Drugs, Alcohol and Mental Health

It’s Student Mental Health Day! Today is dedicated to raising awareness of the mental health conditions/effects that students will potentially face at university. Be sure to check out our previous blog posts regarding the mental health effects of drugs and alcohol, for top tips, to keep yourself in-the-know and contribute to fight the stigma against mental health.

Remember… the University has great facilities if you have any concerns over your own or a friend’s drug and alcohol use. The staff are friendly and it is 100% confidential. Located just next to The Swan you will find the Student Support Centre. Number 5 on the map. http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/campusmap/  

What is A Unit of Alcohol?

Alcohol can be measured in  unit – no matter what type of alcohol, the a unit is always the same for measuring how strong the alcohol is. One unit of alcohol is equivalent to 10ml or 8 grams of pure alcohol. The unit can be used to estimate the amount of time your body will need to get rid of the alcohol you drink and on average an adult takes 1 hour to clear 1 unit of alcohol out of their bloodstream.  

How Many Units are Safe?

The limitation of how much a person can drink can vary between individuals and it is very much depends on how fast the alcohol is eliminated from the blood. There is a national limit for both men and women that people should not drink more than 14 units per week and have at least 1 or 2 days alcohol free. Exceeding this limit could be dangerous drinking behaviour. However, some people are not very good at drinking and people can still pass out within the “Safe” drinking limit range. Therefore it’s wise to stop before you pass out.  

How much is a Unit?

You can calculate a unit from the percentage of pure alcohol in your drink.

Strength of the alcohol (% or ABV) x volume (ml) ÷ 1,000 = units of alcohol.

Or if you are busy chatting and there is a faster method to calculate the unit of alcohol.

A single shot of spirits is 1 unit and a small glass of wine about 125ml is about 1.5 units. Red wine might contain more units and a pint of ABV 5% beer is about 2 units.   

What is Binge Drinking?

Binge drinking is the term used for drinking large amount of alcohol in a short period of time. The standard limit for binge drinking is 6 units in 6 hours.

References

Drinkaware.co.uk (undated) What is an alcohol unit?. London: Drinkaware.co.uk. Available from https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/alcohol-facts/alcoholic-drinks-units/what-is-an-alcohol-unit/  [accessed 22 January 2019]

NHS (2018) Alcohol Support. London: NHS. Available from https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-support/calculating-alcohol-units/ [accessed 22 January 2019]

Making friends is a key part of university life, and one which has many positive impacts on your mental health, having the right company, someone to talk to and make memories with makes most people feel more at home and supported. However, finding the right group can sometimes be hard, and trying to fit in to different friendship circles can leave you feeling vulnerable and cause you to act out of character and against your wish, this is called peer pressure.

 

I’m sure we’ve all been dragged on a night out when all we really want to do is curl up in bed and watch Netflix, but whilst spontaneous nights can be up there with the best, it is important to understand where the line is between encouraging and pressuring. Going on a night out after peer encouragement, means they’ve changed your mind, the temptation has left you longing for the dance floor. Pressuring means your actions have changed, you’re now on your way to the club, but your mind hasn’t, you really don’t want to be there.

 

Taking drugs and drinking alcohol are common areas for peer pressure, particularly at university. As previously mentioned in our “Effects of Drugs and Alcohol on Mental Health” post, drugs and alcohol can largely exacerbate mental health conditions. Therefore, you can imagine the enhanced mental effect if you take drugs and alcohol when you don’t really want to. The actual pressure from your peers also contributes to the detrimental effects on mental health conditions such as anxiety.

 

Our top tips for overcoming peer pressure include:

•     Have the confidence to say “no”-if your friends don’t respect that, are they friends’ worth having in the first place?
•     Follow your own interests-mixing with people interested in the same things as you will help avoid uncomfortable situations.
•     Have an open mind-not judging people for what they do should encourage a non-judgemental and respectful attitude towards you, too.

If things get more serious, make sure you tell someone. Like with all mental health conditions, you need to speak out, either to a family member, friend, or at the Student Union Support Centre.

For more information visit https://www.talktofrank.com/get-help/dealing-with-peer-pressure.  

#StayStrong

Being ‘spiked’ is when someone has put drugs or alcohol into your drink without your knowledge or consent. There is a risk of this happening to you when you go out to nightclubs and bars and is often linked to sexual assault or robbery. Drink spiking is an illegal offence, with a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison.

Here are some of our top tips to prevent this from happening to you or your friends on your next night out.

1. Do not accept drinks from strangers
2. Be vigilant, do not leave your drinks unaccompanied and watch the bartender make your drink
3. Do not drink your drink if it looks, smells, or tastes different to usual
4. Stick to bottled drinks and avoid big opened drinks such as jugs and cocktail bowls
5. Buy an anti drink spiking stopper for you and your friends to put in the top of your drinks. This is a really cheap yet effective mode of prevention and some bars give them out for free.

Be sure to seek medical attention if you suspect you or a friend have been spiked. Check out talktofrank.com to learn more about the appearance and effects of recreational drugs.

References

NHS (2018) Drink spiking and date rape drugs. Available from https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/drink-spiking-and-date-rape-drugs/ [accessed 24 January 2019]

Mental health is no joke and putting additional strain on your mental wellbeing by depending on alcohol and/or drugs is generally a bad idea. Regardless of how your friends may tell you that a small dose of something naughty may help you cut loose, oftentimes you’re masking the issue at hand.

Many may to turn to alcohol or drug use to help them to manage symptoms of their condition (known as self-medicating) but it can become difficult to know when to stop. Did you know that half of adults who have a mental health condition will also have a substance use disorder at some point in their life? [1]

Often, involving a third party who is neutral to your personal situation is the best answer. There is much help available for those who need it. You may wish to contact the Student Wellbeing Centre who have drop-in sessions Monday to Friday between 12pm and 2pm and additional sessions running on Thursdays between 5pm and 7pm. They may refer you for counselling if you would like to take that approach.

Your GP is also here to help. They may be able to help in offering pharmaceuticals suitable for you and monitor your progress and give lifestyle advice, but also may be able to refer you to a specialist if you need one. The University Health Centre has close links with the Student Wellbeing Centre and making use of both services may help you both personally and in your learning.

Studies show that a staggering 27% of university students are diagnosed with a mental health condition.[2] Remember to check in on your friends at university to see how they are doing, even if it doesn’t seem like they’re having a tough time – but most importantly – pay attention to how you feel and know when it’s time for you to seek help.

Stay well and stay safe.

Student Wellbeing Centre:

Email: studentwellbeing@lincoln.ac.uk

Telephone: 01522 886400

University Health Centre:

Telephone: 01522 870010

Rehab4Addiction Helpline:

Telephone: 0800 140 4790

Useful link: https://www.rehab4addiction.co.uk/blog/student-addiction-treatment-guide

References:

[1] National Institute on Drug Abuse (2018) Comorbidity: Substance Use Disorders and Other Mental Illnesses. Available from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/comorbidity-substance-use-disorders-other-mental-illnesses [accessed 26 January 2019]

Rehab4Addiction (2019) Student Addiction Treatment Guide. Available from https://www.rehab4addiction.co.uk/blog/student-addiction-treatment-guide [accessed 26 January 2019]

University of Lincoln (2019) A Supportive Community. Available from https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studentlife/supportivecommunity/ [accessed 26 January 2019]

[2] YouGov (2016) One in four students suffer from mental health problems. Available from https://yougov.co.uk/topics/lifestyle/articles-reports/2016/08/09/quarter-britains-students-are-afflicted-mental-hea [accessed 26 January 2019]

A person’s mental health refers to their psychological and emotional well being. Poor mental health can have major ramifications, therefore it is important to take into consideration the long and short term consequences of drug and alcohol use.

Drugs and alcohol are linked to the brain and mental health.

Did you know alcohol is a depressant on the central nervous system, despite the feeling of euphoria when consumed? Drugs and alcohol can disrupt the daily brain function by changing brain activities, thoughts, feeling and action, which leads to mood change, aggression, anger, depression and anxiety.

Short term effects of drugs and alcohol on mental health.

One of the main ones is drug and alcohol induced anxiety disorder which results in an increased heart rate causing trembling, sweating, shortness of breath. This is associated with the fear of losing control and sense of reality.

How often do you feel down after drinking and/or taking drugs? These are the after effects of drugs and alcohol leading to mood disorders. It helps numbs our emotions eventually leading to an emotional breakdown and social isolation.

Long term effects of drugs and alcohol on mental health.

Drugs are known to trigger psychotic mental health issues, but a cocktail of both drugs and alcohol can have twice as much of an impact on the brain and your mental health. [1] Drugs such as cocaine, amphetamine and methamphetamine are just examples of popular drugs that are the main cause of psychosis. According to the NHS half of suicidal related death have a history of drugs and alcohol misuse with the UK with the highest rate in Europe.[2]

Psychoactive drugs can cause delusion, hallucinations which according to the DSM-V are all symptoms of psychiatric disorder such as schizophrenia, bipolar which are serve, life changing conditions.

 

References

[1] Drugabuse.gov. (2019). 4: Long-term effects of drug abuse. [online] Available at: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/teaching-packets/power-science/section-ii/4-long-term-effects-drug-abuse [Accessed 30 Jan. 2019].

[2] Drugs.ie. (2019). Drugs and mental health – Drug and Alcohol Information and Support in Ireland – Drugs.ie. [online] Available at: http://www.drugs.ie/drugs_info/about_drugs/mental_health/ [Accessed 30 Jan. 2019].

[3] Project Know. (2019). The Effects of Drug Abuse. [online] Available at: https://www.projectknow.com/drug-addiction/effects/ [Accessed 30 Jan. 2019].

Welcome to our blog about the mental health effects of drugs and alcohol. Over the next few days we will be adding small informatory posts around this issue, sharing some interesting facts and figures and signposts to further help, all leading up to Student Mental Health Day on the 7th March!