26 June marks International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking annually.
People may choose to take drugs for many reasons; it may start out of curiosity, because of friends taking drugs, or because of rebelliousness. The experience might be enjoyable, leading to people wanting to repeat the experience. Drugs are also sometimes taken when people are trying to cope with problems in their lives, or because of feeling unhappy or stressed.
Drugs can act as a temporary “pick me up” to get people through difficult times; however, drugs can make difficult emotions or feelings worse, and in the long term, the feelings of relief won’t last. People might find themselves using more and more drugs to help them deal with their problems, which places them at risk of becoming dependent on these drugs, which may open the door to new problems for them…
Mental health conditions and substance use have an interconnected and complex relationship and can often co-exist. Persons with mental health conditions are at higher risk of developing substance use problems; also, in some cases, mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia may occur before addiction starts. Conversely, people with substance use disorders may also experience mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, which are triggered by drug use.
Studies have identified certain reasons that could help explain why the two conditions might occur together:
- Mental health conditions can lead to an increase in risk-taking behaviours, for example, people using substances to help them cope with their conditions and/or symptoms, such as depression and anxiety. However, this may make the mental health condition worse in the long term, along with increasing people’s risk for addiction. In addition, some mental health conditions may alter people’s brains so that using substances feels more rewarding, thus further increasing the risk of developing a substance use disorder.
- The reverse may also happen: substance use may cause changes to the brain that increase people’s risk for other mental health conditions.
- Certain factors, for example, genetics, trauma, or stress, can lead to the development of both mental health conditions and substance use disorders.
If you, a friend, colleague, or a loved one, is struggling with drug use, reach out to the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence here.
You can also reach out to SADAG in partnership with the National Department of Social Development’s 24-hour Substance Abuse Helpline at (0800 12 13 14)
