Substance (Drug) Use and its Effect on Mental Health

Substance (Drug ) Use Part 2

Substance abuse or misuse is any drug use that causes personal problems such as health, emotional, relationship, work, financial and legal. It is any drug use that breaks healthy connections with family, friends and society. One does not have to be an addict or alcoholic to have a problem with substances. Substance abuse can be in the form of: improper use; taking too much; taking for too long and improper combination  Improper use –of the drug for a different illness or taking another person’s prescription  Taking too much – at once or smaller doses more often  Taking for too long – after the drug is no longer needed; extending the prescription  Improper combination – of drugs such as alcohol and benzodiazepines that can produce unwanted dangerous outcomes including death Substance use patterns include: non-use; experimental use; social use; binge use; instrumental use; habitual use; compulsive use Non-users – are those who chose to abstain from substance use due to;  choice for personal, health, family or social reasons  deciding that using is unpleasant or dangerous  membership of particular religious or cultural group  negative experiences of long-term substance abuse/ addiction seen in relatives and friends Experimental Use –the first few times one tries alcohol or other drugs, due to;  Friends or peers that use/ peer pressure/ need to belong  Willingness to try the drug/ curiosity  A sense of safety about the drug and the setting  Boredom/ depression  desire for stimulating or exciting alternatives In experimentation, one is exploring their relationship with the substance such that if they do not enjoy the effects, they go back to non-use. If they do, they become social users. There are risks such as;  using too much and/or taking too strong a dose due to inexperience  not knowing how much one’s body can handle  teenagers bingeing with the intention to get drunk or high  in the case of street drugs, not knowing the source, dealer or manufacturer Social Use – using a substance in social settings as a factor in the event but not the main purpose of the gathering. Using does not take priority over other life activities and experiences and it does not affect one’s life negatively. Instances can be to celebrate important occasions or just to socialize. Binge Use – heavy drinking or drugging sporadically, with periods of little or no use in between. It can be as problematic as regular use and is often associated with higher levels of;  domestic violence  hostility and aggression  hospital admissions (compared to heavy steady users)  work problems  police altercations The unpredictable nature of binge use can create a destructive set of stressors for those involved in the user’s life. Instrumental Use – use of a substance as an instrument to fulfill a purpose, often seeking pleasure or avoiding pain  Seeking pleasure – for fun, feelings of power and control; feeling high by experiencing altered states and perceptions; reducing inhibitions  Avoiding pain – physical pain- seeking relief from physical discomfort; psychological pain- suppressing negative feelings like anger, guilt, shame, grief and boredom Habitual Use – drinking or using drugs regularly, potentially increasing risk for problems in one or more areas of one’s life. Problem use is generally characterized by frequent use of the substance. Problems may emerge in areas of health, relationships, school, work, finances or legal status. Social life and circumstances may narrow to include only other users and social functions involving using. At this point, one is still not considered dependent and has some choice about their substance use. Compulsive Use – one experiences an overwhelming physical and psychological need to use the substance. Usually, the brain chemistry has changed, and one experiences physical and psychological dependence.  Physical dependence – Tolerance (need for increasing doses to feel the same high) and Withdrawal (symptoms are characteristic of the particular drug, usually undesirable and are the opposite effect of the high)  Psychological dependence – craving; an all consuming focus on the drug ( getting it, getting high, dealing with coming down, finding more) One experiences no choice about using and feels no control over the amount consumed.

Addiction can be described practically by “3 C’s”:..............................................................To be continued in Part 3