappear after the drug has left the system, though some may experience brief flashes of hallucinations or delusions days after the fact.

Even so, letting the drug run its course can be extremely dangerous as it may cause the person to harm themselves or others while under psychosis. They may also experience symptoms that can inadvertently lead to life-threatening situations, such as choking on their own vomit, driving under the influence, or attacking people they think are out to get them.

If you or a loved one is experiencing drug-induced psychosis, the best and safest thing to do is to contact medical services. People under the influence of drugs are often unpredictable, and it’s not worth getting into a situation where you might be at risk.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Drug-induced psychosis is a mental condition that occurs following the use of mind-altering substances like methamphetamine, cocaine, cannabis, and alcohol.

The effects are usually temporary, with symptoms subsiding between a few hours to a few days. However, there are cases where drug-induced psychosis lasts months or even years after taking the drug. It can also trigger the development of mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.

If you or someone you know is experiencing psychosis, drug-induced or otherwise, we’re here to help. Contact us today to start your journey to recovery.

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