Alcohol & recreational drugs
Of all the people diagnosed with a mental illness, 29% misuse alcohol or drugs
Using alcohol or drugs is a way that some people try to manage and deal with the symptoms they are experiencing during mental illness. Whether it is to feel happier, calmer or more alive, or even to dull out hallucinations, this process is known as self-medicating. If this is used for on-going coping, people may go on to develop dependencies on the substances they are using, which in itself will become problematic; so-called ‘dual-diagnosis’.
Misusing substances can be potentially very damaging for people with mental illness or those with a predisposition to mental illness (such as those with a family history of mental health problems) as some substances can trigger psychotic episodes.
Along with this, dependency on a substance like alcohol or drugs also brings another set of health concerns linked with the particular substance such as liver disease from long-term alcohol use.
Misusing substances can be potentially very damaging for people with mental illness or those with a predisposition to mental illness (such as those with a family history of mental health problems) as some substances can trigger psychotic episodes.
Along with this, dependency on a substance like alcohol or drugs also brings another set of health concerns linked with the particular substance such as liver disease from long-term alcohol use.
