A letter to teens:

It is common knowledge: Abusing drugs and alcohol exacerbates the symptoms of mental illness (as well as negatively interacts with medications). Still, it bears repeating because every day I see people with mental illness who’ve “medicated” themselves with drugs or alcohol.

Today, I had an conversation with a teenager who was mentally ill and abusing drugs. She insists no one has ever told her the two don’t mix. The following information is for her and other teens.

I often hear from those with depression that when they stopped drinking–even a glass of expensive wine during dinner–their depression symptoms improved, at least slightly (sometimes more).

Ditto: People with anxiety, bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, and so on who acknowledge that their mental illness symptoms have improved when they too gave up alcohol, unnecessary prescription opiates/painkillers, pot, or other drugs.

As I said, it is (fairly) common knowledge. And common sense.

But did you know that drugs and alcohol can actually cause mental illness?

And no, this isn’t your mother talking. Read on for some sobering facts:

Depression: Alcohol or drugs may not only exacerbate an existing depression but they may even trigger an onset of major depression if you are predisposed to depression. After the alcohol-buzz your body hits a new low and sets up a dangerous cycle.

Bipolar Disorder: Do you have bipolar disorder and take drugs or alcohol to prolong or intensify your “high”? Or, do you take them to medicate your high to make it “mellower” or more manageable? Or do you take it to help you get up from a “low”? If so, you may be creating a cycle of high and crash.

The crash is essentially withdrawal. And the symptoms aren’t pleasant. But did you know that if you are predisposed to bipolar disorder that binging on drugs or alcohol can trigger unpleasant symptoms you have never experienced before?

Anxiety: A drink will initially relax you, as will an initial hit of pot or opiates. Then the anxiety will magnify and intensify and this can lead to symptoms of anxiety. If the cycle continues and if you are predisposed, you may actually end up with an anxiety disorder.

Schizophrenia: Any illicit drugs or alcohol can compound your symptoms of schizophrenia, even increase hallucinations and feelings of unreality. Again, if you have a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia excessive use of chemical substances can actually trigger your first episode of schizophrenic symptoms. You know the old myth that LSD (and Ecstasy) or other hallucinogens can cause you to “lose your mind”? Clinics like the one where I work see numerous people each year whose use of hallucinogenics literally triggered their very first episode of schizophrenic symptoms that lasted long after the drug left the body.

Also, it is important to remember that just because drug abuse doesn’t have a strong negative effect the first few times doesn’t mean that it won’t. The cumulative effect of long-term use can also contribute to mental illness. In fact, if you abuse drugs or alcohol enough, experts say that even if you aren’t predisposed to mental illness, you can end up with a mental illness.

*Image of teen smoking marijuana by Chmee2.

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    Last reviewed: 2 Jun 2011