3 min
How addiction affects mental health and why some people may be more prone to addiction than others The Science in our Lives
-
- Education
Intro:
Hello, I am Kaitlyn Heckman, and i will be talking about how addiction affects mental health and why some people may be more prone to addiction than others.
Facts:
Addiction is a serious problem that can really affect a person's mental health. Addiction can cause problems such as paranoia, depression, anxiety, aggression, hallucinations, and more. Compared with the general population, people addicted to drugs are roughly twice as likely to suffer from these disorders, with the reverse also true meaning that if you have pre-existing mental health problems then you are more likely to get addicted to drugs. Some drugs can lead to both short- and long-term changes and problems in the brain. Some people use them to try and deal with the symptoms of their mental illness. This is called 'self-medication'. Drugs and alcohol can make your mental illness worse. Some other ways someone might be more prone to getting addicted is genetics, in that their family history could be more susceptible to addiction-like if your father or mother was addicted to drugs you would have to be more cautious around those drugs because you might be more susceptible to getting addicted to that drug. Same goes if a pregnant woman takes drugs when she is pregnant the baby might have a more likelihood of being addicted to that drug later on in life.
Message:
Addiction and Mental health problems go hand in hand in many cases and can be more common than you think. In that more than one in four adults with mental health problems also have an addiction problem. Someone with a mental health problem and addiction must treat both issues to see true results and recovery. Treatment for both mental health problems and addiction may include rehabilitation, medications, support groups, and therapy. Addiction can affect everyone not just the use but their friends and family too. The best way to make sure you don't hurt yourself or your friends or family is to never start drugs or alcohol abuse and fall down the path of addiction in the first place.
Personal Story:
I have personal experience with addiction. I have none, not many people in my family suffer from a drug addiction that I know of. Though on the mental health factor depression runs in my family, genetically. So when thinking of drugs and alcohol and knowing how that can make dpression come on or more easily the best plan of action for my personal self would be to avoid excessive drug and alcohol use.
SOURCES:
https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/health-consequences-drug-misuse/mental-health-effects
https://www.rethink.org/advice-and-information/about-mental-illness/learn-more-about-conditions/drugs-alcohol-and-mental-health/
https://www.mentalhealth.gov/what-to-look-for/mental-health-substance-use-disorders
Intro:
Hello, I am Kaitlyn Heckman, and i will be talking about how addiction affects mental health and why some people may be more prone to addiction than others.
Facts:
Addiction is a serious problem that can really affect a person's mental health. Addiction can cause problems such as paranoia, depression, anxiety, aggression, hallucinations, and more. Compared with the general population, people addicted to drugs are roughly twice as likely to suffer from these disorders, with the reverse also true meaning that if you have pre-existing mental health problems then you are more likely to get addicted to drugs. Some drugs can lead to both short- and long-term changes and problems in the brain. Some people use them to try and deal with the symptoms of their mental illness. This is called 'self-medication'. Drugs and alcohol can make your mental illness worse. Some other ways someone might be more prone to getting addicted is genetics, in that their family history could be more susceptible to addiction-like if your father or mother was addicted to drugs you would have to be more cautious around those drugs because you might be more susceptible to getting addicted to that drug. Same goes if a pregnant woman takes drugs when she is pregnant the baby might have a more likelihood of being addicted to that drug later on in life.
Message:
Addiction and Mental health problems go hand in hand in many cases and can be more common than you think. In that more than one in four adults with mental health problems also have an addiction problem. Someone with a mental health problem and addiction must treat both issues to see true results and recovery. Treatment for both mental health problems and addiction may include rehabilitation, medications, support groups, and therapy. Addiction can affect everyone not just the use but their friends and family too. The best way to make sure you don't hurt yourself or your friends or family is to never start drugs or alcohol abuse and fall down the path of addiction in the first place.
Personal Story:
I have personal experience with addiction. I have none, not many people in my family suffer from a drug addiction that I know of. Though on the mental health factor depression runs in my family, genetically. So when thinking of drugs and alcohol and knowing how that can make dpression come on or more easily the best plan of action for my personal self would be to avoid excessive drug and alcohol use.
SOURCES:
https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/health-consequences-drug-misuse/mental-health-effects
https://www.rethink.org/advice-and-information/about-mental-illness/learn-more-about-conditions/drugs-alcohol-and-mental-health/
https://www.mentalhealth.gov/what-to-look-for/mental-health-substance-use-disorders
3 min