The Gauteng health department says it is deeply concerned about the growing impact of substance abuse on mental health, particularly the increasing incidence of substance-induced psychosis among young people, as the country observes Sanca Drug Awareness Week.
According to the department, healthcare professionals are observing that a significant proportion of young patients presenting with psychosis also struggle with substance abuse, with substance-induced psychotic disorders increasingly being diagnosed in healthcare facilities.
These observations highlight the growing relationship between substance abuse and mental illness and underscore the importance of early intervention, treatment and community awareness.
