Club Drug Addiction: New Study Reports Links to Memory Loss
One part of this new study on the effects of club drug abuse and addiction is no surprise: when you use mind altering substances, you forget things. Not only are you prone to have experiences while under the influence that you won’t remember the next day, but it also decreases your long-term memory and your ability to retain information for extended periods of time.
According to Daily Tech,here’s what the University College London study had to say.
Club Drug Addiction: Short-Term Memory Loss
Short-term memory loss while under the influence is common. You may black out while you are using club drugs like ketamine (also known as Special K), ecstasy (MDMA) or methamphetamine, especially when you use them with other drugs like pills or alcohol. But according to the study, the use of short-term memory is decreased when the drug is used regularly even when the person is not currently under the influence.
This conclusion was shown when the subjects took tests at the start of the study and a year later; those who used ketamine regularly showed decreased scores on the last tests, which indicates a deterioration in brain function. Other tests that looked at their ability to retain small amounts of information for short periods of time showed a decrease in ability over the year; subjects made as many as twice the mistakes on the final round of testing.
Club Drugs: Paranoia and Addiction
The study also implicates club drugs, especially ketamine, in the development of paranoia and addiction as well as memory loss. Previously, studies have shown that ketamine and other club drugs have a negative effect on the kidneys and bladder but this is one of the first studies to show the mental effects. Hair follicle tests showed that active users of ketamine were using twice as much in the final rounds of the study as compared to the initial testing; an increase in use of a drug is a hallmark of drug addiction. Additionally, the mental state of the subjects by the end of the study showed an increase in paranoia, expressing an increased belief in paranoid delusions, including how their test results were being used and conspiracy theories surrounding the study.
Club Drug Addiction and Treatment
Dr. Celia Morgan was the lead researcher on the study. She says: “Ketamine use is increasing faster than any other drug in the UK, particularly among young people, and has now become a mainstream club drug. However, many young people who use this drug may be largely unaware of its damaging properties and its potential for addiction. We need to ensure that users are informed of the potentially negative consequences of heavy ketamine use.”
If you or someone you love is addicted to club drugs including ketamine, ecstasy, methamphetamine and others, then don’t wait to get treatment. Detox and drug addiction treatment is essential, and the earlier you start, the better the outcome. Call Michael’s House today to get started.
