Drugs, alcohol and mental health

Drugs, alcohol and your mind

Drugs and alcohol affect the the chemical messaging processes in your brain, so it’s difficult to predict how you will respond to them. Everyone is different. Every drug is different. And with illegal drugs you never quite know exactly what’s in them.

Some people use drugs or alcohol because they think they will make them feel better, but they can actually leave you feeling worse – anxious and agitated, or flat, unmotivated and moody. Your sense of reality can be affected too.

These reactions may be short term but they can still affect the way you think, make decisions and behave. There is a risk that while intoxicated you might act in ways that are out of character and that you later regret; you might act aggressively, take unnecessary risks or attempt to hurt yourself. Regular use can create health problems, affect your relationships with your friends and family, as well as causing potential problems for you at home or work.

If you’re taking prescribed medication for anxiety or depression, it’s also important to remember that alcohol and most illegal drugs interact with your medications and can reduce their effectiveness or increase the chance of side effects. If you’ve been drinking large amounts of alcohol or taking other drugs, tell your doctor so that they can assist you to get appropriate treatment.

Types of drugs and alcohol

There are three main types of drugs – depressants, stimulants and hallucinogens. They all cause your mind and body to react in different ways.

Depressants slow your body down; your breathing and heart rate can slow down, you can experience nausea and vomiting, and your ability to think and react to what is happening around you can be affected. Alcohol, heroin, cannabis, sedatives and inhalants are all depressants. These can give you a short-term sense of pleasure and make you feel good for a period of time, but many people experience feelings of depression after using depressants.They can make you disinhibited which increases the chance you might act impulsively or take unsafe risks. Regular depressant use can affect your mood in the longer term, making it even harder to cope, and can increase the risk of suicide in someone experiencing depression.

Cannabis can cause depression, acute panic attacks or ongoing anxiety and paranoia, even in people who have never previously shown signs of having a mental health condition. There is no known ‘safe’ level of cannabis use.

Stimulants speed your body up. They increase your heart rate, body temperature and blood pressure. People using stimulants can feel an increase in confidence, motivation and energy, and a decrease in the need for sleep. While some may say that they enjoy this ‘buzz’, stimulants can cause you to feel agitated, anxious, paranoid, aggressive and violent. You can also experience a range of physical side effects, such as severe stomach cramps, headaches and dizziness. Methamphetamines – such as speed and ice – cocaine and ecstasy are some of the commonly known stimulants.

Hallucinogens affect your sense of time and your emotional state, and can cause you to experience auditory or visual hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that aren’t there). Many people experience unpleasant or scary changes to their reality as a result of using hallucinogens. These negative effects can also be relived if the person experiences ‘flashbacks’ sometime later. Hallucinogens include LSD, ketamine and magic mushrooms. Cannabis can also have hallucinogenic effects.

How people react to drugs and alcohol depends on the person’s size, the type and amount of drugs and alcohol being taken, and how often they are being used. For more information about particular drugs and their effects have a look at Drug Facts: druginfo.adf.org.au

What are your habits like?

It is important to be aware of what drugs you are taking and how much you are drinking. Try keeping a diary for a week to keep track, and note down any specific reasons or triggers that make you feel like using. You could also ask yourself the following questions:

• Why do you use drugs and alcohol?
• Are you trying to escape something in your life?
• How often are you using drugs or alcohol?
• Are you using drugs or alcohol more regularly? Are you finding it hard to control how much you use?
• Are you starting to experience problems like missing work or not doing things you were meant to?
• Are you having trouble sleeping, eating or just doing your normal daily tasks?
• Have you noticed a change in your energy levels? More tired? More energy?
• Are you experiencing blackouts regularly?
• Are you experiencing changes in your mood? Finding it changing more quickly, or feeling more worried or unhappy than usual?
• Are you having trouble concentrating or making decisions?
• Are your friends or family asking you to take it easy?

Answering yes to several of these questions may mean that you are developing a problem with drugs or alcohol.

Taking action to change your habits

While there are many things about drug and alcohol use that are unpredictable, one thing we know for sure is that they affect our mental health. If you have developed drug or drinking problems because of your anxiety or depression, you will need to address both issues in order to make a full recovery. Reducing or cutting out drug and alcohol use improves health and wellbeing, and can make a big difference to the recovery process for someone experiencing anxiety or depression. It won’t always be easy and many people experience setbacks, but it is worth it.

Cutting down or cutting out?

Moderating or controlling your use

If you think drugs or alcohol are affecting your physical or mental health, reducing the amount you use, and how often, is a really good start.

It can take time to change drug and alcohol habits. Some practical strategies include:

• Try not to take drugs or drink when you are feeling down or anxious.
• Avoid keeping drugs or alcohol in the house.
• Spend time with friends and family members who do not use drugs and alcohol.
• Take yourself out of situations where you know you will take drugs or drink excessively.
• Don’t drink alone, and limit drinking to meal times.
• Choose drinks with a low alcohol content, or alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic drinks.
• Drink slowly – limit yourself to one drink per hour.
• Let your friends and family know you are trying to cut down and ask for their support.
• Try exercise, meditation or doing things you enjoy to tackle stress and anxiety rather than using drugs or alcohol.
• Look after your physical health by eating well, drinking water and exercising regularly.

Go easy on yourself. Remind yourself that changing habits takes time and that it’s normal to stumble along the way.

Setting your own personal goals on how you plan to cut back gives you something tangible to aim for.

For example:

• how many drug or alcohol free days you will have each week (aim for at least two alcohol free days each week and as many drug-free days as possible)
• how many standard drinks you will limit yourself to on any one drinking day (Australian guidelines recommend a maximum of two standard drinks per day¹)
• your maximum number of standard drinks per week.

If you need assistance, your doctor can provide more structured advice about how to change your habits, or refer you to psychologists or other counsellors for assistance. If necessary, they may also prescribe medication to help you stop drinking alcohol.

Stopping completely

It can be hard to stop taking drugs or drinking completely. However, it is best to stop completely rather than just cutting back when:

• you’ve become dependent on drugs or alcohol
• your anxiety or depression is severe
• you have suicidal thoughts
• you’ve experienced physical health, personal, financial or legal problems as a result of your drinking or drug use.

If you are taking antidepressants it is important to understand how your medication might interact with drugs or alcohol. Minimising your drug or alcohol use or cutting it out completely will assist with recovery and reduce potential side effects. Your doctor is a good person to talk to about managing your medication.

Minimising the risks

Regardless of how regularly or how much you use drugs or alcohol, it’s important to keep safe.

• Take it easy on the alcohol. Pace yourself and drink plenty of water.
• Set a limit on your drug and alcohol use – what you take and drink, and how much – and think about who can help you keep on track.
• Don’t mix drugs as you have no way of predicting how they will react together.
• Don’t use drugs alone. Ensure friends are nearby and ask for help if things don’t feel right.
• If you or a mate are in trouble, call triple zero (000). Emergency services are there to help, not dob you in.
• Use clean and hygienic tools to minimise the risk of infections and disease.
• If you are prescribed medication, talk with your health professional about any harmful interactions.

Getting support

Having a strong support network around you is really important if you have decided to take action to change your drug and alcohol habits. Support from friends and family is essential; they will provide reassurance and encouragement when you need it most.

You may need professional support to help you reduce your drug or alcohol use. A General Practitioner (GP) is a good place to start. They can give you information and refer you to other services for treatment, such as counselling or drug rehabilitation. You can also self-refer to some services.

Helplines such as the Beyond Blue Support Service or DrugInfo can provide information and direct you towards the right services.

Drug and alcohol services are available online, over the phone or in person, so you can link in to support in a way that you feel comfortable. Many people find it helpful to share their experiences with others going through the same thing, so you might think about joining a group in your local area.

Advice for family and friends

Supporting someone who is using drugs and alcohol can be really hard. Often you see things that the other person cannot; the changes in their thinking, their mood and the way they act with you and other friends or workmates. You might want to tell them to stop using, and you might have tried this, but you can’t force them to change – they need to make that choice for themselves.

• Be supportive and respectful. This does not mean that you have to support their drug or alcohol use; it means that you are supporting them emotionally. You can listen, talk about what is going on and let them know that they are not alone.
• Help them stay connected with friends that they share positive relationships with.
• Encourage them to continue doing things that help to improve their mood naturally – drug and alcohol free. Activities might include sport, music, learning a new skill, volunteering or getting outdoors.
• Ask them what you can do to help them. Often providing practical support, such as helping with cooking or household chores, can take the pressure off.
• Encourage them to talk with you or someone they trust about what is worrying them. These worries might be what triggers their drug and alcohol use.
• Help them find information and advice about drug and alcohol use online, over the phone or in person. If they are not interested you might suggest it again sometime, but be careful not to hassle them about it. You could also encourage them to contact the Beyond Blue Support Service for support.
• Encourage them to use safely to minimise the risks of them hurting themselves. If you are not sure what precautions they should take you can learn more together online.
• Remember that change takes time. Be patient and acknowledge their achievements, no matter how small, even if you do not understand what they are doing and why.

Supporting someone who is using drugs and alcohol can be exhausting. It’s important to take care of your own health and wellbeing during this time. Look after your physical health, take time out to do things you enjoy, and have your own supportive friends to call on when you need it. You might also find that at times you need a break, and that’s OK too. Just make sure your friend or family member knows how much time you need so they do not feel rejected or alone.

Depression and quitting smoking

Quitting smoking is one of the most important things you can do to improve your health. Quitting is also likely to improve your mental wellbeing. If you’ve had depression in the past, your chances of quitting for good are about the same as someone who hasn’t had depression. If you’re experiencing depression now, it can make quitting more challenging, but with the right support, you also have a good chance of quitting smoking successfully.

For more information, download Depression and quitting smoking: An information booklet