Substance intoxication
This article explains the state of intoxication. For other meanings, see Intoxication (disambiguation).
Trip is a redirect to this article. For other meanings, see Trip (disambiguation).
Taumel is a redirect to this article. For the band see Taumel (band)
Intoxication refers to an emotional state of ecstasy that lifts someone above their normal emotional state. The causes for this can be manifold, e.g. acute intoxication with intoxicants or manic states.
The related phenomenon of ecstasy is also described as "intoxication of the senses". Colloquially, some drug intoxications are also called trip (journey). There are also similarities to trance, but this term is much more general.
Definition
In medicine, intoxication, detached from any feelings of happiness, is primarily understood as the state of confusion after drug consumption. It is therefore
"[e]very state after ingestion of a psychotropic substance with disturbances of consciousness, cognitive abilities, perception, affect and behaviour or other psychophysiological functions and reactions. The disturbances are directly related to the acute pharmacological effects of the substance [...]".
- ICD-10 (WHO): German Institute for Medical Documentation and Information
A division into simple and pathological intoxication is controversial from a medical point of view (also with regard to culpability). This is because, firstly, the data on so-called "pathological intoxication" are sparse and, secondly, simple intoxication can hardly be described as non-pathological.
Term origin
The word "intoxication" (from Low German rūsch, attested 1563) originates from Middle High German (riuschen) and originally meant "impetuous movement", "impetuous in attack", "to rush", "run-up". The reference to drunkenness in general, not just substance-related, arose in the 16th century. Thus as reuschlin 1551 for "(slight) drunkenness".
