Can Drugs Change Your Personality?

Drug and alcohol addiction can have a significant impact on a person’s life, affecting their physical health and relationships with loved ones. Substance use disorders can even lead to separation, divorce, debt, and homelessness. These changes begin in the brain, as drugs and alcohol can affect neurotransmitters and alter the brain’s structure. These changes can ultimately affect a person’s body and personality. This article explores how drugs can impact personality and how to identify these changes in time to help an individual recover.

Substance Use Disorder and Personality Change

Drug and alcohol addiction can change a person’s personality, making them seem like a different person when they are sober. Drugs and alcohol can impact emotions, perceptions, and behavior in the following ways:

• Loss of interest in things they once enjoyed
• Becoming secretive
• Depression or anxiety
• Emotional instability
• Associating with different friends
• Engaging in risky behavior

Drug-Induced Personality Changes

Drugs and alcohol can impact a person’s brain, leading to chemical and structural changes. These changes can lead to depression, anxiety, and emotional instability, among other things. Drugs and alcohol can also affect a person’s prefrontal cortex, leading to reduced self-control, attention, and planning.

Certain drugs can cause personality changes, even prescription medications. For instance, one diabetic patient started taking a statin to lower his cholesterol and experienced severe anger, becoming prone to road rage. The patient’s personality returned to normal two weeks after stopping the medication.

Commonly prescribed drugs that can affect personality include:

• Acetaminophen (paracetamol)
• Antihistamines
• Statins
• Asthma medications
• Antidepressants

Recovery from Substance Use Disorder

If you or someone you care about has developed a substance use disorder, seek help immediately. The recovery process can involve medically supervised detox, inpatient treatment, outpatient services, and various addiction treatment programs. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a popular form of treatment offered by many rehab facilities.

Conclusion

Substance use disorder can cause significant personality changes, affecting an individual’s emotional regulation, behavior, and relationships. If you notice any of the above signs in yourself or a loved one, seek help immediately. Recovery is possible, and various addiction treatment programs can help individuals achieve a happier, healthier life.