Themes - Drug misuse and mental health problems |
Many drug misusers first come into contact with treatment services via General Practice and associated services. Data from GPs for 2002 shows that for both men and women with a drug misuse diagnosis, anxiety disorders and depression were the two most common co-occurring conditions (Table A3.3) and that these were in higher proportions than non-drug misusing patients (Chart 19).
Chart 19 Patients seen with a specified mental health condition/illness for patients aged between 15 - 44 years by gender : 2002
Source : Table A3.3 (ISD Scotland CMR)
In 2000/01, there were 1 133 discharges from psychiatric hospitals with a main diagnosis of drug misuse. In slightly less than a third of such discharges, a supplementary mental health diagnosis was also recorded. The most common were: mood (affective) disorders, alcohol misuse and personality disorders. Males were more likely to have a co-existent supplementary diagnosis of alcohol misuse than females (Table A2.3, Chart 20). However, females were more likely to have a diagnosis of mood (affective) disorder.
Chart 20 Supplementary discharge diagnosis for psychiatric inpatient discharges with a main discharge diagnosis of drug misuse by gender : 2002
Source : Table A2.3 (ISD Scotland SMR04)
Approximately one-third of psychiatric discharges involved a supplementary rather than a main diagnosis of drug misuse. In these cases, the most common main diagnoses were: schizophrenia, mood (affective) disorders and alcohol misuse (Table A2.4, Chart 21).
Chart 21 Main discharge diagnosis for psychiatric inpatient discharges with a supplementary discharge diagnosis of drug misuse by gender : 2002
Source : Table A2.4 (ISD Scotland SMR04)
The Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Misuse
Survey provides insight into the relationships between perceived life satisfaction
and drug use in early teenage years. In general, young people (13 and 15 year
olds) who have tried illicit drugs report lower levels of life satisfaction
those have not tried illicit drugs; this relationship was similar for both boys
and girls. Thirteen year olds who had used drugs recently (in the last month)
reported lower than average levels of life satisfaction (Table
D1.10, Chart 22a/b).
Chart 22a Life satisfaction by drug use status : 2002 Used drugs in last month
Chart 22b Life satisfaction by drug use status : 2002 Never used drugs
