Mental Health and Drug Use

By Banoo Khani

Have you ever heard of people using smoking, vaping, or other forms of nicotine to relieve stress? It’s a common refrain among many people, and a lot of people feel like they need it to relax, unwind, and think straight. Have you ever thought about how this process works?

Part of how nicotine addiction actually works is by changing the relationship that the brain has with a chemical called dopamine, which is a compound that works like a reward system - it can make people feel satisfied. What happens when someone is addicted to nicotine? Their brain produces less dopamine naturally, which means they need more nicotine to get dopamine, and they have less dopamine when they are not using nicotine. Let’s explore how this process works.

The impact of nicotine on different mental health conditions can vary. These effects are both short-term and long-term. In the short-term, nicotine can increase feelings of pleasure and happiness and improve mood. However, over the long-term, nicotine dependence can lead to a decrease in overall well-being and an increase in symptoms of mental health disorders. In anxiety disorders the long-term use of nicotine causes a new development of anxiety which is due to the dependency on nicotine. In patients with schizophrenia, nicotine can worsen the symptoms of delusion and psychosis.

As a Crisis Text Counselor, I worked with many people who struggle with addiction to flavored tobacco products - but many also suffer from mental health illnesses which pushed them to keep using such products. People who have physical or mental disorders can be at greater risk of developing drug addiction. People who suffer from chronic anxiety and trauma may use nicotine to reduce their anxiety. Sometimes, there is an assumption that people who have mental disorders or are even being treated tend to use tobacco to reduce their mental pains and undergo some kind of self-medication.

Schizophrenia is characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and disordered thinking. Nicotine use increases the severity of delusions and hallucinations in people with schizophrenia, and it can also interfere with the effectiveness of antipsychotic medication. Depression is another common mental health condition which I encountered while working as a counselor that is often linked to nicotine use. While most of the people who reached out shared that nicotine provided a temporary mood boost, over the long term it actually exacerbate their symptoms of depression. Similar to its effects on patients with schizophrenia, nicotine also interferes with the effectiveness of antidepressant medication, and it can also worsen symptoms of anxiety and stress. In disorders like anxiety, nicotine increases heart rate and blood pressure, which can trigger anxiety symptoms in some individuals. Additionally, the withdrawal symptoms that come with nicotine addiction can also contribute to feelings of anxiousness. In another example, people with bipolar disorder are more prone to have increased mood swings, irritability, and aggression.

Consumption of all kinds of addictive substances can cause important changes in the structure and function of a person and make them prone to developing a mental illness. For example, neuroimaging in people with ADHD shows that these people show more temptations to use nicotine and narcotic drugs, and this explains why patients with mental disorders are more likely become dependent. Nicotine and its effect on mental health includes: mental problem that becomes a mental illness ,anxiousness and depression. It also increases the possibility of suicide due to withdrawl symptoms.

So what can replace the use of these addictive substances that relieve the pain in a short amount of time but does not worsen the symptoms?

1. Multiple treatment systems

It works on attitude, family, peer pressure, culture, school and neighborhood simultaneously and preventive measures are taken for it.

2. Strategic family therapy

In this method, the family is targeted and behavioral problems, oppositional behavior, violent aggressive behaviors, and risky sexual behaviors are targeted.

3. Drug Therapy

In the drug therapy method, there are effective drugs to treat substance abuse disorders, alcohol and nicotine and to reduce the symptoms of other disorders, and in the meantime, some drugs may help with several problems.

4. Behavioral Therapy

In fact, behavioral therapy is a cornerstone for the long-term results of addiction and mental illness and has helped many people with addiction and other mental illnesses. In this method, specialized strategies are used to treat overlapping and parallel diseases.

In conclusion, using nicotine can have serious and negative consequences for mental health. Nicotine can lead to dependence, which can increase anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders over time. It can also worsen the symptoms of existing mental health conditions, making it more difficult for individuals to manage their symptoms and lead a healthy and fulfilling life. Furthermore, nicotine is a highly addictive substance that can be difficult to quit, which can contribute to ongoing stress and mental health problems.

Therefore, it is essential to take steps to quit nicotine use in order to protect and improve mental health. This may include seeking support from friends, family, or healthcare professionals, trying nicotine replacement therapy or other forms of treatment, and finding healthy alternatives for managing stress and improving well-being. Breaking free from nicotine addiction is a courageous act that has the power to transform your mental health, and enhance your quality of life.