5 reasons why alcohol and drug abuse will increase due to climate change
Climate change is a serious problem that has a negative impact not only on the natural environment but also on people's health and welfare, and there are concerns that the abuse of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, etc. will increase as a result.
5 reasons why climate change may see more of us turn to alcohol and other drugs
https://theconversation.com/5-reasons-why-climate-change-may-see-more-of-us-turn-to-alcohol-and-other-drugs-217894
◆1: Mental health is impaired
The simplest route through which climate change causes the abuse of harmful substances is that people's mental health worsens as climate change worsens. Berry and colleagues point out that people with mental illnesses are also at higher risk of developing substance use disorders , so if climate change increases days of extreme weather conditions and increases mental health risks, more people will turn to alcohol and drugs. doing.
For example, extreme heat has been linked to increased distress , which worsens mental health, and has been shown to increase emergency department visits for mental health issues , including alcohol and drug use. Additionally, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues are more common during periods of extreme weather .
◆2: More worries
Natural disasters such as wildfires, floods, and droughts caused by abnormal weather conditions threaten people's well-being, and an increasing number of people are worried that climate change will continue. Climate change can cause complex emotions, especially in children, such as worry, anxiety, fear, guilt, anger, sadness and helplessness, which can lead to smoking and substance use disorders .
◆3: Receive physical damage
Extreme weather events can lead to physical injuries, such as smoke inhalation and burns from wildfires, and injuries and infections from floods. This physical damage increases
◆4: Daily life changes
Even if there is no direct damage such as injury, catastrophic natural disasters such as storms and floods can destroy people's lives and change their lives forever in a single day. Additionally, even a slight rise in temperature that does not amount to a disaster can disrupt sleep , lower academic performance , reduce physical activity , and cause hostile behavior , which can lead to substance use. Increased risk of disability.
◆5: Destabilize the community
Climate change can destabilize socio-economic and geopolitical systems by damaging infrastructure, reducing crop yields, closing schools and increasing homelessness. These are the basis of human happiness, so if they are damaged by climate change, people's stress will increase and the risk of using harmful substances will increase.
Substance use disorders are extremely costly economically and socially, with direct physical harm as well as negative effects on education and employment. It also increases the risk of accidents and crimes by abusers and impairs social relationships, intimacy with partners, and family functioning, Berry et al.
Berry and colleagues argued that the following strategies are needed to prevent climate change from causing substance use disorders:
・Support for vulnerable individuals most affected by extreme weather events, especially young people and marginalized communities
A wide range of health promotion policies such as healthier eating, walking and cycling, and community-led mental health support
- Investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, such as heat-resistant buildings and urban greening, to reduce the negative effects and stress that contribute to mental health issues and toxic substance abuse.
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