Many people have never experienced
addiction of any sort. For these people it can be very hard to understand and
grasp the logic behind drug abuse. But with drug use getting more and more
prevalent in America, it’s now common for people to dig deeper
and look for the reasons why people use drugs and alcohol. This is
not meant to be a complete list, nor is is meant to be medical advise, but I
feel this article can shed some light for addicts or family members
of addicts dealing with this burning question....
“Can
someone please explain to me the reasons why people use drugs?”
This list has been compiled from 13
years of personal experience watching my close family member struggle with the
darkest moments of addiction. Many times I asked and prodded to get answers
from my sister who was addicted to drugs. She didn’t always have the answers –
but she still taught me. The important thing that I learned is that drugs
alter the thinking patterns in your brain which can distort logic and
rationality. Therefore an addict may not fully understand what a sober person
can. So most of my analysis came from observing her behaviors. So here is my
list regarding the reasons why people use drugs and alcohol.
1. People suffering from anxiety,
bipolar disorder, depression or other mental illnesses use drugs and alcohol to
ease their suffering.
Mental illness is such a burden for some people they will try just about
anything to relieve the pain. Drugs or alcohol can temporarily make that person
feel ‘normal’ again, like they remember feeling in the past. Mental illness is
scary for the individual experiencing it, so they are afraid to go to a doctor
or family member for help and instead turn to drugs or alcohol to try and solve
the problem on their own.
2. People see family members, friends, role
models or entertainers using drugs and rationalize that they can too.
As teenagers and young adults, it’s very easy to think that drug and alcohol
use can be handled and controlled, especially if they see others they know
doing the same thing. It can become easy to rationalize like: ‘hey my friend’s
been doing this for a couple years and he seems fine to me.’ Entertainment and
music is full of drug references and that can add to the rationalization that
drug use is ok sometimes. Individuals with a family history of drug or alcohol
abuse are far more likely to develop an addiction than an individual with no
family background of addiction.
3. People become bored and think
drugs will help.
Boredom is a big factor in drug abuse in teens and young adults. People in this
age bracket generally don’t have bills, jobs and all the stresses that go along
with adulthood. So it’s easier to become bored and want to try something new
and exciting. Drug use is often thought of as a way to escape the mundane world
and enter an altered reality.
4. People think drugs will help
relieve stress.
Our modern world is full of new strains and stresses that humans have never
experienced in the past. Although many things in life are now easier than ever,
the burdens are also very high. Simply having a family, maintaining a
household, and holding a job are huge stress factors. Some drugs are viewed as
a means of relaxation – a way to calm the storm in your mind. Although drugs
can be very effective at doing that, there can be serious side effects.
5. People figure if a drug is
prescribed by a doctor, it must be ok.
It is easy for an individual to rationalize using a drug because it came from a
doctor. The thinking goes like this ‘it was prescribed to someone I know for
the same problem I am having, so it makes sense it should work for me
too.’ The dangerous part about this rationalization is that this can lead
to mixing of drugs, overdose, unintended side effects and/or dependency.
6. People get physically injured and
unintentionally get hooked on prescribed drugs.
The people at risk for this are physical laborers, elderly, and anyone with
pre-existing injuries. Some people are born with chronic pain due to
deformities – others get injured. Doctors then prescribe drugs for what they
are intended for and a person can quickly build a dependency. Especially if
that drug is making them feel all better, they rationalize that it must be ok
to keep taking the drug, which can result in dependency.
7. People use drugs to cover painful
memories in their past.
Many people go through extremely traumatic events in their life, many times as
children, and turn to drugs to cover the horrible memories. Children are
extremely susceptible to trauma, whether physically or emotionally, and those
feelings can haunt them into their adulthood. These people could benefit from
working with psychologists to help repair their damaged mind. Drugs usually
only deepen the issue.
8. People think drugs will help them
fit in.
When hanging out with friends, it’s easy for people to want to fit in and seem
like one of the crew. If others are drinking or doing drugs, it’s very likely
for someone to fall into that trap. Peer pressure can be a tremendous force
causing someone to try things they would normally not try on their own.
9. People chase the high they once
experienced.
Ask anyone who has tried drugs and they will tell you that it is one of the
best feelings of their life. The highs from drugs are so much more extreme than
regular everyday joys because most drugs overload the pleasure sensors in your
brain. Once a person feels this extreme pleasure, it’s common for that person
to become hooked on a drug simply chasing the initial high they once felt. As
we all know, this is a viscous cycle that is extremely difficult to break. The
highs are equally as powerful as the lows felt when coming off of the drugs.
