Substance Abuse

Substance abuse and Mental Health

Many people who abuse substances develop mental illnesses. The most common connection between substance abuse and mental health is that people use substances to numb symptoms they might be experiencing from a mental illness. A classic example of this is Raj from the Big Bang Theory. Raj suffers from social anxiety and uses alcohol to feel more comfortable in social situations. Unfortunately, the use of substances often do little to address the underlying mental health symptoms and ultimately create a whole new batch of problems while also increasing the severity of the original mental health symptom/s.

The possible long-term effects include the following.

• Needing to take more to get the same effect.

• High blood pressure and strokes.

• Problems with your liver and pancreas.

• Development of certain cancers e.g. liver cancer, bowel cancer and mouth cancer.

• Difficulty obtaining or maintaining an erection.

• Problems with orgasms.

• Difficulties becoming pregnant.

• Feeling like you must use the drug or alcohol. This is known as being dependent.

• Withdrawal symptoms including feeling sick, cold, sweaty or shaky when you don’t take them.

• Having sudden mood changes.

• Having a negative outlook on life.

• Loss of motivation.

• Depression.

• Anxiety.

• Problems with relationships.

• Being secretive.

• Having episodes of drug-induced psychosis.

Cannabis/Weed

Using cannabis can make you feel anxious and can cause paranoia. In addition, excessive and long-term use of cannabis can increase your risk of psychosis.

Alcohol

Drinking can make you do something you would not normally do. This can include self-harm and suicide. Very high levels of alcohol can cause psychosis.

Amphetamine and methamphetamine

These drugs can make you feel wide awake and alert. This can make it difficult for you to relax or get to sleep and might cause you to have a drug-induced psychosis.

Ecstasy

Ecstasy use can lead to memory problems and can cause depression and anxiety.

Where to find help:

SADAG Mental Health Line

011 234 4837

Suicide Crisis Line

0800 567 567

SADAG Substance Abuse Helpline

0800 12 13 14

References:

Substance Abuse. (n.d.). South African Depression and Anxiety Group. Retrieved from http://www.sadag.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=114

WARNING

You may think that you recognize certain symptoms and/or disorders in yourself and others while reading this information! Please do not diagnose yourself because you will probably cause yourself unnecessary stress and distress. You are also, by law not allowed to make a diagnosis, as only registered Psychologists and Psychiatrists may do so.