Addictions & Substance Abuse

Substance misuse is an increasingly recognised problem among people with mental health problems. Many individuals may suffer from both mental health and substance misuse problems and while there is some difficulty in identifying which condition occurs first, in cases where individuals suffer from both, experts suggest that each condition may play a role in the development of the other.

Substance misuse seems to worsen the social and psychological problems of people with mental health problems. It may influence the course of major psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia and depression as well as producing a wide range of minor symptoms such as sleep disturbance, panic, poor concentration, memory problems and irritability. This may include negative effects on social circumstances, behaviours, severity of psychiatric symptoms and an increased risk of suicide.

Reasons for the development of substance misuse in those with mental health problems may include:

Self-medication (See our leaflet Facts You Should Know About the Medicines You Take)

Gaining access to social groups

Coping with stress (See our leaflet Stress)

Irrespective of the reasons for the association between psychiatric conditions and substance misuse, it is clear that such misuse exacerbates existing social and psychological problems. The negative effects of substance misuse among those with mental health problems may include:

Increased risk of homelessness
Increased risk of violent behaviour
Increase in psychiatric symptoms such as hallucinations
Increased social problems

The increased risk of suicide among substance misusers presents yet another worrying trend. For example the suicide risk among intravenous (injecting) drug users is thirty times that of the general population.