What is the relationship between substance misuse and mental health problems?
• Substance misuse may begin as an attempt to alleviate the symptoms of depression and anxiety. • Some misused substances are depressants. • Personal and work-related problems can result from substance misuse. Many people who misuse substances also suffer from mental health problems, particularly depression or anxiety. In some cases, depression and anxiety precede substance misuse; in fact, substance misuse may begin as an attempt to alleviate the symptoms of depression and anxiety. In other cases, depression and anxiety follow substance misuse. This may be because some substances are, themselves, depressants; but it may also be a response to personal and work-related problems that result from substance misuse. The complex interplay of substance misuse and other mental health problems increases the difficulty of recognizing and treating both.