Alcohol-related harm disproportionately impacts the poorest people in society, and is a factor in more than 200 medical conditions. This includes circulatory and digestive diseases, as well as a number of cancers (246). Binge drinking, which is when a person drinks enough on a single occasion to get drunk, can lead to injuries, anti-social behaviour, and other societal harm. Alcohol also reacts badly with or can stop the effects of many psychiatric medications, including those used to treat depression, bipolar disorder, and antipsychotic medications. Cannabis (marijuana, hashish, pot, weed) Cannabis is a mixture of dried and shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant. It is a mild sedative and mild hallucinogen and induces a ‘chilled out’ state. It may also induce a state where objects and reality are distorted in some way. Cannabis is the most common substance that young people are treated for misuse of. It can lower mood, trigger anxiety, and induce paranoia in some young people. It can cause reduced motivation, impaired memory, mood swings, disturbed sleep, depression, and anxiety. There is also growing evidence that cannabis use can trigger psychosis in young people who are vulnerable (247). Opioids Opioid drugs include heroin, morphine, opium, and codeine. Heroin is processed from morphine, which is a naturally occurring substance taken from the Asian poppy plant. It produces a short- term feeling of euphoria and pain relief. The drug has a high risk of creating dependence. Most people who are dependent on heroin are at high risk of overdose, suicide behaviour, or depression (248). Some people may misuse opioid drugs to self-medicate existing poor mental health, especially feelings of anxiety. Where opioids are used to relieve such feelings of distress, they are more likely to be habit-forming and become addictive.
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