When the individual abuses a drug, the user will have a temporary high that may lessen their disorder’s symptoms. When not high, the issue returns and oftentimes stronger and worse than before. Not only that, but various drugs have long and short-term side effects that can alter chemicals in the brain, controlling one’s mood and other behaviors, leading to possible additional mental health complications. Subsequently, addicts face their increased mental health issues by abusing larger quantities of illicit substances than previously. This abuse often creates a dependency for that high feeling, creating a slippery slope of self-medication and drug abuse for users. Accordingly, instead of seeking professional help and treatment, addicts will often self-medicate. Mental health professionals from the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) have determined, “50% of the people who have a severe mental condition also have a substance abuse problem” (Mental Health and Drug Abuse). Their results show how high these rates are, solidifying their claim that the connection between mental health, self-medication, and drug abuse problems are very
When the individual abuses a drug, the user will have a temporary high that may lessen their disorder’s symptoms. When not high, the issue returns and oftentimes stronger and worse than before. Not only that, but various drugs have long and short-term side effects that can alter chemicals in the brain, controlling one’s mood and other behaviors, leading to possible additional mental health complications. Subsequently, addicts face their increased mental health issues by abusing larger quantities of illicit substances than previously. This abuse often creates a dependency for that high feeling, creating a slippery slope of self-medication and drug abuse for users. Accordingly, instead of seeking professional help and treatment, addicts will often self-medicate. Mental health professionals from the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) have determined, “50% of the people who have a severe mental condition also have a substance abuse problem” (Mental Health and Drug Abuse). Their results show how high these rates are, solidifying their claim that the connection between mental health, self-medication, and drug abuse problems are very