Alcohol and Drug Use

Why do people with brain injuries use alcohol and drugs?

• To be accepted by their peers

• To deal with bad feelings

• To show their independence

• They are bored.

• They are addicted to alcohol or drugs.

• They have poor judgment.

Why should people with brain injuries not use alcohol and drugs?

• A brain injury makes you more sensitive to the effects of alcohol and drugs.

• Alcohol and drugs make your problems worse.  They will shorten your attention span.  Your memory and behavior will be worse.  You will have more problems with coordination and balance.

Alcohol and drugs dull your awareness of things around you.  They interfere with thinking and judgment.  They make you less able to use the techniques you have learned to make up for your thinking and reasoning problems.

• Alcohol and drugs sabotage recovery and rehabilitation.

• Alcohol can trigger seizures in some people with brain injury.

• Alcohol and drugs often don't mix well with prescription and over-the-counter medicines.  The results can harm you.

• If you are drunk, you have a high risk for having another brain injury due to falls, fights or accidents.  Another brain injury would result in worse brain damage and loss of more abilities.

Be sure to talk to your doctor, psychologist or social worker before you use alcohol or any drug.  Also, be open with your rehab team about past alcohol and drug use.  It may have an effect on your recovery.  Your team needs to know this so they can help you.