People confronting mental health issues sometimes resort to accessing drugs including unprescribed drugs and alcohol as a form of ‘self-medication’. However, such a response will almost always make the symptoms of mental distress far worse. Indeed, the use of some drugs might induce mental illness, and make the condition harder to treat. 

There are a variety of reasons people use alcohol and drugs. Whatever the reason, the use of drugs and alcohol can really have detrimental long-term consequences on both mental and physical health, including:

• addiction - becoming dependent on drugs and / or alcohol

• financial – there can be a huge financial cost to being reliant on drugs / alcohol, and there is a risk of unaffordable debt and engaging in activities to fund a habit, that can lead to further punishment or reprisals from prisoners

• mood - experiencing sudden mood changes

• psychosis - having episodes of drug-induced psychosis

• motivation - suffering a lack of motivation or developing a negative attitude to life, perhaps leading to self-harm and suicidal thoughts.

• relationships - problems sustaining relationships with family and friends

• decision-making - being unable to make rational decisions.

Some forms of cannabis such as ‘weed’ contain high levels of THC, which can induce paranoia and hallucinations; if an individual is already suffering from mental health issues use of such drugs can significantly increase the chances of developing schizophrenia.

The availability of synthetic cannabinoids such as Spice has greatly increased the incidence of psychotic episodes that have to be dealt with in UK prisons. Psychotic episodes are characterised by an individual experiencing a ‘break from reality’, where images and sounds are generated within the imagination. Such an episode can create extreme levels of stress during which an individual has very limited control over their actions. They can inflict harm on themselves and others and require immediate attention.