AUSTRALIAN GREEK WELFARE SOCIETY IN THE BATTLE AGAINST MENTAL ILLNESS

By Adonis Maglis – Community Education Officer

 

Asked on the link between drug taking & depression (both rising within the Greek community), Adonis Maglis, AGWS Community Education Officer, stated: Given a certain amount of stress, individuals will employ different coping skills, dependent on the perceived severity and changeability of the stressor, the difficulty of the coping response, the variety and quality of a person’s coping repertoire and the available social network resources. Substances may be used as a coping mechanism for two reasons: to reduce negative affect, when a person is anxious or over aroused, or to increase positive affect, when a person feels fatigued, depressed or under aroused.  

Two functions of coping, frequently occurring simultaneously, can be distinguished: the alteration of the ongoing person-environment relationship and the control of stressful emotions. However coping responses differ with regard to effectiveness. Some ways of coping may lead to gradual adaptation of self and/or one’s environment and eventual resolution of life changes, whereas other may lead to unresolved grief, depression and social alienation or to hostility, conflicts and characterological disturbances. It has been suggested that substances used, as a way of coping with stress will in general have non-productive consequences. Although substances may provide short term changes in affect, a reliance on this approach for dealing with environmental stressors reduces the probability of learning and practicing alternative coping responses; in the long run this would tend to reduce social competence and increase overall stress levels. Additionally drug abusing behaviour may gradually alienate potential social supports, leading to increasing social alienation and increased dependency on the use of substances to cope.  

Findings based on a 12 year study that tracked substance abuse and health histories of 736 Greek youths through their early and mid teen years into earl adulthood found that children who started to use alcohol, marijuana or other illicit drugs in their early teen years were more likely to experience psychiatric disorders, especially depression, in their late 20’s.  

Over the past decade, a substantial body of evidence has been acquired to support a link between maladaptive coping and substance abuse, specifically a reliance on avoidant rather than approach coping strategies. Although much of the literature has focused on the relation between maladaptive coping and alcohol use, associations between illicit drug use and avoidant coping have also been shown across quite diverse patient populations.  

What is becoming increasingly clear is that it is not the absolute amount of stress a person experiences that is linked to substance abuse or relapse following treatment, but rather a reliance on certain types of avoidant coping strategies to cope with stress, together with positive expectations concerning the ability of the substance to relieve negative affective states associated with stress.  

Adolescent years are a high risk period for substance use and abuse, as the stress associated with puberty and the separation from parents can cause tension and anxiety in young people.  

Adolescents may experience depression, difficulties in communication, dramatic personality changes, tendencies to isolation, hostile behaviour, precipitating a family crisis which if unresolved can leave the adolescent neglected and thus even more vulnerable.  

Perceived positive effects or advantages of using cannabis tend to outweigh negative outcomes. The most prevalent reasons for use pertain to relaxation and enhancement of recreational activities followed by coping with stress and anxiety.  

Alcohol and psychoactive drugs alter a person's perceptions, feelings and behaviour, and some people use these substances for just that reason. Many people who suffer from emotional disorders or mental illness turn to drugs and alcohol to self-medicate, as a way of tolerating feelings that are intolerable. Yet, ironically, this method of self-treating seldom works in the long-run and frequently makes matters worse.  

In short, alcohol and drugs -- no matter how tempting -- do not provide any real, enduring relief from emotional problems. And in almost all instances, they make things worse.  

Marijuana users tend to think that recreational use is safe. Many have the mistaken belief that they have the self-control and strength to stop it whenever they like. Unfortunately, they soon succumb to the addictive power of the drug and smoking marijuana takes primacy over other activities in life, including their study or career.  

Clearly the evidence tends to indicate that early drug use is associated with later psychiatric disorders. It states that drug use precedes major depressive disorders and alcohol dependency, and does not occur as a result of these disorders. It adds that certain types of drug use during childhood and adolescence should not be treated as benign conditions that may be outgrown.  

Unfortunately, teenagers often don’t see the link between their actions today and the consequences tomorrow.  They also have a tendency to feel indestructible and immune to the problems that others experience.   

Young people sometimes turn to alcohol and drugs to cope with life’s frustrations, to feel more adult-like, to fit in, to rebel, or to satisfy their curiosity about drugs and drinking.  

Many adolescents fail to recognize that they are depressed and why they are depressed. But, when they drink alcohol or take drugs to alleviate their stress or emotional pain, they can develop or worsen depression.

Following are some common sense guidelines for parents:  

Reassure your child. Let him know that you are there for him, that with proper treatment soon he will be feeling better.  

Let her know that depression is not her fault. Acknowledge she has a right to feel depressed.  

It's not your fault, either. You're not a bad parent because your child is depressed.

 

Educate yourself thoroughly. Early-onset depression can be far more complex than adult depression and frequently co-occurs with other disorders or behaviours. Even the experts can be confused.  

Monitor your child's progress very carefully, especially for any antidepressant side effects.  

Inform your child's teachers. This is admittedly a judgment call. My opinion is that it is better for your child to be labelled as depressed for a period of several months than be branded for life as a slow learner or lazy student.  

Get your spouse involved. This is especially true if you are separated or divorced and you are the custodial parent. Marriage break-ups are hard enough on children without one parent keeping the other one out of the loop”[1].  

For further information, educational resources, counselling, participation in groups etc. please call Adonis Maglis on 9388 9998