Am J Psychiatry 1976; 133:634-640
Copyright © 1976 by American Psychiatric Association
The "intoxication state of consciousness": a model for alcohol and drug abuse
M Galanter
The author describes a model of intoxicant use based on altered states of
consciousness and reviews his own and others' research on marijuana to
illustrate the utility of this model, which is derived from both
introspective reports and observed data. The relationship of social
behavior and cognitive functioning to the "intoxication state of
consciousness" is discussed. This state of consciousness may have an
adaptive value in engendering and stabilizing social cohesion. Possible
treatment implications include cognitive labeling of cues that precipitate
episodes of abuse, training for moderated drug use while patients are
intoxicated, and providing abusers with altered consciousness through other
means, such as meditation.
