Mental Health, Alcohol and Drugs

The use of mind altering substances is common in our culture. Many of us use alcohol to mark life's milestones, to welcome and show hospitality, to comfort the bereaved and to bid farewell to loved ones. We use it to relax and have fun, to congratulate, celebrate and commiserate. The cultural acceptability of alcohol can mask its dangers making even those of us who are otherwise health conscious oblivious to its effect on mental health. Alcohol and other mind altering substances are often used as a form of self medication to ease the pain of depression or to settle the discomfort of anxiety. Self medication can become so automatic that the person is not fully aware of the motivation behind reaching for the bottle of wine after a bad day at work or using cannabis to aid sleep or ease social anxiety. Self medication is understandable and common and it is also dangerous. If alcohol or other substances appear to ease mental or emotional distress the user can quickly get into a cycle of addiction to the substance that gives comfort. Impact of Alcohol on Mental Health Drug Use and Mental Health Dual Diagnosis Alcohol and Drugs Strategy