While programs for drug use and mental health are handled by clinics with different capabilities, drug use is closely related to mental health. Recreational drugs are often used to self-medicate, numb, or regulate emotions. They can be very effective in moments when a person is feeling distressed. As people become dependent on them, they use their drug of choice more and more just to get through the day. 

Not all recreational drugs can cause a chemical dependency. However, relying on any type of drug to socialize or manage negative feelings can have a negative effect on your mental health. 

In this blog post, we’ll discuss 10 ways that using recreational drugs can negatively impact your mental health.

10 ways recreational drug use can negatively impact mental health

The category of “recreational drugs” includes commonly used substances like alcohol, nicotine, cannabis and even caffeine. All of these drugs can cause dependency and withdrawal symptoms. They can become especially dangerous when mixed with other substances. For example, mixing alcohol with opioids or benzodiazepines can lead to fatal consequences. If you take prescription medications, ask your prescriber if there are any dangerous interactions you should avoid.

Certain party drugs or street drugs can have both short-term and long-term impacts on your mental health. The following are 10 ways that using recreational drugs can negatively affect your mental health:

• Exacerbated mental health symptoms — If you already have a mental health condition like generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), major depressive disorder (MDD) or bipolar disorder, using recreational drugs can make your symptoms worse. 
• Interference with psychiatric medications — If you take psychiatric medications, using recreational drugs may make them less effective. 
• Certain drugs cause a “crash” — Alcohol, MDMA (Molly) and cocaine are a few examples of drugs that have negative aftereffects. While a hangover is most noticeable the day after drinking, some drugs have more of a “crash” or “comedown” that happens right away as the drug wears off.
• Increased risk of mental health symptoms — Even if you don’t have symptoms of anxiety, depression, paranoia or memory issues to begin with, using recreational drugs can make you more likely to develop them. Cannabis, cocaine and MDMA in particular can bring out mental health symptoms. Hallucinogenic drugs can cause flashbacks or make you feel detached from your surroundings. In some cases, more serious conditions, including psychosis and schizophrenia, may be triggered. 
• Dependency — Dependency can take different forms. You might feel like you need to use a drug all the time to feel OK, or you might need to take more of it in order to feel the same effects. Both kinds of dependency can cause symptoms of anxiety, depression and withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms include feeling unwell, sweating, shaking, chills and more.
• Problems with physical health — Drug use can make you feel physically unwell. You may experience fatigue or low energy, tension, or aches and pains. It can also affect your appetite and sleeping pattern. These physical effects can affect your mental health.
• Problems with sexual arousal — Using recreational drugs can affect your sexual health. You may have trouble feeling aroused or achieving an orgasm. 
• Sudden mood changes — Both drug use and dependency can cause you to have sudden mood swings. Rapid chemical changes in your brain may feel like an extremely positive mood that doesn’t last long. Or the slightest problems may cause disproportionate irritability and frustration.
• Negative mood or loss of motivation — In general, when you’re not under the influence, regular drug use can cause you to have a lower mood. You might not enjoy doing the things you usually like to do, or you may have a harder time getting started with tasks at home and at work.
• Relationship problems — Your friends and loved ones may start to notice changes in your behavior that affect the quality of your relationship. You might not seem like yourself, or they may not feel like you’re fully present and connected. If your loved ones start to feel like you’re neglecting your relationships because of drug use, they may start to pull away or set firmer boundaries.

Mental health treatment is critical for those who are prone to substance use. When you’re dealing with a full-blown substance use disorder, your mental health issues are addressed during detox before going through rehabilitation. 

At Lightfully, we provide four levels of comprehensive mental health treatment. We get to know our clients on a personal level and create a unique treatment plan for each person. Rather than focusing on your diagnosis or your symptoms, we choose treatments that align with your lived experience and your treatment goals. We take a proactive approach to helping each of our clients build up healthy habits in different areas of their lives for mental well-being that lasts.

Are you looking for mental health treatment to help you avoid substance use or planning your next steps after rehabilitation? We can help. Contact us with any questions or reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. Let’s talk about how you’re feeling and help you find some healthier ways to cope.