DRUGS, ALCOHOL AND THE IMPACT
+ Addiction, dependence and withdrawal
Words like addiction, withdrawal, detox and dependence are used a lot when talking about drugs and/or alcohol but what do they mean?
Addiction is a word that is used to describe being dependent on a substance.
At YSAS we use the word dependence instead. We can help you work out how dependent you might be and help you decide what to do.
Most drugs can cause dependence if you use them often over a long period of time. Dependence can vary from one person to another. If you use drugs regularly you can develop a tolerance, which means you have to keep on taking more of the drug each time to get the same effect.
You might start using drugs and/or alcohol occasionally or recreationally but if use becomes much more frequent or intensive you can start to become dependent on the substance. This is sometimes described as drug and/or alcohol abuse.
A sign than you are becoming dependent on a drug is that you start to crave the drug and it becomes a priority in your life.
Physical dependence is when your body slowly becomes used to having a substance, and it starts to need it to function normally.
Psychological dependence is when use has become an important part of daily life and helps you feel ‘normal’, it also makes stopping or cutting down very hard.
Both kinds of dependence can affect your mental health and physical health. Being dependent on drugs can make you feel anxious, depressed and out of control.
Withdrawal is what you experience when you stop using or reduce the use of a drug or alcohol. Physical withdrawal symptoms may include aches and pains, anxiety, strange dreams, hot and cold flushes, nausea and other flu-like symptoms.
Stopping or reducing doesn’t always cause withdrawal symptoms. Your level of dependence and whether or not you experience withdrawal symptoms is usually related to:
- The type of drug (s) used (some are more likely to cause more physical dependence than others)
- How long you’ve been using
- How often you use
- How much you use
Substance dependence can have very negative effects on relationships, wellbeing and health. You might feel like you cannot function or feel comfortable without drugs. You may have cravings which are constant and intense. Other signs of dependence include spending more money than you can afford to keep up your supply, and doing things you wouldn’t have previously done to get drugs.
Also, some drugs like benzos and alcohol, when used regularly for a long time can cause withdrawal symptoms which can be really dangerous for your health. Because of this it is a good idea to get advice or get medical help if you think you may be dependent on one of these and you plan to stop using.
If you're worried about your drug use and it is affecting your life in ways that make you unhappy, it is a good idea to deal with it as soon as possible. We can help you work out the best way to move forward.
If you are trying to cut down your drug or alcohol use and need some help Contact Us
+ How much is safe to drink?
For both males and females 2 standard drinks per day is the recommended amount, with two alcohol free days a week. Also, if you are under 18 years the recommended amount is zero.
If alcohol makes you feel unhappy, unwell or impacts important things in your life, either during or after drinking, you may be drinking too much.
If you are not sure what to do and want to talk to someone Contact Us
+ How alcohol and drugs affect the body
If you are drinking a lot in one go you might notice you start to feel sick, shaky or even blackout. Also the more you drink, the worse you will feel when you are sobering up.
When you drink a lot of alcohol over a long time this can result in serious problems like brain damage, heart and liver failure, cancer and dependency.
There are things you can do to reduce the harms caused by alcohol, for example:
- Count your drinks and how often you drink.
- If you have been drinking regularly and are not feeling well these things may be related. It could be a good time to talk to a doctor about your health.
- Make sure you have at least 2 days without alcohol every week.
- Notice if you are saying or doing things when drinking that you regret (if you are then it may be useful to cut down, or have a break).
If you are not sure what to do and want to talk to someone Contact Us
+ How drugs and alcohol affect the brain
Drugs and alcohol can feel like they help you escape your problems, relax and have fun. They can also affect your mental health and mood.
This is because the way drugs and alcohol work is by changing how your brain functions by adjusting the chemical balance in it.
Short term impacts on your mental health can include; feeling anxious, agitated, moody, down, flat or unmotivated and you may be more aggressive or paranoid than you used to be.
You might notice that you can’t go to a party without using drugs or alcohol. This can be a sign you are getting dependant on a substance. You could start having problems with your family or friends, getting into arguments or not hanging out any more because of your use. It can also cause issues in other areas of life like school, work or health.
If you have a mental health condition the effects could be even more intense, or your mental health could get worse because of substance use. Drugs and alcohol can also sometimes be a trigger for a pre-existing mental health conditions.
When using drugs and/or alcohol there is always some risk. Things like taking the wrong dose (too much, too often), mixing drugs, or using for a long time can have ongoing effects on you.
If your drug and/or alcohol use makes you feel unhappy, unwell or impacts important things in your life, either during or after drinking, you may be drinking too much.
If you are feeling worried about your substance use and want to talk to someone Contact Us
+ Moods and comedowns
Different drugs can make you feel different things: energised, loved up, aggressive or even make you see things that aren’t there, by changing the natural processes and chemicals in your brain.
A comedown is normal for most drugs, including alcohol. You might feel irritable, sad, empty, manic, depressed and/or tired when the drug leaves your system. As your brain gets back to normal balance you will most likely start feeling like your normal self again, usually in a couple of days.
But if drugs and alcohol are part of your daily routine, intense mood swings can become normal too. Stress can become even harder to deal with as time goes on, and you may become more dependent on substances to help you cope.
Learning some new ways to deal with stress and anxiety, instead of alcohol and drugs is a good idea. You could try breathing exercises, going for a walk, learning a new skill like gardening or woodwork or talking to a friend, counsellor or drug and alcohol worker.
If you are not sure what to do and want to talk to someone Contact Us
+ Understanding overdose
Taking too much of a drug; or mixing different drugs can lead to overdose.
It is very hard to know exactly how much is too much as it depends on the substance, the situation and the person.
Heroin overdose is the most common but it is not the only drug that can cause death. Mixing drugs can be really dangerous because your body can respond in unpredictable ways. If you are drinking a lot or taking benzos with other drugs your chance of overdose is higher.
If you haven’t used drugs for a few days your tolerance will be less. This means that, if you use your usual dose you could overdose, even though you normally can use that amount. The same thing can happen if you relapse (use again after stopping) – if you have been through withdrawal using the dose you would have before withdrawal could kill you.
Remember never to use alone.
If you think someone might have overdosed ask them if they have taken anything and look for these signs:
- Collapse
- Continuous vomiting
- Blue lips and nails
- Choking and gurgling
- Seizure
- Fewer than four breaths per minute
Call an ambulance on 000 and wait with the person. Don’t let worrying about getting in trouble stop you from calling an ambulance in an emergency.
If you are feeling worried about your drug or alcohol use and want to talk to someone Contact Us
+ Pregnancy, drugs and alcohol
Becoming a parent can be one of the most exciting and scary things you ever do. When you have a baby, you are suddenly responsible for the life of another person who is dependent on you for their safety and survival.
The choices you make can have a huge impact on your child and their life – and it starts when you are pregnant.
Lots of ‘soon to be’ mums find out they are pregnant and then make really important changes to their life. Having a healthy lifestyle when you are pregnant or breastfeeding is needed to make sure there are less risks to your baby and their health.
Research says that using alcohol and/or other drugs at this time can harm your child’s growth, brain development and result in other health complications.
The drugs that may cause harm include:
- Alcohol
- Cigarettes
- Cannabis
- Amphetamines – including methamphetamine
- Cocaine
- Ecstasy
- GHB
- Heroin
- Prescription medicine
- Some over the counter medications such as cough medicine, painkillers or cold & flu tablets
- Some natural supplements you buy at a health food shop such as herbs and vitamins
- Traditional herbal medicines
If you are dependent on drugs or alcohol it can be really hard to completely change your life when you are pregnant. Getting help from a drug and alcohol service or your doctor as early as possible is a good step.
If you are using substances or taking prescription medication, talk to your doctor, midwife or obstetrician about what level is safe and what is not. If you can’t quit, it is important to be honest with your doctor or nurse – tell them if you have been using drugs or drinking. They will need to carefully check in on your baby while you are pregnant which is why your medical professionals need to know. There are hospitals that have extra support for young women who are going through the same experience.
Cutting down or stopping your alcohol and other drug use at any stage of your pregnancy, even late pregnancy, will benefit both you and your baby’s health.
If you are feeling worried about your substance use and want to talk to someone Contact Us
+ Do drugs cause death?
Death can occasionally happen because of drug use but there are things that make the risk higher or lower.
The effect of a drug depends on your size, what you have taken, the amount, what else is in your body, your level of tolerance and general health.
The way you take a drug has an impact too. Injecting a drug has the highest risk because of the danger of sharing needles and increased risk of overdose. However, cigarettes and alcohol use still result in the highest number of drug-related deaths. Just because something is easy to get, doesn’t mean it is safe.
A certain drug might have a low risk of death but you may end up in dangerous situations because your judgement has been impacted. For example, driving a car, or getting into a car with someone who has been using substances is very high risk but might seem like a fun thing to do if you are drunk.
If is really important to think about the risk of what you are using, how you are using it. Do some research so you understand the drug and don’t use alone.
If you are feeling worried about your substance use and want to talk to someone Contact Us