Recieved on 11/29/99:
"Hi, I m thinking about buying coke for new years eve. I have previously tried speed and ecstasy - I ve tried speed several times and ecstasy once. I have had a psychotic attack before (don t know if it was entirely because of speed - but speed may have been what "triggered" the attack.) I haven't touched any drugs since this spring. I am still in contact with the psychiatric system - but I don t need medicine anymore (3 months). I don t want to do drugs anymore - but please tell me about the psychic risks of cocaine - will coke make me go psychotic ??? I would like to do coke on new years eve - and then no more."
Dr Charlie Perkel replied:
"certain people for reasons not yet fully understood have a sensitivity to the effects of certain substances which may expose or bring out psych problems. This person has been psychotic (though he hasn't described what he means by the term) more than once, & appears to have a psychotic diathesis (or tendency). For such people, stimulant & hallucinogenic drugs are extremely toxic (& I include dagga in this) & to be avoided at all costs, almost like an allergy of sorts. The problem here is that stimulant drugs are what is termed 'kindling agents', they decrease the resistance of the brain to certain kinds of problems, & with each psychotic episode that is drug induced, the risk for another is increased, & longer term problems may be potentiated.
Bottom line, avoid as it is not worth the risk, rather have a few (safe) glasses of champagne...ooops don't want to make EEC mad....I mean sparkling wine."
-please note opinions expressed above are not necessarly those of RaveSafe-
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