”I had my first experience with cannabis in fresher’s week, and since then I cannot relax without it. It takes me to another world.”
Around two in every five students are drug users, says statistics from a study done by the National Union of Students.
Drugs, both legal and illegal, can affect the body and particularly a person’s mental health. Amongst the student population, 2 in 5 are drug users. Some of the main side effects of these drugs include:
- stimulants (e.g. cannabis) – cause excitement, a lot of energy, addiction
- depressants (e.g. alcohol) – cause relaxing mood
- opium-related painkillers (e.g. methadone) – cause drowsiness, dreamy state
- hallucinogens (e.g. ketamine) – cause illusions, altered sense of space and time.
(Rethink Mental Illness, 2020)
Amphetamine and methamphetamine: cause high energy and difficulty with relaxing and sleeping. Long-term use can cause anxiety and depression.
Cannabis: causes relaxation, joy, laughter and pleasant effects, known as a ”high”. Long-term use can cause a wide variety of problems memory ones and hallucinations.
Tranquillisers (e.g. diazepam): cause calming effects, helps with anxiety and maybe confusion and low mood. Long-term use lead to high addiction and dependence.
Ecstasy: makes you energetic, talkative and confident. Long-term use can cause depression, stress and maybe memory loss.
Heroin: has relaxing and calming effects. It helps with the relief of the pain. Long-term use raises the risk for infection, depression, insomnia, addiction and death.
LSD: cause illusions and loss of touch with your surroundings (e.g. imagine that you are flying). Long-term use can enhance the symptoms of psychotic symptoms (e.g. delusions).
(Mind, 2020)
Useful Contacts:
DrugWise: Web: www.drugwise.org.uk/ (DrugWise provides information about drugs).
Frank: Tel: 0300 123 6600 Text: 82111
Web: www.talktofrank.com Webchat: www.talktofrank.com/contact-frank (Frank provides information and advice about drug abuse, including friends and relatives).