Alcohol and Drug Use
Although drug and alcohol use does not by itself constitute a mental or emotional
health disorder, there is a very close relationship between use of drugs and alcohol, and mental
and emotional health.
The Community Mental Health Program does not provide services for drug and alcohol
misuse problems and the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba deals these with in Brandon. However, in
our work with mental and emotional health problems we have often seen health situations made worse
by the presence of substance misuse.
Emotional conditions such as depression, anger and fear are most often made worse by
the use of street drugs and alcohol. Many users will initially experience some relief from their
emotional symptoms of distress but the significant problems tend to occur when the effects of the
alcohol or drug wears off. Usually this is a time when a person's mood becomes worse than it was
before they began using the substance.
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Use of alcohol, street drugs and over the counter drugs are never a good substitute
for appropriate medications and counselling to treat mental and emotional health problems.
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Almost always, use of these substances compounds the problems and also runs the risk
of developing secondary problems.
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Although many people believe that marijuana not have harmful effects, or is less
harmful than alcohol use, our experience suggests that it can have an effect on mood. Particularly
in those who are vulnerable to a declining or fluctuating mood, such as young people, use of
marijuana can have after effects. When the euphoric effect of the drug wears off, there can be a
depressed emotional state and this is particularly true with regular use of marijuana and similar
substances.
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The same holds true for hallucinogens such as LSD and stimulants such as Cocaine or
Ecstasy. In vulnerable persons these drugs can have very harmful effects and sometimes even
occasional use can do damage.
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For those who might have a family history of mental and emotional illnesses such as
psychosis, major depression or bipolar disorder -
it is strongly recommended that street drug use be avoided. The risk for such
individuals who are vulnerable is potentially high and the damage can be long lasting.
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Where a mental or emotional disorder might not otherwise be active in the person, a
drug experience can cause the disorder to become activated and emerge as major depression or
psychosis. When the illness has been activated by drug use, it is then generally present for life
and requires life long psychiatric treatment.
For additional Drug and Alcohol Information in Brandon, contact:
The Addictions Foundation of Manitoba
510 Frederick Street
Brandon, Manitoba
Ph: (204) 729-3838
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Caution: Although generally recognized symptoms are listed here, this alone does
not determine that a person has the condition referred to. A diagnostic decision can only be made
by a mental health professional. Especially in children and adolescents, but also in adults,
similar symptoms may be present but ultimately do not indicate the presence of a mental illness.
Many illnesses and life conditions can cause the appearance of similar symptoms and this should not
cause you to conclude that a mental or emotional illness is present. The information available here
is for reference and to help persons to make decisions about seeking help from skilled professional
mental health clinicians.
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Mental Health
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Alcohol and Drug Use