Drugs and alcohol have an undeniable impact on a person’s mind and body. As psychoactive substances, they have the power to alter your or your loved one’s mental health in the worst possible ways. It’s also the reason why dual diagnosis is one of our major approaches at LA Wellness Home because we believe that you can’t treat one without addressing the other.
For this post, we’ve talked with our specialists to discuss how substance use affects mental health and vice versa. Read on to understand why you or someone you know might be at risk.
The relationship between drug use and mental health
We’ve been asked this question many times over: how does substance abuse affect mental health? The quick answer is that these two conditions contribute to each other’s comorbidity.
This means that mental health conditions, such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and PTSD, among others, are risk factors for SUD itself, which can also lead to the development of various mental conditions without proper intervention.
But just because you or your loved one has a mental illness or SUD doesn’t mean you’re prone to have the other. Some factors are at play here, including the following:
- Genetic vulnerability. One aspect of how substance abuse affects mental health is attributed to a person’s genetic predisposition. This means that you might have a family history of SUD or mental health problems that may put you at a higher risk of developing such conditions.
- Environmental influences. Your environment is also a huge factor when it comes to the psychological impact of substance abuse or vice versa. Individuals who were raised or live in vulnerable situations are likely to deal with mental illnesses and substance abuse.
- Stress. Chronic stress has been found to alter a person’s brain chemistry, which can make them prone to illnesses related to mental health and substance abuse.
Overall, these are just some of the factors that we often observe in our clients. Whatever situation you are in, you’re always welcome in our inpatient rehab center if you need mental health support or SUD treatment.
How does substance abuse affect mental health?
So, how do drugs affect your mental health? At LA Wellness Home, we’ve treated many clients struggling with various substances, and the common denominator among most of them is how addiction affected their mental health. To give you an idea, here’s how some of the notoriously addictive substances can wreak psychological havoc:
1. Alcohol
Alcohol is a widely available and legal substance, which makes it easy to access and abuse. For some, their night out may bring a nasty hangover that will go away in a few hours. But for others, it can spiral into a more serious case of alcoholism and the need for professional alcohol rehab.
Once the chemicals of alcohol are in your bloodstream, it will alter how neurotransmitters work. It could increase the risk of depression, impulsive behavior, panic disorder, and even aggression. Some people could also develop alcohol dependence, where they couldn’t function without drinking – which only gets worse over time.
This explains why alcohol/drug abuse is bad not just on the physical aspect but also to your brain health.
2. Heroin
Heroin is an illegal, highly addictive, and fast-acting substance. Once ingested, you’ll get a quick ‘high’, which makes it even more irresistible to those who use it. On the outside, a person under the influence of heroin will drift in and out of wakefulness, which some refer to as being “on the nod”.
As with any psychoactive drug, heroin can trigger depressive disorders, mood swings, anxiety, and withdrawal symptoms once the effects wear off. Over time, a person all alone with heroin will start to exhibit further behavioral changes, which will worsen their mental health state. If you know someone in this situation, it’s best to encourage them to explore heroin detox.
3. Fentanyl
Fentanyl is a powerful opioid that is actually used for pain relief in medical settings, so much so that it’s actually 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more powerful than morphine.
Due to these intense effects, fentanyl is also widely abused outside of its intended use.
So, how can drugs affect your mental health when it comes to fentanyl? Some of the hallmark psychological effects of this drug are hallucinations, delusions, and psychotic symptoms. Eventually, the person will also become reclusive and vulnerable to depression and other co-occurring mental health disorders.
But while it may seem like a scary situation, recovery from fentanyl is still possible. You or your loved one can enroll in our fentanyl detox as the first step of treatment.
4. Cocaine
For the longest time, experts have warned about the mental and emotional effects of cocaine. Known for its street names, such as ‘coke’, ‘blow’, and ‘snow’, cocaine boosts the dopamine activity in the brain to give you a euphoric ‘high’.
But how can substance abuse affect mental health, in this case? Unfortunately, this rush of feel-good sensation makes cocaine intensely addictive. If the person fails to satisfy his or her cocaine cravings, they may become moody, anxious, irritable, and agitated. Some would experience a ‘crash’ or depression as the dopamine activity in the brain drops by a huge notch.
On the upside, cocaine addiction treatment is available if you or your loved one is dealing with the situation we discussed above. In our drug rehab facility, you can break free from the grips of cocaine addiction in the safest and most sustainable way.
5. Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine or ‘meth’ can trigger your brain to release as much as 1,250 times more dopamine than what you’ll get during sexual intercourse. This intense euphoria happens in just one hit, making meth addictive and hard to quit.
Some would often say that “drugs make you crazy”, but in the case of meth, it goes beyond this stigma. As the brain gets used to the feel-good sensation, the person using meth will continue to chase the same high until he builds tolerance and spirals into a much worse mental state.
Still, it’s never too late to seek help, even if the person is deep into addiction. Our meth detox can help you or your loved one overcome SUD, no matter how much you failed to quit in the past.
Struggling with substance abuse and mental health problems? Our dual diagnosis can help.
Mental health and addiction often go hand in hand – and so should its treatments. If you or someone you know is struggling with SUD and co-occurring mental health conditions, you can always reach out to our Los Angeles rehab center.
Our 24/7 helpline is open if you have questions or once you’re ready to start the admissions process. We also provide transportation assistance wherever you are in the United States, so you can receive the best care possible. And if you’re still weighing your options, you can contact us for a free insurance verification.
To learn more about our programs, feel free to call our inpatient rehab in Los Angeles today! Our team of licensed specialists is here to help you achieve long-term sobriety in a luxurious facility!
