Explains the mental health effects of recreational drugs, what might happen if you use recreational drugs and also have a mental health problem, and suggestions for where to find support.
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All drugs have some kind of effect on your mental health. They affect the way you see things, your mood and your behaviour.
These effects may:
For some people, taking drugs can lead to long-term mental health problems, such as depression or schizophrenia.
You may already have a mental health diagnosis, and use illegal drugs to help yourself cope.
It is difficult to predict how you will react to a drug. You may react differently to the same drug at different times or in different situations.
This may differ depending on:
If you have a history of poor mental health, you may be more likely to experience negative effects with illegal drugs.
If you have previously had no mental health problems, you may still develop symptoms of a mental health problem from using these drugs.
If you use drugs a lot, or become dependent on them, this can have a negative impact on your day-to-day life. For example, it could lead to problems with:
This information was published in November 2016.
This page is currently under review. All content was accurate when published.
References and bibliography available on request.
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