Drug and alcohol misuse

Understanding drug and alcohol misuse

What is misuse?

About one in three adults in Australia drinks alcohol at risky levels. Two in every five people in Australia have used an illegal drug at some point in their lives, which includes taking pharmaceutical medicines for non-medical purposes.

Drug or alcohol use can become a problem when it starts to affect someone’s judgement, their relationships, commitments such as school, work and family responsibilities or their general health and wellbeing. For some people, it can also increase the risk of experiencing depression, anxiety and other conditions.

The term ‘drug and alcohol misuse’ relates to the impact someone’s use has on their life, rather than specific amounts or how often they are using drugs or alcohol.

If you think that your own alcohol or drug use has become a problem, help is available. You might like to start with our substance use self-check or by making an appointment to speak with your GP. You can also explore the treatment options we offer through St John of God Health Care below.

Are you worried about the habits of someone you care about?

If you know that someone is using drugs or alcohol and worry they could be developing a problem, there are some signs to watch out for. They might find it difficult to cut down or stop using. They might spend a lot of their time trying to find or use drugs or alcohol, use more regularly over time or use larger amounts of substances over time.

Sometimes it can be hard to tell if someone you care about is using harmful levels of drugs or alcohol, especially if they are trying to hide their drug or alcohol use.

Signs and symptoms

If someone is at risk of developing a problem with alcohol and drug misuse, you might see physical changes in them such as:

• shakes or tremors
• sudden weight loss or gain
• sleeping problems
• regular runny noses or sniffing.

You might also notice changes in someone’s behaviour. They could be at risk of misusing drugs or alcohol if they have:

• trouble keeping up at school or work
• relationship or family problems
• legal or financial difficulties
• physical injuries which might be caused by accidents or violence after using drugs or alcohol
• symptoms when they try to stop or cut down on using drugs or alcohol (called ‘withdrawal’ symptoms).

Of course, some people can experience these things without it being related to drug or alcohol misuse.

What to do if you're concerned

If you’re worried that someone you care about is misusing drugs or alcohol or needs help, here are some things you can do:

• Talk to them. You might start by saying you’ve noticed they haven’t seemed themselves and ask if they’re OK.
• Offer your support. Try not to judge their behaviour or make accusations when you’re discussing someone’s drug or alcohol use. Let them know you’re there to support them.
• Encourage them to get professional help. The best place to start could be for them to see their GP. You could also explore the programs we offer at St John of God Health Care, detailed below.
• Look after yourself. Supporting a friend or family member with a drug or alcohol misuse problem can be draining. Look after your own physical and mental health and contact your own GP for advice if you need.

If the person you’re worried about is not ready to get help, you might need to take a break and get support from your family and friends. Let the person know you care about them and will check in with them again, so they know you’re there to support them.

Your treatment options

There are many treatment options available for alcohol and drug misuse. Depending on the kind of substance involved and the situation, treatment can range from counselling through to hospital treatment.

Therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy and what’s known as ‘acceptance and commitment therapy’ are often used.

Overall, the purpose of getting treatment is to help reduce or stop their drug and/or alcohol misuse. This can take some time and many people can experience physical withdrawal symptoms when they try to cut back or stop using certain substances.

The process known as ‘detoxification’ is not easy – and some people can relapse and use those substances again. With professional treatment, someone can be helped safely through the recovery process. They can also get any counselling or prescribed medication they might need, including learning strategies to cope with different situations to enjoy a healthier lifestyle.

These are the programs which we offer through St John of God Health Care.