Substance abuse is when you use alcohol, drugs, or prescription medication in a harmful manner. It is not something that must be taken lightly, as it can affect every aspect of your life. From your health, relationships, and career to finance, nothing is out of its scope to injure.
One of the very fundamental aspects of your life that substance abuse affects is your mental health. Unfortunately, it is also something that you may often overlook in considering the effects of substance abuse. So, in this article, we will explore how substance abuse impacts your mental health and how you can take to remedy it.
The Psychological Impact of Substance Abuse
The psychological impact of substance abuse can be felt far and wide. It can impact your consciousness, learning, memory, behavior, and focus. Typically, substances are psychoactive in that they can change your brain’s structure and function over time. So, cognitive and behavioral deficits become evident.
Initially, the effects of substances will make you feel good. Some effects you experience are:
- Euphoria
- Relaxed feelings
- Increased wakefulness
- Pain relief
- Reduced anxiety
- Ease with social interactions
- Drowsiness
- Lightheadedness.
However, over time, with chronic substance abuse, the adverse effects take over. You can experience:
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Anxiety
- Mood shifts
- Confusion
- Memory difficulties
- Sleep difficulties
- Lethargy
- Fatigue
- Lowered focus and motivation
- Hostility and violent behavior
- Paranoia
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Brain damage, especially among teenagers.
The thing with substance abuse is that despite the fact that you can feel its impact on your psychological health and well-being, you will not be able to quit. Therefore, treatment or rehabilitation (rehab) is required.
Common Mental Health Disorders Linked to Substance Abuse
The effects of substance abuse are not limited to a few adverse psychological impacts. It is very common for substance abuse to be linked with a mental health disorder. While it cannot definitively be said that one contributes to the other, experts suggest the following possibilities:
- Common risk factors can lead to substance abuse and mental health disorders.
- Mental health disorders can contribute to substance abuse, especially as a way to self-medicate.
- Substance abuse can contribute to the development of mental health disorders, as it can lead to changes in the brain’s structure, chemistry, and function.
Coming to the common mental health disorders linked with substance abuse, some of the major ones are:
- Anxiety disorders
- Major depressive disorder
- Bipolar disorder
- Personality disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Schizophrenia.
How Substance Abuse Affects Brain Function
Generally speaking, substance abuse refers to the misuse of psychoactive substances that harm the brain. Common substances are:
- Alcohol
- Tobacco (nicotine)
- Cannabis
- Inhalants
- Hallucinogens
- Cocaine
- Heroin
- Prescription stimulants
- Prescription opioids
- Methamphetamine.
While the short-term effects of these substances can feel good, they keep you going back for more and then some more. Before you know it, you are on the path of substance abuse. Over a period of time, these substances affect your brain functioning. Typically, they affect your brain networks that are linked with cognition, memory, and behavior.
Substance abuse can begin as early as the teenage years, so these effects can be very strongly felt among teenagers. It can adversely impact brain development and lead to brain damage. Adults are not exempt from this either, and some of the dangers that substance abuse contributes to are:
- Movement disorders
- Neuromuscular disorders affect the nerves, spinal cord, and muscles.
- Traumatic brain injury can lead to impaired functioning and impulsivity.
- Seizures
- Stroke.
Substance abuse, by its impact on brain functioning, can lead to life-threatening conditions. In extreme cases, it can lead to fatalities as well.
Dual Diagnosis: Challenges and Effective Treatment Approaches
When substance abuse and a mental health disorder co-occur, it is known as a dual diagnosis. Dual diagnosis requires treating both these conditions at the same time. While it takes longer than treating a single condition, it is holistic and contributes to lasting recovery. The most effective treatment approach is:
Behavioral Therapies – The behavioral therapies that have shown promise in treating co-occurring disorders are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
Medication – Effective medication management involves prescribing, monitoring, and adjusting medication to meet your needs, symptoms, lifestyle factors, and goals.
Support Groups – Peer support groups can be very effective in providing you with belonging and community, as well as the motivation and responsibility you need for lasting recovery and sobriety.
In-Patient Care – In severe cases, a hospital stay may be required. This involves round-the-clock medical and psychiatric supervision.
Dual diagnosis treatment has taken great strides over the years and many rehabilitation centers offer personalized treatment options for the same. However, it is not without its challenges. Experts suggest that clients with dual diagnosis can be more disabled and might require more services than others. Nevertheless, holistic treatment can successfully address these challenges.
Final Reflections
You might have often heard it said in jest, “Kids, this is why you mustn’t do drugs!” While it is ideal to stay away from any kind of psychoactive substances, many factors can make it extremely difficult.
Substance abuse can make things seem very dire, especially when it affects your mental health and overall functioning. However, know that there is light at the end of the tunnel with treatment, recovery, and caring for your mental health. A sober tomorrow can become your reality if you take the right steps toward your healing.
