Mental health, trauma and opioids

Drug use and mental health are linked in a complicated way.

In some cases, the use of drugs can affect a person’s mental health and, in others, vice versa: mental ill-health may contribute to how and why a person uses drugs – whether prescription or otherwise.

People who use drugs often have higher levels of mental ill-health than others.

Make sure that you’re taking care of your mental health and have any concerns about it addressed. Counselling and peer support networks are good ways to take care of your mental health and can provide referrals to other services.

Traumatic, extremely upsetting experiences (especially in childhood) can contribute to a person taking drugs.