Consumption dreams

Consumption dreams can be defined as dreams in which individuals who are in early substance withdrawal experience situations where drugs, drug paraphernalia, or their drug-using friends are present. These dreams are generally frequent during both early and prolonged withdrawal and are mostly reported within the first week of abstinence, though they may persist for weeks, months, or even years after stopping drug use.

It has been observed that there is an association between consumption dreams and craving, or the desire to use. Both consumption dreams and craving represent two different expressions of the same 'motivational frustration' that is experienced when someone stops using drugs. If drug-related dreams can act as conditioned drug stimuli, it is possible that the content of the dream may impact the intensity of the craving.

These dreams often involve a vivid relapse into the use of the main substance, with a simultaneous disbelief during the dream that the relapse has occurred. Upon waking, this can cause intense fear, guilt, and regret, followed by an immediate sense of relief once the individual realises it was just a dream.

Additionally, it has been observed that the primary drug of abuse can be related to the experience of consumption dreams during the first few days of withdrawal: there is a higher prevalence of these dreams with cocaine, followed by opioids and alcohol.