Often, we think of mental disorders as causing substance use disorders. Sometimes, however, it’s the drugs that cause the resulting mental condition. Mental disorders from drug use typically happen over time. When someone abuses a class of drug such as opioids or benzodiazepine for a long period, it causes changes to take place inside the brain. As a result, these changes cause problems in the way we think, feel, and remember — the very definition of mental illness.
Common Mental Disorders From Drug Use: Opioids
Opioids are among the most highly addictive drugs on the market today. Unfortunately, they come in both prescription and illicit form, and they’re at the root of today’s opioid epidemic.
Opioids kill 130 people every day in the United States. Often, deaths are accidental. They’re the result of unintentionally taking too big of a dosage in too short of a time. But opioids are sneaky this way. Because your body builds up a tolerance to these drugs, you need more and more to attain the same pleasing feeling of euphoria. In other words — if you take too much, your heart stops beating.
But even if opioid drugs don’t kill you, they can still leave you with a mental disorder. For example, long-term opioid abuse can lead to the following cognitive problems:
- Memory loss
- Confusion
- Depression
- Inability to make decisions
- Poor judgment
Sometimes, these problems go away once a person recovers from opioid use disorder. Other times, they linger. Therefore, the best way to avoid the permanent cognitive disabilities caused by opioid addiction is to seek treatment as soon as you realize you’ve lost control over the drug’s usage.
Common Mental Disorders From Drug Use: Alcohol
Alcohol, safe though it seems, is one of the most difficult drugs from which to recover. Long-term alcohol use makes withdrawal extremely uncomfortable and even painful. In fact, trying to detox from alcohol without professional medical supervision may even be fatal. For this reason, if you have a problem with alcohol, seek treatment before attempting detox.
Many mental health problems link to long-term alcohol use, including:
- Depression
- Manic depression
- Anxiety
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Schizophrenia
Alcohol is, in effect, a neurotoxin. This means it’s toxic to the brain and central nervous system. Accordingly, it interferes with the way your brain sends and receives messages. Drinking alcohol continuously, over years and years, can cause permanent deterioration.
Common Mental Disorders From Drug Use: Benzos
Benzodiazepine, or benzos, is a depressant drug that’s used to treat a variety of real medical conditions such as insomnia, panic, anxiety, and more. It works on your central nervous system to make you feel calm and relaxed. Unfortunately, it’s also highly habit-forming.
Mental health issues related to benzodiazepine abuse include:
- Mood fluctuations
- Poor cognitive performance
- Headaches
- Anxiety
- Sleep disturbance
Oddly enough, long-term abuse of benzos may cause you to experience symptoms not unlike those you had before taking the drug. If you have developed or re-developed anxiety as a result of a benzo addiction, come to Promises Five Palms for treatment.
Recovery at Five Palms
If you or your loved one struggles with mental disorders from drug use, Five Palms is a top-quality treatment center. Hence, we can help you heal from substance use disorder, mental health issues, or both. Our highly skilled team of physicians and care providers understand the toll that addiction takes on families and individuals.
Therefore, we’ll help you recover through proven, evidence-based therapies, peer support, counseling, and more. Our therapies include:
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- Trauma Therapy
- Individual Therapy
- Group Therapy
When you recover at Five Palms, you’ll benefit from superior care and treatment. Call us today at 1.844.675.1022 to set up an appointment.
