Understanding the Connection
Schizophrenia is a chronic and often misunderstood mental health disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. While the exact cause of schizophrenia remains unknown, researchers have long debated whether environmental factors, such as drug abuse, can trigger or worsen this condition.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), schizophrenia is a serious mental health condition that affects how a person perceives reality. Individuals with this disorder often struggle to distinguish between what is real and what is imagined, experiencing unusual sights, sounds, and sensations.
With the increasing use of psychoactive substances among teens and young adults, it’s essential to understand how drug use might influence mental health. So, can drug abuse cause schizophrenia, or does it simply reveal it in those already at risk? Let’s find out!
Key Takeaways
- Drug abuse does not directly cause schizophrenia, but it can significantly trigger or worsen its symptoms, especially in genetically predisposed individuals.
- Psychoactive drugs can alter brain chemistry, particularly dopamine levels, mimicking or intensifying psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions.
- Individuals with schizophrenia are more susceptible to substance abuse, often using drugs to self-medicate, which ultimately worsens their condition.
What Is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a mental health disorder that involves disruptions in the way a person’s brain processes information. This can cause hallucinations, disorganized speech, and delusions. The disorder typically becomes noticeable in early adulthood or late adolescence.
Although the exact cause of schizophrenia is not known, it may be due to a combination of genetic factors and brain chemistry. Schizophrenia affects less than 1% of the population in the United States.
Symptoms of Schizophrenia
The symptoms of schizophrenia are categorized into positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms.
What Are the Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia?
Positive symptoms refer to changes in a person’s behavior or thoughts. Some symptoms include:
- Hallucinations: These include auditory and visual hallucinations. Hearing voices is usually the most common form of auditory hallucinations. Some people experience visual hallucinations as well.
- Delusions: Delusions may be persecutory (believing others wish to harm them), grandiose delusions (believing they are famous or have special abilities), or referential delusions (believing that ordinary events are related to them).
- Disorganized Speech and Thoughts: Loose associations occur when people jump from one topic to another with little logical connection. Others exhibit tangentiality, which is when they answer questions unrelated to the topic asked.
- Catatonic or Disorganized Behavior: Catatonic behavior can refer to either complete immobility or a resistance to movement. Other times, their movements may be purposeless.
What Are the Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia?
Negative symptoms occur when a person withdraws from the world and society. Some negative symptoms include:
- Affective Flattening: People with this condition may exhibit few facial expressions and gestures.
- Alogia: Those exhibiting alogia may have difficulty talking or very limited speech.
- Anhedonia: Anhedonia refers to people’s inability to feel pleasure from activities they once enjoyed.
- Asociality: Those who have schizophrenia may withdraw socially, showing little interest in social interactions.
- Avolition: People with this mental health disorder may lack motivation and neglect personal hygiene.
Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Cognitive symptoms refer to a person’s ability to learn and retain information. Some symptoms include:
- Impaired Executive Function: Some people who have schizophrenia may have difficulty carrying out plans and accomplishing tasks.
- Attention Deficits: There is often difficulty paying attention or concentrating.
- Memory Problems: There may be trouble with short-term memory.
How Does Drug Abuse Affect the Body and the Mind?
Drug abuse affects both the body and the mind of a person with schizophrenia, causing both short-term and long-term consequences. Here are some ways substance abuse affects the body and the mind.
Cardiovascular System
Drugs that act as stimulants, such as cocaine or methamphetamine, can increase an individual’s blood pressure and heart rate, leading to heart attacks or cardiovascular issues.
On the other hand, depressants, such as opioids, tend to slow down an individual’s heart rate and breathing, leading to a possible overdose. Many people with schizophrenia tend to rely on opioids to help them manage the symptoms of this mental health disorder. However, this behavior can be deadly.
Respiratory System
Opioids slow down the respiratory system, resulting in slower and shallower breathing. The respiratory system of those with schizophrenia is also affected by substances like tobacco and marijuana, increasing their risk of lung cancer.
Tobacco smoking is especially common among individuals with schizophrenia, further complicating their physical health and increasing long-term risks.
Liver and Kidney Damage
Alcohol causes liver damage as this organ is responsible for ethanol metabolism. Chronic alcohol abuse can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Alternatively, because the kidney filters drugs, their abuse can strain the kidneys and eventually cause irreparable harm in those with schizophrenia.
Gastrointestinal System
Illicit drugs can also adversely affect the gastrointestinal system of people with schizophrenia. Stimulants, such as crack cocaine and meth, can cause severe weight loss and reduced appetite.
Other drugs, such as opioids, can cause severe stomach pain. Besides harming the liver, alcohol abuse can also cause gastrointestinal cancer.
Immune System
The body’s immune system is a collaborative effort of several organs in the body, all fighting off diseases. Chronic drug abuse can weaken the body’s immune system in different ways. Alcohol, for example, destroys beneficial gut bacteria.
Marijuana can interrupt how specific immune cells work, causing them to function abnormally. And meth can disrupt the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut. Overall, drug use weakens the immune system, making those with schizophrenia and substance use issues more susceptible to illnesses.
Brain Chemistry Alterations
Drug abuse affects the brain as well. Many drugs increase dopamine levels in the brain. Over time, this reduces the brain’s ability to produce dopamine on its own, resulting in severe depression when the person is no longer on the drug.
Drug abuse can also affect cognitive functions, such as memory and attention. Chronic alcohol abuse can lead to alcohol-related dementia. These chemical alterations are considerably dangerous for those with schizophrenia because this mental health disorder also affects the functioning of the brain.
Mental Health Disorders
Many drugs, specifically depressants, can exacerbate mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression. Chronic abuse of stimulants, on the other hand, can cause paranoia and hallucinations, which can be dangerous for those diagnosed with mental illness or already exhibiting hallucinations due to schizophrenia.
Behavioral Changes
Chronic drug and alcohol abuse can lead to addiction, which can cause behavioral changes. There may be social isolation or compulsive, reckless behavior, such as doing anything to acquire one’s drug of choice or driving while under the influence.
Emotional Instability
Chronic drug or alcohol abuse can also cause intense mood swings and irritability. This emotional instability can strain relationships at home and in the workplace.
What Are the Symptoms of Drug Addiction?
Depending on the drug of choice, there are various symptoms individuals exhibit when they have a substance use disorder. Symptoms will generally affect people’s bodies, minds, and behavior.
Increased Tolerance
As individuals take more drugs, their bodies need more of the drug to feel the same effects. This can lead to an addiction.
Intense Cravings
As addiction sets in, individuals will find themselves having intense cravings for the drug. This is one of the first signs they are developing a substance use disorder.
Withdrawal Symptoms
When individuals stop taking drugs or alcohol, their bodies suffer from intense withdrawal symptoms. Alcoholics may experience trembling, excessive sweating, and nausea, for example. This withdrawal may also intensify schizophrenia and other mental health disorder symptoms, resulting in a possible mental breakdown.
Health Issues
Many people with substance use disorder and schizophrenia may suffer from insomnia if they are taking stimulants or may sleep too much if they are taking depressants. As chronic drug abuse also weakens the immune system, they may be constantly sick.
Physical Changes
There may be significant weight loss if a person is addicted to meth or crack cocaine. If they are shooting up heroin or other substances, they may have track marks on their arms or other parts of their body.
Behavioral Changes
Drug addiction can also lead to people neglecting their work or school responsibilities. In addition, they may have strained personal relationships due to their substance use disorder.
Behavioral changes may also be evident as a result of their schizophrenia symptoms, though it may be difficult to determine whether the behavioral changes are due to schizophrenia or their substance use disorder.
Financial Problems
Many people with a substance use disorder may spend more and more money purchasing their drug of choice. This may result in dwindling financial resources. Others may resort to stealing or borrowing money to fund their addiction.
Mood Swings
People with co-occurring conditions, such as substance use disorder and schizophrenia, tend to have unexplained changes in their mood.
This can be a result of the drug causing depression and anxiety, it can be a result of temporarily withdrawing from the drug, or it can be due to the drug exacerbating their mental health disorder.
Can Drug Abuse Cause Schizophrenia?
While substance use disorders do not directly cause schizophrenia, they can certainly exacerbate the symptoms in individuals who already have the disorder.
Genetic Predisposition
Individuals who have a family history of schizophrenia have a higher risk, almost 80%, of developing the disorder. If they chronically abuse drugs in their teens and early 20s, they may increase the likelihood of developing the disorder.
Some people who are already at risk of developing the disease can have a full-blown psychotic episode after using drugs, even if that drug use is just one time. The drug essentially brings the latent symptoms of schizophrenia to the surface.
Neurochemical Impact
Some drugs can alter a person’s brain chemistry, such as cocaine, LSD, and meth. Chronically abusing these drugs can exacerbate the symptoms of schizophrenia. While these drugs can cause episodes that mimic schizophrenia, chronic use can lead to repeated hallucinations and delusions.
However, once the person stops using the drug in question, the episodes that mimic schizophrenia will decrease.
What Treatments Are Available for Those With Co-Occurring Disorders?
Suffering from both schizophrenia and a substance use disorder puts you in the category of having a co-occurring disorder. This dual diagnosis is challenging as treatment must address both conditions simultaneously rather than just one. Here are some treatments available for those with co-occurring disorders.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a type of therapy that helps clients identify their negative thought patterns in the hopes of changing those patterns into something more positive. This form of therapy can be used for both substance use disorders and schizophrenia.
CBT clients are taught how to recognize unhelpful thought patterns so they can reevaluate them. They also learn coping behaviors to identify their triggers and manage stress.
Integrated Dual-Diagnosis Treatment (IDDT)
Historically, many people suffering from co-occurring disorders have been denied treatment for their mental health disorders because of their substance use disorders. IDDT is specifically for clients suffering from co-occurring disorders.
The therapy addresses both the mental health disorder and the substance use disorder. IDDT tackles substance use disorder with medication and the mental health disorder with talk therapy. This balance is customized for each client.
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
MI is an evidence-based approach that balances listening to the client and motivating the client to change. Therapists work to strengthen their clients’ decisions to make positive changes.
MI is often effective for people who are ambivalent about changing their behavior, have no desire to change their behavior, or feel they do not have the willpower to embrace a sober lifestyle.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
When dealing with co-occurring schizophrenia, it can help to integrate medication into the treatment program. Medication can help reduce cravings for drugs, reduce anxiety, and help stabilize moods. Once the client reaps the benefits of medication, psychotherapy can be more effective.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three drugs for opioid use disorder: methadone, naltrexone, and buprenorphine. Disulfiram or Antabuse helps those suffering from an alcohol use disorder by causing negative reactions when alcohol is consumed.
There are also specific antipsychotic drugs that can help manage the symptoms of schizophrenia. These include risperidone, aripiprazole, and olanzapine.
Support Groups
Support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA), can help provide individuals with social support from like-minded peers. There is no cost to join, and members can share their experiences or listen to the experiences of others on their sobriety journey.
Inpatient Rehab Centers
For those with severe substance use and mental health disorders, inpatient rehab facilities can help. These programs provide a structured environment where clients can detox and seek treatment. The facility includes 24/7 medical supervision, relapse prevention education, and therapy.
Outpatient Rehab Centers
For people with a less severe substance use disorder, outpatient programs allow individuals to receive treatment while going to work or school. Individuals attend therapy sessions and support groups during the day but return home in the evenings.
Charles River Recovery
If you are suffering from both substance use and mental health disorders, Charles River Recovery can help.
Our treatment programs are for individuals with alcohol, opioid, meth, prescription pill, and cocaine use disorders.
We offer a customized approach put together by experienced clinicians, physicians, and addiction treatment specialists. If you or someone you love is suffering from a co-occurring disorder, contact us today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the risk factors for developing schizophrenia?
Key risk factors for developing schizophrenia include genetics, prenatal complications, early trauma, and adolescent cannabis use.
Research also links low levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to increased vulnerability. Environmental triggers and drug abuse can significantly heighten the chances of psychotic disorders.
Can cannabis use disorder increase the chances of a schizophrenia diagnosis?
Individuals with cannabis use disorder are more likely to receive a schizophrenia diagnosis, especially if drug use begins in adolescence. Regular THC exposure can worsen mental health, triggering psychotic symptoms and contributing to earlier onset in at-risk individuals.
How does drug abuse affect brain structure in people with schizophrenia?
Chronic drug abuse can alter brain structure, particularly in individuals with schizophrenia. Damage may appear in areas responsible for cognition and memory. Combined with psychotic symptoms, substance use can worsen outcomes and increase the need for long-term intervention and support.
Are people with mental disorders more likely to struggle with substance use?
People with mental disorders such as schizophrenia are more prone to co-occurring substance use compared to the general population.
They may use drugs to self-medicate, but this often worsens symptoms and interferes with treatment progress.
Can adolescent cannabis use lead to the earlier onset of schizophrenia?
Adolescent cannabis use is linked to an earlier onset of schizophrenia, especially in genetically predisposed individuals. THC may interfere with brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a protein crucial for brain development, increasing the risk of lasting psychotic symptoms.
Conclusion
While drug abuse doesn’t directly cause schizophrenia, the evidence strongly suggests a significant and dangerous interplay. For individuals with a genetic predisposition or existing vulnerabilities, substance use, particularly during critical developmental periods like adolescence, can act as a powerful trigger, accelerating the onset of psychotic episodes or exacerbating existing symptoms.
The neurochemical impact of drugs on the brain, especially those affecting dopamine, can mimic or worsen the brain chemistry imbalances seen in schizophrenia.
Treating these co-occurring disorders requires a comprehensive and integrated approach, addressing both the mental health condition and the substance use disorder simultaneously.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider or addiction specialist with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking treatment because of something you have read on this website.
Charles River Recovery is not liable for any decisions made or actions taken based on the information provided here. If you are in crisis or need immediate help, please contact emergency services or call a licensed treatment provider immediately.
