Substance Use & Mental Health

What is 'dual diagnosis'?

• AHaving two psychiatric conditions
• BHaving a mental health condition and a substance use disorder✓
• CTwo separate diagnoses unrelated to each other
• DAlways having serious conditions

Answer: Dual diagnosis (or co-occurring conditions) refers to someone experiencing both a mental health condition and a substance use disorder.

How does alcohol misuse affect mental health?

• AIt improves mood temporarily but increases depression and anxiety long-term✓
• BIt has no effect on mental health
• CIt only affects physical health
• DIt always prevents mental illness

Answer: Alcohol can temporarily reduce anxiety but worsens depression and anxiety over time, disrupts sleep, and can trigger or worsen mental health conditions.

What are stimulant drugs?

• AAlways prescription medications
• BDrugs that increase alertness and energy, including cocaine, methamphetamine, and excessive caffeine✓
• COnly legal substances
• DMedications only for ADHD

Answer: Stimulants increase alertness and arousal. They include prescription medications (for ADHD), cocaine, methamphetamine, and excessive caffeine.

What is 'self-medication'?

• ATaking over-the-counter medications
• BUsing substances to manage mental health symptoms without professional guidance✓
• CSeeing a doctor
• DTaking prescribed medications as directed

Answer: Self-medication is using drugs or alcohol to manage difficult emotions or mental health symptoms, which typically worsens outcomes.

What is 'harm reduction'?

• AStopping all substance use immediately
• BIgnoring substance use problems
• CPractical strategies to minimize the negative impacts of substance use✓
• DEncouraging substance use

Answer: Harm reduction involves practical strategies to reduce the harmful effects of substance use, such as needle exchange, supervised consumption, or gradual reduction.

What is cannabis's potential impact on mental health?

• AIt always improves mental health
• BIt can trigger psychosis, worsen anxiety, and impair memory, especially with regular use or in vulnerable people✓
• CIt has no mental health effects
• DIt's safe for everyone

Answer: Cannabis can trigger or exacerbate psychosis, increase anxiety, impair concentration, and worsen depression, particularly with heavy or early-life use.

What is alcohol use disorder (AUD)?

• ADrinking occasionally
• BA pattern of alcohol use causing significant impairment or distress✓
• CAny use of alcohol
• DDrinking wine only

Answer: AUD is a medical condition characterized by inability to control drinking, continued use despite problems, and withdrawal symptoms.

What are depressant drugs?

• AOnly prescription antidepressants
• BDrugs that slow the central nervous system, including alcohol, benzodiazepines, and opioids✓
• COnly illegal drugs
• DMedications for depression only

Answer: Depressants slow brain activity. They include alcohol, benzodiazepines, sedatives, and opioids.

What is 'substance dependence'?

• AUsing a substance once
• BPsychological or physical need for a substance causing withdrawal when stopping✓
• CTrying any illegal drug
• DTaking prescription medications as directed

Answer: Dependence involves physical or psychological need for a substance, often with tolerance (needing more) and withdrawal symptoms when stopping.

What is 'withdrawal' from substances?

• ABeing shy or quiet
• BPhysical and psychological symptoms when stopping substance use after dependence✓
• CQuitting substances easily
• DNot having enough of a substance

Answer: Withdrawal involves uncomfortable physical and psychological symptoms when stopping substance use after dependence - symptoms vary by substance.

How should you support someone with dual diagnosis?

• AFocus only on mental health
• BFocus only on substance use
• CIntegrate treatment addressing both conditions together✓
• DTell them to choose which problem to address first

Answer: Integrated treatment addressing both mental health and substance use simultaneously is most effective for dual diagnosis.

What is 'binge drinking'?

• ADrinking wine with a meal
• BConsuming large amounts of alcohol in a short period (typically 6+ units for women, 8+ for men)✓
• CDrinking beer at a pub
• DHaving a drink once a week

Answer: Binge drinking is consuming large quantities of alcohol in a short timeframe, typically defined as 6+ units (women) or 8+ units (men) in one session.