Can I Talk to My Therapist About My Illicit Drug Use?

“Drugs!” - uttering this word out loud can be enough to raise eyebrows and attract judgemental stares from the room. By definition, drugs are any kind of chemical compounds that can have a psychological effect when ingested. 

People use drugs recreationally to induce psychological effects of the drug for pleasure. Many people experiment with different substances between the ages of 18 to 22. It is extremely common, but that does not mean it is not problematic - it can easily start interfering with your daily life and functioning. Thus, some concern over the usage of drugs is completely warranted. 

Now, a few crucial questions arise. Given the illegal nature of certain drugs, should you talk to your therapist about it? When to talk to your therapist about your illicit drug use? We have a few answers for you. 

Can you talk to your therapist about illicit drug use? 

Yes, you can open up to your therapist about using drugs recreationally. You might have several concerns - like whether they will judge you, report you to the authorities, or tell someone else. The answer to all of these questions is no. Your therapist is bound by therapist-client confidentiality. It is highly unethical for therapists to share private information about your session with any third party. But, there is a condition - your therapist is also bound by the ethical duty of reducing harm, so if they find out that your drug use can cause harm to you or someone else, they might have to report you to the authorities. 

When to talk to your therapist about your illicit drug use? 

This is an extremely crucial question. You can talk to your therapist anytime about anything you want, even if it is something questionable. It may not even be serious. You may only want to talk to your therapist about the experience of consuming the substance for the first time. You may have certain feelings - negative, positive or even neutral about your experience. You may be processing the experience of having the drug. It can be anything at all - your therapist is there to listen to you and support you unconditionally. Always remember that your therapist is on your side, and will offer you unconditional positive regard. 

Unconditional positive regard is one of the most crucial pillars of therapy. It means that your therapist considers you as a human being with your own free will, and they know that you are doing the best you can. So, they will not judge you for using drugs. If they sense that there is a problem in the way you are approaching drugs, or that it might become a problem, they will talk to you and help you figure out a way to achieve your goals in therapy. 

When does drug use become a problem?

Recreational drug use is quite common, in fact, in some cases, it is also socially accepted to consume certain drugs. For instance, consuming coffee is accepted throughout cultures, despite caffeine being a drug by definition. Consuming a drug occasionally might not need any kind of intervention. However,  the problem begins when drug use turns into substance use disorder. It is a disorder in which it becomes difficult to control the consumption of the substance (or drug).  

Substance abuse disorder is a complex disease. It can cause your brain's reward circuits to malfunction, and cause you to become completely dependent on drugs. This means that you will experience a lot of discomfort (like nausea, headaches, and tremors) when your body does not receive the substance. It can also cause you to act irrationally, and you may not be able to control your behaviour. You will find it extremely difficult to stop drug use without supervision from a trained professional - but remember, it is a treatable disease. 

How is substance use disorder treated? 

When you approach your therapist for substance use disorder, they may get you in touch with a psychiatrist. Once your psychiatrist understands the severity and extent of your substance use disorder, they will work with you to create a treatment plan. 

Your therapist is your ally and is always on your side. If you are concerned that they may report you, remember that it is highly unlikely that they will. They are only really concerned about you, your safety, and your progress in therapy, and apart from the special circumstances mentioned above, they will not break confidentiality. 

So, talk to your therapist about your drug use because the discussion will be productive and helpful to you. If you have concerns about your drug usage and want to talk to a therapist about it, please do not hesitate.