"Does drinking and smoking pot increase depression? I stopped smoking and drinking, but now I have bad mood swings and sometimes I get so depressed. Is all of this from doing drugs? "

Many factors can contribute to a person becoming depressed, and alcohol or drug use are two factors that do make depression more likely to occur. Many people have the wrong impression and think that alcohol is a stimulant, but it is actually a powerful depressant. Depressed people often use alcohol to try to feel better or fit in socially, but this “self-medication” results in the opposite effect – greater depression. What is known about marijuana is that use, particularly frequent use, causes memory and learning problems, distorted perception, difficulty thinking and solving problems, and a loss of motivation. Chronic pot smoking has been associated with depression, anxiety, and personality changes.

You should feel very good about having made the important choice to stop smoking pot and drinking. Now you can think more clearly about the potential causes of your mood swings and depression, and what to do about them. The teenage years are one of the prime times when depression is common, particularly for girls. Although feeling sad or ”blue” can happen fairly often to teens, it is important to recognize when depressive moods are increasing and starting to interfere with daily life, relationships, and responsibilities. It is important that you have a support system, usually with your friends and family, to help you continue to avoid drug and alcohol use, but also to help you decide if you need to seek professional help to get through this low point in your life.