Lots of people enjoy alcohol and drugs in moderation. If you’re worried about how much or how often you’re using alcohol or drugs, or if you're addicted to something, thinking about how much you consume is the first step.
Alcohol and drug use is a problem when:
Drinking and taking drugs is associated with having a good time, perhaps socialising with friends, chilling out after a hard day, or celebrating an achievement. But sometimes our relationship with alcohol and drugs goes past ‘the good times’ and can begin to take a toll on our lives. That’s because alcohol and drugs are addictive substances that alter our mood and behaviour. And, because drink and drugs are associated with so many good things and in some cases are even part of our culture, it can be difficult to tell when things have got out of hand.
It can feel embarrassing or even shameful to bring up our worries around drink or drugs, but there is nothing to be ashamed about. In England there are an estimated 586,780 dependent drinkers and it’s important to remember that there is support out there.
Alcohol and drug addiction don’t happen overnight – it might even feel as if they creep up on you. If you’re not sure about whether your relationship with alcohol or drugs is becoming problematic, take a look at some of the symptoms or signs of addiction below:
If addiction is affecting your behaviour or making it difficult to go about everyday life, you should talk to someone about how you feel. That could be a friend or family member, a GP, medical professional or specialised helpline.
Alcohol and drugs have mood-altering effects, and while some short-lived feelings may be pleasurable, consistent use can have long-term and negative effects on mental wellbeing. Feelings may include:
Everyone’s experience is unique. You might not know if your relationship with alcohol or drugs is damaging, and that's ok. If you're worried about your relationship with alcohol or drugs you're not alone. You can seek support and advice.
When we see images or storylines around addiction in the media, people are often shown negatively – but that isn’t the only way addiction can show up in your life. Anyone can become addicted to something and experiencing addiction does not make you a bad person.
And it’s not just substances that we can become addicted do. We can become addicted to anything – shopping, sex, coffee, sugar, the list is endless and not limited to alcohol and drugs. Addiction is defined as a compulsion to use a substance, or perform a certain behaviour in order to feel good or avoid feeling bad. Addictions come into two categories, physical and psychological.
Physical addiction happens when you continually use a substance until your body is no longer able to function without it. Changes in your body chemistry create a hunger for the substance that you feel you must continue feeding. When you don’t use this substance, you may suffer symptoms of withdrawal, such as body aches, nausea, mood swings and more.
Psychological addiction is when your brain gets hooked on a substance or behaviour because it makes you feel a certain way. This is an emotional or mental attachment and without the substance or behaviour, your emotions may spiral.
Anyone can become addicted to something, but there are often triggers which make us more susceptible. These may include trauma, abuse, stress, self-esteem issues, or difficulty at school or work. One misconception is that all addictions are severe, however you can have a mild addiction.
If you notice that your tolerance is increasing – you have to drink more to get the same effect or feeling – it might be worth taking stock of how much you’re drinking or using.
Here's some things to do or think about that might help if you're struggling with alcohol and drug use:
Sharing your worries or stresses will help you look at things a little more clearly and help you find a way to move forward.
Perhaps work is stressful or a relationship is strained?
Dealing with addiction is tough and we all fall off the wagon sometimes. The important thing is that you press reset and start again.
If you’re drinking or using drugs, try to do this in the safest environment and way possible.
If completely cutting yourself off seems overwhelming, start by aiming for a couple of drink/drug free days a week. This will start to help your body rebalance and regenerate.
Like exercise outdoors, try art or socialising within a positive and helpful network
Tackling a drink or drug issue can be tricky and what works varies from person to person. Depending on how much you drink or use drugs, different things will work for you.
If you speak to a GP or healthcare provider they may offer some of the following treatment options for addiction:
Alcohol and drug issues can be tricky to navigate and the shame and stigma that often surrounds addiction can make it hard to talk about. You may be concerned for someone and not know how to bring it up. Here are some ways you can start a conversation:
