Alcohol, drugs and mental illness

Alcohol and certain drugs can trigger mental health problems, particularly in young people and those who already have mental illness. Many drugs, including those legitimately prescribed to treat other conditions, may interact with the drugs used to treat mental illness, making them less effective and perhaps precipitating a crisis. It is crucial when receiving prescription drugs that you make your doctor aware of your history of mental illness and any psychiatric drugs currently being taken. However, a far greater risk comes from 'street' drugs purchased illegally and without control.

How people become dependent
Three factors seem to be important. The first is the availability of drugs. In the past, many people were introduced to drugs as a result of carelessness and over-prescription by the medical profession. This was true for opiates, barbiturates and, later, amphetamines. Others acquired their addiction from drugs contained in commonly available purchases of the time. For example, many familiar remedies, especially cough medicines, used to be laced with morphine.

The second factor seems to be vulnerability. This is dependent upon the personality of the user and on the setting in which he or she is first introduced to drugs. The third factor is the social pressure exerted by peers who influence or force the young person to abuse drugs to demonstrate status, camaraderie or adulthood.

How drugs are controlled
The supply and use of drugs in the UK are controlled by two Acts of Parliament: the Medicines Act (1968), which governs the manufacture and supply of medicinal products, and the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971), which controls the use of drugs, including those with no medicinal uses. The Misuse of Drugs Act names a number of controlled drugs that are known to be misused, and the Act prohibits their manufacture, supply and possession. It is a criminal offence to contravene this Act and penalties can be high.

The controlled drugs are divided into three categories according to their likely harm from misuse, and penalties vary accordingly. Some of them are especially hazardous for people with mental illness.