By Christian George
A Consultant Psychiatrist at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Dr Okwudili Obayi has revealed that abuse of alcohol and other drug substances can lead to what is generally known as madness.
Dr Obayi who is also the
Public Relations Officer of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria, revealed this in a chat with Daily Post.
He explained that abuse of drugs can lead to loss of memory and can also birth other brain diseases.
He opined that it can as well worsen victim’s recovery rate.
He said, “The impact of drug abuse on an individual’s psyche is large. For instance, someone who abuses drugs can engage in other conditions that invariably would worsen or lead to mental problems.
“The impact on mental health for somebody who is vulnerable and predisposed or has the chance of developing mental illness is that using drugs can make the illness either come earlier or worsen the illness. It can even make the person who has the mental illness not recover.”
He added that abuse could lead to social vices including stealing and breaking of rules and order.
“The impact of drug abuse on an individual’s psyche is large. For instance, someone who abuses drugs can engage in other conditions that invariably would worsen or lead to mental problems,” he added.
He said that abuse is rather expensive to maintain as somebody who abuses drugs cannot function well in society as he cannot contribute meaningfully and could lead the family into unnecessary spending.
On how to curb becoming a victim, he said that prevention is better than cure as “somebody who abuses drugs cannot function well in society as he cannot contribute meaningfully.”
“However, preventing drug abuse is the best approach in any sane society that wants progress. But when someone has a problem already, either the person is using the drug and using it excessively despite the person has no other problem, or the person now becomes dependent and addicted that he cannot do without it, or the person using it has led to other consequences, be it medical conditions such as hypertension or diabetes or psychological problem like any form of mental illness, or problem with the society or with the law, that person needs treatment.
“Treatment depends on the condition type, the impact level and the place. Also, treatment can be received in the hospital, and it could be given while the person is at home, coming to the hospital. It all depends on the nature of the problem the person has and the stage at which the person is presented at the hospital, as long as the motivation is to withdraw from the substance,” he said.
