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Topic 9: Drugs and health
Topic 9: Drugs and health
Drugs and mental health
Drugs and mental health
Drugs and mental healthDrugs and physical health
Objectives
Objectives
Define recreational drugs and substance misuse, providing examples of substances.
Explain how drugs affect the brain, leading to altered mood (stimulants vs. depressants) and altered perceptions or impaired judgment (hallucinogens).
Define addiction (dependence) and describe its risks and the potential negative impacts of substance misuse on mental health.
Drugs
Drugs
Some substances, known as recreational drugs, are taken for non-medical reasons, often to alter how a person feels or behaves.
These include legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco (which have age restrictions) and illegal drugs like cannabis or ecstasy.
Substance misuse is using any drug (legal or illegal) in a way that harms the user or others.
This includes using illegal drugs, drinking too much alcohol, smoking, or misusing prescribed medicines.
Changing behaviour
Changing behaviour
Drugs work by affecting the brain, which can lead to:
Mood Swings:
Some drugs are stimulants (making you feel energetic or anxious, like caffeine or cocaine), while others are depressants (making you feel relaxed or drowsy, like alcohol).
Some cause unpredictable changes.
Altered Perceptions & Poor Decisions:
Some drugs are hallucinogens (changing how you see or understand things), impairing judgement and coordination.
This makes accidents more likely and can lead to risky choices.
Addiction (Dependence):
This is a serious risk where the body and mind become reliant on a drug.
The person feels a strong urge to keep using it, even if it's harmful, and can suffer unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if they try to stop.
Impact on mental health
Impact on mental health
Substance misuse can severely affect mental well-being:
It can trigger or worsen anxiety, panic attacks, and depression.
Some drugs can cause paranoia (feeling suspicious and scared) or even psychosis (losing touch with reality).
Memory problems and difficulty concentrating are also common.
Key words
Key words
Recreational drugs: Substances taken for non-medical reasons, often to change how a person feels or behaves.
Substance misuse: Using any drug (legal or illegal) in a way that causes harm to the user or others.
Stimulants: Drugs that speed up the nervous system, making a person feel more alert or anxious.
Depressants: Drugs that slow down the nervous system, making a person feel more relaxed or drowsy.
Hallucinogens: Drugs that alter a person's perceptions of reality.
Addiction (Dependence): A state where a person's body and mind become reliant on a drug, leading to a strong urge to use it.
Withdrawal symptoms: Unpleasant physical or mental effects that occur when a person stops using a drug they are addicted to.
Mental health: A person's psychological and emotional well-being, which can be negatively affected by substance misuse.
Extension ideas
Extension ideas
Research the specific effects that one type of recreational drug (e.g., alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, or a specific illegal drug like cannabis) has on the brain and body in more detail.
Investigate local or national support services and resources available for individuals who are struggling with substance misuse or addiction.
Related topics
Related topics
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