What is substance misuse
Substance misuse/abuse is the use of illegal drugs and the inappropriate use of legal substances, such as alcohol.
By ‘problematic, harmful, or dependent’, we mean when someone is:
- putting themselves or others in danger
- continues to drink or take drugs even if it puts them at risk of illness (both psychological or physical)
- craves alcohol or other drugs and continues to use them even though it may determinetal to their physical health, mental health, social life, or financie.
If you are consuming drugs or alcohol due to poor mental health or are is experiencing a mental health crisis. Visit the mental health support page for more information.
Impact of substance misuse
Prolonged substance and alcohol misuse will eventually have a negative impact on the person who is abusing the substances. This could;
- Lead to a life of crime - Use, possession and selling of illegal drugs can result in a prison sentence or a fine. In addition, behaviour can also increase chances of breaking law and driving under the influence can result in heavy punishment.
- Worsen mental and physical health - Drug use can increase the chances of developing a mental illness or contracting diseases such as hepatis or HIV through sharing dirty needles.
- Fracture relationships - Being under the influence or experiencing withdrawal can cause significant stress to loved ones and friends. Behaviour such as domestic violence, child abuse, driving under the influence and disappearing for days can strain relationships.
- Be expensive - To sustain abusing illicit drugs or alcohol there is an expensive cost not to just your relationships but also to your finances.
- Cause addiction - Prolonged use of drugs and alcohol can create a physical and psychological dependence on the substance. This will make it extremely difficult to stop and may require external support.
Signs of addiction
If you think a loved one is misusing drugs or alcohol, it’s important to look for physical, psychological and behavioural signs of drug addiction that can help you determine what drug is being used. To spot the signs of addiction take a look at the table below.
| Physical signs of abuse | Psychological signs | Behaviour signs |
|---|---|---|
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If you recognise any of these signs within yourself or a loved one, look below and contact a drug or alcohol support service to get further information and support.