Meeting 27 MAY 2003
EPI (Early Psychosis Intervention) Parents' Meeting, May 27, 2003
Street Drugs, Alcohol & Psychosis.
How much of your child's psychosis is connected to drug use? Judging from those attending the
May 2003 meeting of the EPI Family Support Group, it is at least a major worry and probably
closely connected to enhancement of their child's psychosis, if not the root cause.
The meeting was attended by 22 family members, plus three support staff. These 22 represented
16 families who typically, but not exclusively, have children in the 16 to 25 year group
with a psychosis problem. Of those 16 families, probably 10 acknowledged that street drugs
had been a factor in their child's illness and in possibly half of those situations,
drugs were a major factor.
Yet, according to Walter Lidster, one of the support people present, the incidence of pot use
among teens and young adults is about the same whether they have psychosis problems or not.
However, I was amazed to learn that at least 50% of this age group are regular users.
Side effects of regular use of pot are reduced motivation, added body weight, acne, damage to
the short term memory and eventually development of paranoid tendencies. "I would consider the
use of two joints per day as signalling a likelihood of addiction," Walter Lidster said.
The other very common street drugs used by this age group are in the amphetamine group
- crystal meth and "E" or ecstasy. Walter reported that crystal meth is very inexpensive
and very available in every single high school.
We learned that crystal meth gives a very quick "high" which can last a few days, but is
quite addictive. Weight loss and a ravenous appetite is common.
"E" usually has other chemicals mixed in, including cocaine, heroine and even rat poison.
It directly affects the frontal cortex of the brain - the area most closely connected with
psychosis problems in the first place - and its effects may last from Friday, to a sudden
"come down" on Tuesday, with resultant deep depression. It also causes users to grind their
teeth, and many use suckers to minimize this problem. A user's mood is very mellow and loving,
so that there are few fights among users.
Of these two amphetamines, we were told that ecstasy is the more common.
Some start using such street drugs to cope with symptoms of their psychosis. And it helps for
a while. But then the side effects do the damage, the psychosis is enhanced, the beneficial
effects of antipsychotic prescription drugs are cancelled out and the affected person can
really crash.
Even cigarettes are used as a crutch by people with a psychosis as the nicotine affects the
dopamine receptors in the brain connected with the symptoms of the psychosis. But the benefits
are short lived and are over-weighed by the damage that nicotine does to the persons physical
health.
"So, I tell my youth groups that I don't want them to use anything that harms the body.
After all, it's the only one we're going to get!" Lidster said. "And if you're both an
alcoholic and are depressed, it may be best to deal with the alcoholism first."
"I usually ask youths in my groups who are worsening their situation with street drugs what
they felt like before taking the drug. Then ask what other activities they enjoy that have
satisfied them, in an attempt to encourage alternative behaviour." But he added, "Remember,
however, they need conversations with you, not lectures."
Those who have had to quit work or drop out of school should be encouraged to do something
and Walter Lidster suggested short periods of volunteer work could be appropriate as it is
not such a heavy commitment, which could present too much stress during the early recovery
period.
We learned that in the family home environment, there are some things that are just not
negotiable. And that if you expect nothing, you get nothing. Adding too much stress isn't
good, but there is a need to find a balance that will help develop the motivation needed
to get back into the mainstream of society.
Recovery, which is not only a hope but a reasonable expectation, is in response to efforts
which will likely include medication. However, the longer the treatment steps are delayed,
the longer the recovery period.
Next month's meeting will be the last before the "summer break". It will be held June 24,
starting at 6:30 pm with an optional pot-luck event. Those who can't come that early can
catch the meeting proper at 7 pm. The topic for this meeting will be "Motivation".
If you have comments you would like to share please email pspops@psychosissupport.com