How can Drugs and Alcohol affect my Mental Health?

Alcohol and drugs are consumed by people for a variety of reasons. Whatever your motivation is, abusing alcohol or drugs could have a detrimental long-term impact on your Mental Health. The following are among the potential long-term effects of drugs:

  • Need greater dosage to have the same result.
  • Strokes and elevated blood pressure.
  • Issues with your pancreas and liver.
  • Development of specific cancers, such as cancers of the mouth, intestines, and liver.
  • Having trouble getting pregnant.
  • Feeling pressured to consume booze or drugs. It is referred to as dependency.
  • When you stop taking them, withdrawal symptoms can include feeling nauseous, chilly, sweating, or unsteady.
  • Experiencing abrupt mood swings.
  • Having a pessimistic view of life.
  • Lack of drive.
  • Depression.
  • Fear and anxiety.
  • Relationship issues.
  • Being reticent.
  • Experiencing drug-induced psychotic episodes.

Long-term drug or alcohol usage can have detrimental effects on your mental health. Drugs can worsen your condition and increase your risk of self-harm or suicide attempts.

Additionally, there is some indication that certain drug usage may be the initial cause of mental disease. For instance, studies have indicated that using cannabis may raise your risk of experiencing psychosis or a mental illness.

What is Psychosis?

Psychosis is a word used in medicine. You will perceive the world in a different way than other individuals if you suffer from psychosis. This might involve your perspective, beliefs, and sensory experiences.

You may hear or see things that others are not able to, may hold beliefs that others do not share. It’s been called a “break from reality”. Different terminologies are used to characterise psychosis. For example, “psychotic experience,” “psychotic episode,” or “psychotic symptoms.”

It may be a side effect of some medications or a sign of mental disorder.

Drugs and Effects

Which substances can affect my mental health?

We’ve included a list of some of the various drug kinds that may affect your mental health in this area. Please note that not all compounds are included in this list.

Any drug use has potential risks. Additionally, they may interact negatively with any drugs or other substances you may be taking..

Cannabis

In England, cannabis is one of the most widely used narcotics. Research found that 1 in 13 adults between the ages of 16 and 59 had used it in the previous year. Teenagers (16 to 24 years old) are more likely to use cannabis. According to the same survey, less than 1 in 5 adolescents reported using cannabis in 2018 and 2019.

Although cannabis may also create anxiety or paranoia, some individuals use it because it helps them feel cheerful or calm. It is possible for some people to have unreal experiences. This indicates psychosis brought on by drugs. According to certain research, there may be a greater chance of psychosis if you smoke cannabis for extended periods of time, often, and with “high-strength” strains, such as skunk.

Make an appointment as soon as possible to visit your general practitioner (GP) if you have been using cannabis and you believe it is having an impact on your health. Note that It is not appropriate for your doctor to pass judgement on you or disclose your drug usage to others.

Alcohol

There are certain mental health patients that struggle with alcohol use. Since alcohol is legal, obtaining it is simpler. It may exacerbate the symptoms of several mental health conditions.

The quantity and frequency of alcohol use also affect its long-term consequences. Regular binge drinking can have a major negative impact on your physical and mental health.

You may do things after drinking that you wouldn’t typically do. Suicide and self-harm are examples of this. A very high alcohol intake can lead to psychosis.

Amphetamine and Methamphetamine

These medications have the immediate effect of keeping you attentive and wide awake. You could find it difficult to unwind or fall asleep as a result. You might get a drug-induced psychosis as a result of them. Amphetamines may cause anxiety and depression in the long run. They could also become compulsive.

When you stop using the medication, you might experience depression and have trouble falling asleep.

Benzodiazepines

One class of tranquillisers are benzodiazepines. They’re applied to anxiety treatments. They are also employed as a relaxant for muscles. Benzodiazepines are sometimes used by doctors to treat anxiety. Also, due to its calming properties, some purchase them illegally. Doctors only prescribe them for a limited period of time since they might be addictive.

These medications may help you feel more at ease in the short term. Depending on the kind you take, they may cause excessive sleepiness or confusion.

It might be risky to combine benzodiazepines with alcohol or other substances. Breathing may be affected by it. Additionally, it may make overdose and death more likely.

Some people develop long-term addictions. Their daily lives may be significantly impacted by this.

Cocaine

Cocaine might temporarily increase your arousal, talkativeness, and self-assurance. You may get fatigue and depression after using it.

Long-term cocaine usage can have an impact on one’s emotions. It could have an impact on your friendships and family ties. In addition to being addicted, cocaine increases your risk of developing persistent issues with anxiety, paranoia, or sadness over time.

Cocaine can trigger heart attacks and strokes. You run the risk of overdosing or passing away if you combine it with other medicines.

Ecstasy

Ecstasy can cause you to feel conversational, confident, energised, and extremely pleased in the short term. Additionally, it occasionally causes confusion, anxiety, or drug-induced psychosis.

Over time, using ecstasy may cause memory issues. Depression and anxiety might also strike.

Heroin

Heroin has the short-term ability to calm and cheer you up. It relieves pain and has a sedative effect. But compared to certain other substances, heroin has a greater risk of overdose or accidental overdose.

Injecting heroin is only one of the many ways it may be consumed. But injecting heroin carries a significant danger of infection, especially if you share needles with other users.

Heroin has a strong addictive power. Serious long-term repercussions may result from it. Heroin may start to take precedence over other aspects of your existence. This might impact your relationships and make it more difficult to maintain a job.

LSD

LSD may cause you to have unreal experiences in the short term. There will be moments when the experience is thrilling and moments when it is terrifying. We refer to this as a “bad trip.”

LSD use might exacerbate mental health issues if you have a history of them. Anxiety during an LSD trip can be frightening. Additionally, LSD may cause mental health issues that you have never had before.

Getting help

How can I get help?

You don’t have to go through this path alone if you or a loved one is struggling with the intricate relationship between drug addiction and the mental health illnesses that follow. At The Insight Clinic, we are aware of the particular difficulties that emerge when drug misuse and mental health problems coexist. Our committed group of caring experts is here to assist you in finding a route to recovery and healing.

Contact us right now to start along the path to a better future. We can support a path of resilience and restored well-being by navigating the difficulties of addiction and mental health together. Your journey starts with a straightforward yet impactful decision: select The Insight Clinic for out-patient support.