Afya Watch
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Cancer
    • Life
    • Featured
    • Health
    • Lifestyle
    • Mental Health
    • News
    • Public Health
    • Guest Blog
  • Editor’s Pick
  • Video
  • HOME
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • LIFESTYLE
Afya Watch Afya Watch
Afya Watch Afya Watch
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Cancer
    • Life
    • Featured
    • Health
    • Lifestyle
    • Mental Health
    • News
    • Public Health
    • Guest Blog
  • Editor’s Pick
  • Video

How To Know You Are Abusing Drugs

Drug abuse in Kenya is now bordering on becoming a catastrophe. But how do you know you are abusing drugs?

Substance abuse refers to the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol, illegal drugs, and/or prescribed medications in ways that produce harms to ourselves and those around us. More than 2 million Kenyans both young and old are living with a substance use disorder, according to the Mental Health department in Moi teaching and referral hospital, and that number is on the rise.

“Alcohol and drug use can cause physical and psychological dependence, which can lead to a substance use disorder,” says Dr Daisy Saina, from MTRH.

“If the substance you’re using is causing significant problems in your life and has negative effects on your health and despite that, you continue to use it, then you might have a substance use disorder.”

Dr. Saina has been supporting thousands of people struggling with substance use over the years. “Alcohol is the most common substance people seek help for, followed by opiates,” she says. “It often takes a long time before people realize that their substance use has centred itself as a priority in their life.”

“Regardless of what is used, the most important thing to know is that substance use disorders often occur due to circumstances beyond one’s control, but they are treatable, just like other chronic illnesses—through medication and psychosocial support including counselling and therapy”, Dr Saina advices. 

Stigma And the Fight Against Drug Abuse

Unfortunately, the prevailing stigma often prevents people from seeking help. Most Kenyans are already painfully aware of the cost of substance misuse. Many Kenyans believe that there are no viable solutions to what they think of as unfortunate “lifestyle problems”.

“A lot of people feel a huge component of shame and guilt related to their substance use, and they suffer in silence instead of getting help, but their illness is not any different from other chronic illnesses such as hypertension or diabetes,” says  Dr. Saina. “People need to know that the shame you feel, the guilt you feel, is because of stigma – and not because you are a weaker or immoral person.”

Dr. Saina says that a substance use disorder is diagnosed based on meeting two or more of  following DSM-5 (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) criteria:

Signs and symptoms of a substance use disorder

  • Negative effect on social functioning, including relationships, conflict with others
  • Not meeting life responsibilities at home, work, or school
  • Negative effects on physical or psychological health
  • Using more of the substance, for longer periods of time, or more frequently
  • Spending a lot of time using or sourcing the substance
  • Not being able to stop or cut back despite trying
  • Avoiding or giving up activities to take the substance
  • Cravings including constantly thinking about the substance even if not using
  • Tolerance needing to take more to feel the same effect
  • Withdrawal when the drug is stopped or reduced, including psychological and physical symptoms

According to Dr Saina, the main predisposing factors are:

  • Family history of substance use
  • History of mental illness
  • History of trauma
  • Cultural factors, for example, when the use of a substance is socially accepted

If you’re struggling with substance use or know someone who is, Dr Saina encourages finding support and offers this information to help you cope:

  • Fill the void
    “If you’re struggling with substance use, it’s important for you to identify the main factor contributing to your use. What is the void that the substance is filling in you? Once you’ve identified that void, get help and/or fill it with something positive and meaningful to you,” says Dr Saina
  • Find meaningful support
    Medication and counselling are tools to help you, but having a sense of connection to another person is essential for long-term support. “Establish what support will look like for you, and try to make a meaningful connection to have that sense of fulfilment,” says Dr Saina

If you think you might have a substance use problem, speak with your doctor or healthcare provider.

Share
Share
Tweet
Share
Share
Related Topics
  • Addiction
  • Drug abuse
  • Help
  • substance abuse
Mercie Tyra Murengu

Previous Article

How can exercise improve chronic conditions?

Read Post
Next Article

“It Took Me 4 Years Before I Discovered That I Had Ovarian Cancer’’

Read Post
You May Also Like
Read Post
  • Lifestyle
  • Public Health

The Hidden Health Risks of Meat Consumption: A Look at Kenya’s Nyama Choma Culture

  • August 25, 2024
Read Post
  • Lifestyle
  • Public Health

Kenyans Struggle with Non Communicable Diseases

  • May 21, 2024
Image courtesy of the World Health Organization
Read Post
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Uncategorized

Protecting Kenya’s Youth from Novel Tobacco Products

  • March 23, 2024
Read Post
  • Lifestyle
  • Public Health

Watch Out for Smokeless Tobacco and Nicotine

  • October 10, 2022
Read Post
  • Health
  • Mental Health
  • Uncategorized

Mental Health Care For People Living With HIV

  • June 18, 2021
Read Post
  • Health
  • Lifestyle

Hypertension: The Silent Killer?

  • September 17, 2020
Read Post
  • Featured
  • Lifestyle

Masturbation and the art of self-abuse

  • May 25, 2020
Read Post
  • Covid-19
  • Mental Health

HOW CORONAVIRUS IS AFFECTING MENTAL HEALTH

  • April 19, 2020

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts
  • Image of antibiotics 1
    Vaccines and Smart Prescribing: Strategy to Tackle Antibiotic Overuse in Children
  • Asili Jattani, a Community Health Promoter based In Korbesa, Cherab Ward, Merti Sub-County, Isiolo County. She has to cover long distances to serve the 41 households in her assignment area. The Community Health Workers Bill passed in Parliament on November 22, 2024 will significantly improve the welfare of CHPs across the country once it goes through the Senate and receives presidential assent to become a law. Photo by Lameck Ododo. 2
    Landmark Bill Passed to Empower Community Health Workers
  • Snuff. 3
    Kenya’s Smokeless Tobacco Crisis
  • 4
    The Hidden Crisis in Kenya’s Healthcare Reform
  • 5
    The Hidden Health Risks of Meat Consumption: A Look at Kenya’s Nyama Choma Culture
Editors Picks
  • 1
    In Finland Even the President Goes To a Public Hospital
  • 2
    5 Reasons You Wake Up Feeling Tired Even with Enough Sleep
  • 3
    Is Sitting the New Smoking?
  • 4
    Food and the Expanding Waistline, Hallo Christmas
  • 5
    ‘It’s the Lifestyle We Have to Change’ The Prescription to Non Communicable Diseases

Subscribe

Subscribe to stay updated

Afya Watch
Engaged! Inspired! Healthy!

Input your search keywords and press Enter.