Expert highlights link between substance abuse, depression
Substance abuse and depression are commonly found together, says Richard Adebayo a consultant psychiatrist and clinical psychologist, at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Yaba.
Adebayo explains that some of the correlations between substance abuse and depression among teenagers and young adults are on the increase in Nigeria.
He further observes that abuse of these substances has thrown many teenagers and young people into depression, which is affecting the society today, adding that many have gotten their life prospects thwarted because they abused psychoactive substances. It is better they are aware and stop this dangerous lifestyle.
“A psychoactive drug, psycho-pharmaceutical, is a chemical substance that changes brain function and results in alterations of perception, mood, consciousness or behaviour. The general trend in the abuse of these psychoactive substances is an addiction, be it to alcohol, cannabis and the rest of them,” said Adebayo.
Adebayo explained that depression is a huge disorder that affects the tone of emotion of an individual and the person feels unhappy, sad or sorrowful for a minimum period of two weeks.
“Teenagers or youths who are addicted to these psychoactive substances tend to make it an integral part of their lives and after a while, they start having the side effects or complications from the habits.”
According to the expert, the initial benefits they think they derive, they now discover it’s a mirage that it is not real. A time will come when the reality dawns on them.
“At that moment, they have wasted their life on abusing these substances and are far behind their contemporaries, age mates, and acquaintances. What will happen eventually is self-blame, low self-esteem, low mood and of course depression.
“the trend is most people who have been hooked on drugs chronically end up being depressed and some do not stop at that level of depression, some actually commit suicide due to the hopelessness, helplessness and pessimism associated to the degree of depression,” he said.
He further said that it is common that people who have been hooked on drugs for a long time eventually end up attempting suicide or kill themselves out of depression.
“Initially these young adults will tell you that those drugs keep them going, make them high, they can argue that they need cannabis for inspiration, it helps me to do my work. So they say deriving benefit from it, but it is all self-deception”.
“In reality after prolonged chronic use they realise that socio- economically, it has affected them, physiologically it has destroyed their bodies and psychologically they cannot live any life without those substances,” Adebayo said.
The expert emphasised the need to enlighten the young adults on the wrong notion they have, adding that cannabis cannot be eliminated because it is accessible and cheap.
“When people have utility knowledge and are properly aware, that can give power to overcome because they will have the knowledge of the effect about how it can alter their mind, destiny and reshape their lives. Even when it is available, they will run away from it”.
“We continue to enlighten, that is why we partner with the media to enlighten people, especially at the grassroots level. We do not want to wait until they are brought to the hospital after complications”.
“Before they imbibe such habits, we let them realise that drinking alcohol or smoking cannabis will never ever solve their depression or emotional problems. When these young/teenagers are enlightened it will help them think twice and run away from danger or such lifestyle,” he advised.
ANTHONIA OBOKOH