How Substance Abuse Can Lead to Mental Illness: The Importance of Family Support

August 16, 2022/Guest Author

Guest Author: Stanley Clark

Stanley Clark is a community development volunteer and writer. He had worked on several commercials, events, and campaigns before writing full-time in the area of natural health and wellness.

Research suggests that many individuals diagnosed with mental disorders also have substance abuse issues. Furthermore, surveys indicate that half of the individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) are likely to experience mental illness and vice versa.

How is substance abuse linked to mental illness? Is there a relationship between substance abuse and a young individual’s tendency to cause violent acts in school? What can parents do to prevent their children from developing disorders related to substance abuse?

This article addresses the questions above and provides you with helpful information on how substance abuse affects someone’s mental health.

Continue reading to learn more about SUD, anxiety disorders, and the importance of family education in drug abuse prevention.

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How Substance Abuse and Mental Health Are Related

Drug use and addiction can happen at any stage in an individual’s life. However, drug abuse often starts during adolescence, when the initial signs of mental illnesses typically manifest.

As the individual’s brain continues developing through adolescence, the circuits that control decision-making and impulse control functions typically mature last.

This situation increases the individual’s possibility of becoming vulnerable to drug use and developing SUD. Such a development can increase the risk of developing mental illnesses later in life.

In one study, researchers noted that adolescents with SUD often have high rates of co-occurring mental disorders.

Data suggests that there is a high comorbidity between SUD and several anxiety disorders, including the following:

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Panic disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

GAD is characterized by excessive and persistent worry over numerous things. Individuals with this disorder may become overly concerned and unable to control their worry about adverse situations involving money, work, health, or family.

Meanwhile, panic disorders, also called panic attacks, are sudden feelings of anxiety and fear manifesting as physical symptoms such as sweating, fast breathing, or increased heartbeat.

PTSD is a disorder wherein the individual feels fear or stress after witnessing or experiencing a dangerous or shocking event. PTSD symptoms often include bad dreams, frightening thoughts, and flashbacks.

There are also indications that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have greater odds of being at risk for SUD. Given this connection, determining whether effective ADHD treatment can minimize or prevent drug addiction remains an important area for researchers to study.

Considering someone’s likelihood of developing comorbid disorders, the community must provide coordinated support to help guide individuals through stressful situations in school, work, and social relationships.

The link between SUD and mental illness may have shared risk factors that include psychosocial experiences, environmental influences, and genetic vulnerability.

For example, a person with a specific set of genes and a frequent marijuana user may have an increased risk of psychosis.

Alternatively, individuals with mental disorders during childhood or adolescence may also be at risk of engaging in drug use and developing SUD.

The Link Between Substance Abuse and School Violence

An early study evaluated the association of school violence with substance abuse and the availability of illegal drugs to students.

Researchers determined the connection of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use with school violence indicators, such as physical fighting, property theft or damage, absence from feeling unsafe, and weapon-carrying.

Results showed that the increase in substances used and whether the individuals took such substances on- or off-campus contributed to increased school violence indicators.

In another research involving 643 adolescents, 62.2% of the respondents suffered school violence, and 51.9% reported engaging in such violence.

Among the aggressors, 16.5% participated in the prevalent use of alcohol, 15.7% with tobacco, and 6.8% with illegal drugs.

These data suggest that schools and communities must consider implementing programs addressing and preventing school-related violence due to substance abuse.

Lawmakers should also take this opportunity to review existing policies related to drug abuse. Doing so can help these policymakers determine whether such programs are sufficient in minimizing or preventing violence in schools.

Importance of Family Education in Preventing Substance Abuse Among Children

To be capable of minimizing or preventing children from engaging in drug use and developing SUD, families must first understand the three pathways that contribute to substance use, addiction, and mental illness comorbidities:

Substance use and addiction can cause an individual to develop mental illness.
Mental disorders can cause substance use and addiction.
Common risk factors can lead to mental illness and substance use disorder.

Risk factors that can contribute to SUD and mental illness comorbidities include the following:

Genetic vulnerabilities
Stress
Epigenetic influences
Environmental influences
Brain region involvement
Adverse childhood experiences and trauma

Epigenetics studies the changes in the expression and regulation of gene activity independent of the gene sequence. For example, trauma, chronic stress, or drug exposure can cause gene expression changes that can alter neural circuit function and impact one’s behavior.

When parents sit down and converse with their children about the risks of using addictive substances, these young adults are less likely to use such substances. Children may also be open about establishing clear rules and consequences and agree to monitor activities regularly.

Active support and involvement of caring adults are also critical in helping minimize or prevent substance abuse among the youth.

One study recommended using computer technologies to lower family intervention costs for youth-only prevention programs. Using such technologies may also help increase the public health influence of evidence-based prevention programs.