18th Annual STEP Symposium

Street drugs can make people feel better, make symptoms go away.

If a psychotic break is triggered by substance abuse, it will go away once the substance use stops.

Substance use can cause psychosis that will resolve when the substance is cleared from the user's system, particularly stimulants, cocaine, and cannabis. It can also trigger an underlying psychotic disorder that hasn't manifested yet, that subsequently may never go away. That's a big risk. Marijuana in particular may be an environmental risk factor for psychosis in some biologically predisposed individuals.

Marijuana is an interesting drug, because the different chemicals in it have different effects on the brain. THC causes hallucinations and negative symptoms, while cannabidiol can have anti-anxiety and anti-psychotic effects. This is why many people with psychosis claim marijuana helps them feel better, although simultaneously it may be making their symptoms worse. (Source: OASIS Early Psychosis Toolkit)