JWH-122 Consumption Adverse Effects: A Case of Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder Five-Year Follow-Up

• Published in: Journal of psychoactive drugs Vol. 49; no. 3; pp. 262 - 265
• Main Authors: Coppola, Maurizio, Mondola, Raffaella
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Haight Ashbury Publications 01-07-2017
• Subjects: Adolescent; Cannabinoids - adverse effects; Follow-Up Studies; Hallucinations - chemically induced; Hallucinogens; Humans; Illusions - drug effects; Indoles - adverse effects; Male; Marijuana; Naphthalenes - adverse effects; JWH-122; Cannabinoids; hallucinations; naphthoylindole
• ISSN: 0279-1072; 2159-9777
• DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2017.1316431

Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists are a heterogeneous group of psychotropic drugs functionally related to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol. These substances, marketed as cannabis substitutes, have been associated with numerous cases of severe intoxication and death across the world. In our article, we describe a case of hallucinogen persisting perception disorder developing in a natural cannabis user after consumption of JWH-122, a naphthoylindole largely used since 2010. Clinical symptomatology persisted for about four years and was alleviated through treatment with clonazepam. Considering that natural cannabis consumption can induce the development of a hallucinogen persisting perception disorder, it is not excluded that, in our patient, symptoms lasted a long time due to cannabis consumption. This article describes the clinical evolution from onset to resolution of all symptoms.