Can drug use trigger mental disorders?

Question

mental disorders such as bipolar, borderline, or antisocial disorder..? My friend used to be a nice guy, but lately, he's been acting really angry / moody and loses his temper easily...he seems depressed and pissed off at the world and at his friends and family. But other days he seems nice, is talkative and in a good mood. He used drugs for a couple years but stopped...

Answer 1

Yes, there are several "substance induced" mental disorders listed in the DSM-IV-TR (the diagnostic manual for psychiatry) including substance induced psychotic disorder and substance induced mood disorder. Of course there are also substance use disorders including substance dependence. In order to receive a diagnosis of many of the more mainstream disorders, however, substance use must be first ruled out as a possible cause. Finally, many people have comorbid conditions such as suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder and a substance use disorder when one is not the cause of the other.

Answer 2

It is an actual mental disorder, and I personally get upset when people question this type of thing, though I do get your point. I have depression, and when you say the illnesses that should be treated by meds are the ones you've had for 10 years is completely unfair. Depression causes an inability to function in everyday life and it affects the lives of the people in relationships with that victim of depression. There is no motivation to do anything. All you want to do is sleep and you can't focus on anything because of that little voice in your head telling you all of the bad things in life. For me, it felt like the world actually got darker and visually uglier and when I started medication it brightened up a little bit. Recently everything has become a drag and dark again, with no motivation to do anything. This wasn't meant to bash you or anything, just trying to give an outlook from a 14 year old who has had depression for 7 years.

Answer 3

hey I strongly believe from my personal experience that drug use can CONTRIBUTE to mental disorders. Although many people suffering from mental disorders take drugs to escape their torment mentally, a vicious circle and a cruel world with so many suffering, Drugs do not help with anyones mental state and best left well alone, we need to remember caffine too thats not good and can bring on anxiety . Perhaps your friend has other reasons for his behaviour I guess none of us are here to judge especially when we don't know all the facts!

Answer 4

YES, Drug addiction is a mental disorder as well as a physical one.

Answer 5

Yes, definitely.

If you could see the fMRI's from Dr. Daniel Amen's clinic--you'd see that drug use causes big HOLES in sections of the brain. You are just not the same person after taking them--especially for months or years on end!

Answer 6

Actually mental health illness and substance/alcohol use go hand in hand. Its best to seek a mental health professional who specialized in Dual Diagnoses field.

Good luck and take care of you!
Dee

Answer 7

Drugs just enchance what is already there. Truth is, he probably has always been that way. But when he was using, he was able to mask his personality. And really if drugs helped him be happier then what is the problem? That is another issue. (legalization) Have you told him what you feel?

Answer 8

the same thing happened to my brother in law... he had always been a bit out there but when he got into drugs he went full on bipolar with audio and visual hallucinations! i think that it can help "flip the switch" in people that already have tendencies... he's had to be on medication since... he has good periods... but he's definitely not done well on illegal drugs!!

good luck!! and God bless!!

Answer 9

YES, DEF. drugs alter the way you think, feel... even after you leave them. really depends what he used though. but for the most part yes.