Of 280 soldiers discharged from military service in 1971 as unfit, 207
reported the heavy use of at least one drug (most of these abused more than
one drug) and 146 (52%) reported having flashbacks. Most flashbacks were of
a simple visual nature, but repeat "trips," complex subjective experiences,
and persistent difficulties in concentration were often reported. The
prevalence and severity of flashbacks increased with drug use, particularly
with hallucinogens and marijuana. Because psychological, social, and
physiological factors may all contribute to flashback phenomena, other
populations need to be studied to determine the extent to which these
findings can be generalized.
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