India contains almost 6 crore alcohol
addicts, 3.1 crore people are addicts for various other drugs like the ganja,
heroin, cocaine, and cannabis-related products. “Nearly one in five alcohol user
suffers from dependence and needs urgent treatment,” said the survey conducted
by AIIMS, Delhi, pegging the number of people who need urgent treatment at
around 3.2 crore people of total 5.7 crore people considered to be alcohol
addicts. Overall, 1.6 % women and 27.3% men in the country use alcohol.
To make the matters worse, there are 8.5 lakh
people in the country who inject drugs (PWID). Users of opium based drugs
report high incidence of injecting drugs (heroin 46% and pharmaceutical opioids
46%), a large number of these drug users report risky injecting practice
A person’s mental health refers to the
condition of their psychological and emotional well-being. Poor mental health
can have severe ramifications, and so it is very important that people take
care of it. One way of looking after your mental health is by taking in to
consideration the effects drugs and alcohol can have.
The NHS define mental health as “The
emotional and spiritual resilience which enables us to survive pain,
disappointment and sadness. It is a fundamental belief in our own and others’
dignity and worth”. Those who misuse alcohol and drugs on a daily basis
severely impact their mental well-being.
The short-term effects of alcohol and drugs
may initially bring a somewhat pleasurable experience to the user, but this
impact is only temporary. In the long-term it can cause serious issues for
their mental well-being.
1. Disrupts
the functions of the brain
Regions of the brain are disrupted by drug
abuse, as the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that
the brain stem, limbic system, and cerebral cortex are all affected. The brain
stem controls life-sustaining functions, including sleeping, breathing, and
heart rate, while the limbic system holds the brain’s reward circuitry and
helps to control emotions and the ability to feel happiness. The cerebral
cortex is considered the “thinking center” of the brain, managing
problem-solving, planning, and decision-making abilities as well as helping
people to process information provided by their senses. The more often drugs
are used, the more they will impact brain chemicals and circuitry, which can
lead to drug dependence and withdrawal symptoms when the drugs process out of
the body. Drug cravings, dependence, and withdrawal symptoms, coupled with a
loss of control over use, are signs of addiction.
2. Decreases confidence
Alcohol and drugs
can disrupt the daily function to the human brain. Alcohol for example is a
depressant which will cause disruptions on the balance of the brain affecting
thoughts, feelings and actions. Alcohol and drugs cause the brain to release
chemical changes that create stimulation by weakening the part of the brain
associated with inhibition leading to increases in confidence.
3. Confusion in decision making
Long-term drug use may also result in the
deterioration of some of the brain’s white matter, which can negatively impact
the way a person responds to emotions. It can drastically lower the ability to
make proper decisions by thinking clearly.
4. Reduces memory and capability
of learning
Nowadays, drugs like marijuana is
mostly consumed by teenagers and young adults.
initiating
marijuana use before turning age 18 raises the risk for addiction as an adult.
As many as 30 percent of those who use marijuana will suffer from addiction to
the drug, and the risk is increased 4-7 times when use begins before the age of
18. As a person ages, neurons in the hippocampus are naturally lost,
and marijuana use may speed up his process, leading to memory problems,
Impaired coordination, learning issues, and sleep problems.
5. Anxiety, Depression and
stress
Alcohol and
drug abuse is a major cause for these 3 mental health fears. It is also known
to lower the levels of serotonin in the brain to cause changes to an
individual’s mood, and excessive drinking cause’s increases in anxiety, stress
and depression. Drugs in particular
have been connected to effect mental health by causing psychiatric illnesses
such as post-traumatic stress disorders, forms of anxiety and phobias. Such
health issues have been found to come into play when substance abusers are
suffering from withdrawal symptoms.
6. Self-harm and Death
Alcohol
and drugs can have a major impact on the psychological function and mental
well-being of an individual through abuse. Psychosis is one of the main mental
health issues caused by alcohol or drugs. This can be defined as a mental
disorder in which an individual’s thoughts and emotions are so impaired that
reality appears to be non-existent. Commonly, such health issues are spotted in
an individual through psychotic episodes and according to the NHS these can be
things such as hallucinations, delusions, confusion and disturbed thoughts
along with individuals gaining a lack of insight and self-awareness. Drugs
in particular are known to trigger psychotic mental health issues, but a
cocktail of both drugs and alcohol can have twice as much of an impact. The
main drugs known to cause effects are cocaine, amphetamine and methamphetamine.
Psychosis is something that also can be related to self-harming and suicide.
According to the NHS over half of people who die from suicide have a history of
self-harming with links to drugs and alcohol issues.
Source : https://www.randoxtestingservices.com/effects-alcohol-drugs-mental-health/
https://americanaddictioncenters.org/health-complications-addiction/central-nervous-system
https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/india-has-six-crore-alcohol-addicts-72-lakh-people-addicted-to-cannabis-ganja-charas-heroin-other-drugs/1491108/
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