Angely Wahyuni Universitas PGRI Kanjuruhan Malang
One of the biggest hazards to global public health today is drug use. Drug misuse has major repercussions on a person’s mental health in addition to its harmful physical effects. An individual’s well-being is significantly influenced by their mental health. However, it has been established that one of the primary causes of complicated mental health issues is substance usage. Drugs harm a person physically but also mess with their brain chemistry and cognitive functions.
The Impact of Drugs on Mental Health:
First, is aggressiveness. Some drugs have the ability to make people more aggressive. Drugs like cocaine or amphetamines can have an impact on the central nervous system, altering behavior and causing aberrant aggressive tendencies.
Second, being paranoid. Users of drugs, especially those who take stimulant drugs like methamphetamine or LSD, may feel overly paranoid. They can believe they are being monitored all the time or treated unfairly without cause.
Third, being addicted. The danger of addiction is one of the most detrimental effects of drug consumption. Drug users may sense a strong urge to keep taking the drug even after being made aware of its harmful effects due to repeated and prolonged drug use, which can change the way their brains function.
Fourth, being impulsive. A person’s capacity to restrain urges and make thoughtful judgments may be compromised by drug usage. This might result in unsafe and reckless conduct, such as participating in illegal or highly dangerous activities that may endanger oneself or other people.
Fifth, Losing self-control. People who take drugs may lose their capacity to manage their emotions as well as their ability to maintain self-control. When confronted with circumstances that call for sound judgment and self-control, they may exhibit emotional instability, irritability, or lack of self-organization.
And the last is Hallucinations. Hallucinatory experiences can be brought on by several drugs, including LSD and other psychedelics. Perceptual experiences known as hallucinations are unreal, such as hearing or seeing things that are not real. Cognitive impairment can result from hallucinations, which can alter how someone perceives their environment.
Reference :
Nithyamala, I, Shaji, JCH, & … (2023). Impact of Drugs on the Mental Health of Youth in the Long Run: Psychological and Rehabilitation Perspective.
