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Alcohol, drugs and mental illness

continued from page 1
Alcohol and drug effects
Hazards of alcohol
Other depressive substances, including over the counter medicines and solvent abuse
Hormonal drugs
Stimulant substances, including amphetamines and cocaine
Heroin and methadone
Temazepam, etc.
Hallucinogens, including LSD, certain mushrooms, ecstasy, GHB and cannabis
What to do if you become addicted

Hazards of alcohol
Alcohol is a particular hazard for people with mental illness because it is readily available and socially acceptable. Initially, it has a stimulating effect and because of this it is frequently taken by those who are depressed. However, after the first feeling of well- being it can increase depression.

Alcoholics can find that alcohol causes personality changes which, as in some mental illnesses, may prevent them having insight into their problem. Loss of recent memory is another common result of over-indulgence in alcohol. It may be so severe that there is no recall of anything that has happened in the immediate past.

The role of alcohol in intensifying depression is well established but it is not yet clear whether it plays any part in triggering schizophrenic illness or causing a relapse. If you are taking drugs prescribed for a mental illness, you should be particularly cautious about alcohol because there may be serious interactions.

Other depressive substances
Apart from alcohol, there are a number of other drugs that have a depressive effect. They include the hypnotics and sedatives (benzodiazepines, barbiturates and others), the tranquillisers (mainly benzodiazepines) and a variety of solvents and gases (the average home contains at least 30 'sniffable' substances).

These substances all behave in a similar way to alcohol, relieving tension, reducing anxiety and decreasing self-control. Frequent use results in tolerance, encouraging you to increase the dose. The barbiturates and some sedatives produce strong dependence, the benzodiazepines less so, and the solvents apparently none.

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