Giving Up Illegal Drugs
People with PTSD sometimes take illegal drugs to try and escape reminders of their trauma. If you have been taking illegal drugs to help cope with your symptoms, it might be helpful to consider giving up. You might believe that illegal drugs help you escape your feelings. But it will only make things more difficult in the long run.
Admitting that you have a problem is an important first step in solving the problem.
Drug classification
Illegal drugs can be classified into three groups based on their effects:
1. Depressant drugs – slow down your reactions. They initially make you feel more relaxed. Taken in larger amounts they can cause nausea, vomiting and unconsciousness.
Depressant drugs include cannabis, heroin, morphine, valium and rohypnol.
2. Stimulant drugs - make you feel alert. They initially give you energy, create euphoria, decrease your appetite and dilate your pupils. They increase your heart rate, body temperature and blood pressure. Larger amounts can cause anxiety, panic attacks, paranoia and aggression.
Stimulant drugs include cocaine, ecstasy and speed.
3. Hallucinogenic drugs - change your perception of reality. They can cause visual or auditory hallucinations which can sometimes be unpleasant. It is common to experience anxiety, panic attacks or paranoia.
Hallucinogenic drugs include LSD, PCP, mescaline and magic mushrooms. Certain depressant and stimulant drugs (such as cannabis and ecstasy) can also have hallucinogenic effects.
Illegal drugs and PTSD
- Being diagnosed with PTSD increases the risk of using illegal drugs.
- Illegal drugs can however make many of your symptoms and problems worse. For example, illegal drugs can increase feelings of depression, anxiety, panic, emotional numbness and create interpersonal problems.
- Taking illegal drugs can reduce the effectiveness of PTSD treatment. It can make the hard work you are doing trying to get better less effective.
- Keeping a normal routine helps you recover from PTSD. Taking illegal drugs is something else which stops you living the life you did before the trauma.
- Taking illegal drugs is often worrying for your family and friends. It might be for them that you choose to give it up.
- Using illegal drugs can be financially draining.
Ten tips to help give up illegal drugs
1. Giving up illegal drugs will minimise aggravation of PTSD symptoms and other mental health problems - use this guidance to help you.
2. Cutting down on illegal drug use will reduce associated problems – including depression, anxiety and mood swings.
3. Monitor your use of illegal drugs – record what you’re taking, when and in what quantities. Add this information to the bottom of your diary.
4. Stop and think before you take the drug – refer back to this module and the reason’s you’re trying to give up.
5. Make it difficult for yourself to access drugs – don’t keep a supply of drugs at home.
6. Avoid spending time with people who use drugs – this will make it easier to stop.
7. Distract yourself when you feel like taking the drug – go for a walk, use some relaxation techniques or spend time with people who don’t use drugs.
8. Trying to cut down or stop too quickly may cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms including aches and pains, difficulty sleeping, agitation and depression – if this is an issue, we recommend you cut down gradually.
9. Tell others you are trying to give up - and ask them to support and encourage this choice.
10. Don’t give up - giving up illegal drug use isn’t easy. Get support from people who care about you and keep trying.
