Do Street Drugs Cause Bipolar?

Are you having hallucinations, feelings of unreality, paranoia, and high and low moods?

Are you high or bipolar?

Because street drugs can cause many symptoms that can be found in mental illnesses, it can be difficult to accurately diagnose (or treat) mental illness in someone who is also using street drugs.

So, is there an association?

Is it pure coincidence or do they in fact cause this? I once heard Dr. Paul Meier speak to the overuse of marijuana increasing depression. But, there are many unknowns about the causes of bipolar. Street drugs are dangerous things that bring on a list of mental disturbances.

You’re not alone.

As many as 60% of people with bipolar disorder have alcohol or drug problems. Stats reveal that people with bipolar disorder are more likely to abuse alcohol or drugs but the drugs do not cause the disorder. If you are suffering with bipolar disorder, you may find yourself using alcohol or street drugs to make yourself feel better (self-medicate) or as an escape from your problems. The danger is that if you have bipolar disorder and misuse alcohol and drugs – you will have an increased risk of suicide.

Kathleen Brady, M.D., Ph.D., an associate professor of psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina, reported at the 1996 U.S. Psychiatric & Mental Health Congress, that “substance abuse occurs in 30% to 60% of patients with bipolar disorder” (1996). Dr. Brady goes on to add that “2% to 4% of alcoholics and up to 30% of cocaine abusers meet the diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder.”

You may feel better immediately after taking the street drugs but after the high is gone, reality comes back. It’s a never ending cycle and you feel stuck. Soon your relationships are different and the money is tight.

So, how do you get out of the cycle of drug abuse? It’s a tough one that ex-alcoholic and ex-drug addict, Dennis Marcellino managed to accomplish. He’s written of his journey in “Addiction Free Forever”

“This book ‘iced’ my cousin, who was heavily into drugs. He took the book’s advice and now he’s off of drugs and happy. I’d like to order 10 more copies.”
Constance Elliot, U.S. Dept. of Health, Washington D.C.

“Very powerful material. An amazing piece of work by an amazing man.”
Scott Fagan, Head of the recovery unit at Brotman Hospital (one of Los Angeles’ largest).. Founder and Chairman of BIZRAP (entertainment industry Recovery Assistance Program). UCLA graduate (Drug Rehabilitation Clinic Design), Active leader in AA and CA (Cocaine Anon.)

Learn more about Dennis’ story…

Bipolar and Ecstasy

“I self-medicated with alcohol for more than 30 years and became addicted to prescription painkillers for about 10 years in a foolish attempt to gain enough control so that I could manage to keep working. The self-medication became the only way, over time, that I could manage to sleep or remain in control enough to function.”

Self-Medicating: When the Cure IS the Disease