Substance Misuse
Most people will drink alcohol or try drugs at some point in their lives. It might be something you do around friends to be sociable or to cope with difficult feelings.
At first it may seem like fun but substance misuse can start to take over your life and give you more problems than it solves.
A few drinks with friends can be a good laugh but having lots of alcohol on a regular basis has massive downsides – and we’re not just talking hangovers and empty wallets. Drinking too much can have serious effects on both your physical and mental health.
How substance misuse can affect your mental health
- If you’re feeling anxious or depressed, drinking alcohol or taking drugs might temporarily relieve your negative thoughts and feelings but in the long term, substance use can magnify the problem, creates new issues and make life more complicated. You might also find yourself consuming higher quantities of drugs or alcohol on a more regular basis.
- Substances can also change or reduce certain chemicals in the brain, sometimes leading to symptoms of depression, schizophrenia and anxiety. These side effects can give you the urge to take more drugs in order to feel better and block out negative feelings. Before you know it, you’re in a vicious cycle that can be difficult to escape.
- Misusing substances can make you vulnerable to exploitation by criminals which can affect your mental health.
Substance misuse is complex and requires specialist help. Please see your GP who will be able to refer you for this support, and please see some useful information in the resource below.
Self help resources
Turning Point Leicester Young People’s Drug & Alcohol service
For anyone under 25 years, providing 1:1 support and will meet you where you want. Help you find new ways to cope and gain control and provide a support plan in things to help you in your life, not just with drug or alcohol use.
Tel 0330 303 6000
https://www.turning-point.co.uk/services/leicester/young-people
https://www.turning-point.co.uk/services/leicestershire
Teen Health – Leicestershire and Rutland
If you are aged between 11-19 (or up to 25 years for those with SEND) and live in Leicestershire or Rutland, the Teen Health Service can help with:
Support to improve mental health and emotional wellbeing, with a focus on self esteem, body image and building resilience.
Support for healthy relationships, building positive relationships, reducing violence in intimate relationships and promoting positive sexual health and wellbeing.
Support for children and young people to make healthier choices, with a focus on reducing substance misuse (particularly cannabis use) and alcohol consumption.
The Teen Health Service has a team of Health and Wellbeing Officers that work in the community and in secondary schools, working alongside pastoral and health and wellbeing leads.
Leicestershire – https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools-colleges-and-academies/teen-health-11-19
Rutland – https://www.rutland.gov.uk/children-young-people-families/services-young-people/teen-health-service
Young Minds
Young Minds supports and keeps young minds empowered with whatever challenges they are facing. Offer different types of courses to look after your young minds. Information for parents, on how they could support their child during different situations.
Parents Helpline Tel: 0808 802 5544
www.youngminds.org.uk
Other helpful resources
For a list of other helpful resources see our Useful links page.
Request support
Contact your GP (between 8am to 6.30pm) for a GP referral or if you require urgent help please call NHS 111 (option 2) and you can speak to a mental health clinician. Where there is an immediate, serious, and life-threatening emergency, call 999 or go to A&E.
There are some websites available in the self-help section which you can visit today.
