Why drugs

Additionally, U. Since , the number of drug overdose deaths involving opioids in the U. Legal drugs are like alcohol and tobacco are commonly used. Prescription medication abuse is becoming more commonplace, and the rise of synthetic drugs has created a potentially more dangerous threat.

A research article published in the National Institute of Health asserts that psychoactive substances are used in religious ceremonies, medicinal use, and recreational use for millennia. Historically, people have refined potent compounds and devised faster routes of administering substances, contributing to substance misuse. Tobacco and coca are cash crops, appearing to flourish throughout the centuries.

Opium, alcohol, and cannabis use date back to millennia BC. Abnormal patterns of substance use have been described since antiquity. Cultural history suggests that the relationship between people and drugs is extremely complex. History illustrates that our relationship with substances is shaped by a multitude of factors, including motivational beliefs that span ties to cultural, societal, religious, and psychological needs. Effectively, addiction is not only a substance but how a person uses that substance.

Why do people use drugs, though? Why do some have a propensity to seek out substances that either relieve symptoms of physical conditions or enhance life outlooks? The answer, by and large, is not straightforward. Why would anyone do drugs considering the drastic and fatal consequences? Yes, substances have long been incorporated into every culture and civilization since the dawn of time. However, even with ongoing research and scientific literature being published in high volumes—disclosing the harmful effects of substance use—people are still drawn to the allure of alcohol and drugs.

We each have our reasons for seeking out and using legal or illicit substances. In general, the majority of drug users can be grouped into two broad categories that highlight why people use drugs:. If we examine coffee, we can surmise why this particular product is highly sought and considered highly addictive.

Caffeine is, in fact, the most commonly consumed psychoactive substance in the world. As a natural stimulant, coffee has various effects on the body, including increasing metabolism , enhancing exercise performance, and boost mood.

Cannabis is the most commonly-used illicit drug A much smaller proportion use illegal drugs, such as crystal methamphetamine ice 1. Types of use Drugs are used in different situations and frequencies, and for different reasons, depending on the individual and their specific point in life. Most people who use AOD do not become dependent or develop serious problems as a result. Most people use substances for this reason and rarely develop problems as a result.

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Mental Illness: A complex trigger of substance abuse is mental illness. There are several varieties of mental illness that manifest themselves in different ways. Some people who face mental health challenges are vulnerable to using drugs as a way of rationalizing or making sense of their illness. Others who face depression or anxiety disorders may use drugs to help lift them out of these low mental states. Environmental Influences: The environment that a person has been exposed to can influence and trigger drug use.

Growing up in poverty or in households with drug addiction, abuse, crime or other negative factors can create a high risk for substance abuse in those exposed to these conditions. They may perceive drug use as normal or acceptable. Or, they may psychologically believe this to be a pattern they can fall into.

Relaxation: The average adult faces typical life obligations such as bills, family, and work. Because of this, many people look for outlets to help relax and find a balance between responsibilities and having fun. Unfortunately, some people may use drugs as an outlet to help relax and unwind on evenings and weekends. If left unaddressed, this pattern can develop into a dependence or addiction.

Self-Medication: When people face physical or emotional pain, they may use drugs to self-medicate. Instead, they use drugs such as painkillers to administer pain relief to themselves. Certain painkillers have highly addictive properties, which often leads to developing an addiction to them. Financial Stress: The burden of financial stress can be intolerable for many people. Money pressures can cause people to feel trapped, desperate, and out of control.

These feelings lead to emotional and psychological conditions that trigger drug use. Drugs can often help people to forget about their financial responsibilities or avoid dealing with them altogether. For many people, their career places a lot of pressure on them to perform, which is often reflected in their idea of their own self-worth.

This type of pressure can cause emotional and psychological stress. School Pressures: Similar to career pressures, school pressure is another one of the common reasons people abuse drugs. Many people face large workloads with classes and homework, financial stress from student loans, balancing family and work while going to school and the pressure to perform academically. These stressful conditions make it easy for some people to be more susceptible to drug use as a way of coping.

Family Demands: Typical family demands include balancing work with raising kids, as well as financial obligations towards family members. But, when those demands become overwhelming, it can be difficult to manage. This may be especially true for young mothers who can face feelings of isolation, loneliness, and anxiety.

Drug use, especially through prescription pills, can become an easy way for parents to help cope with family demands. Peer and Social Pressure: One of the most well-known ways for people — especially teens and young adults — to start using drugs is through external pressures from other people. Commonly known as peer pressure, people may begin using drugs because of the influence of their peers.

For them, it becomes something they all share in common, and so they feel pressured to continue to use drugs even if they understand the dire consequences.

Trauma and Abuse: Past or current traumas such as abuse, accidents, emergencies and other events can negatively impact people psychologically. Traumatic events can imprint in memory, making it difficult to move past them. Even traumas that occurred during childhood can resurface in adult years, bringing up new thoughts and feelings.

Instead of seeking professional help to address trauma in a healthy way, people may use drugs as a means to help them forget these memories. Enjoyment of Getting High: Many people try drugs once as an experiment and end up finding euphoric sensations from these substances.

The chemical reactions between the drug and the brain cause a release of dopamine, which is pleasurable to many people. When this happens, people will continue to chase that same euphoria and release because they like how it makes them feel. It may make them feel more relaxed, self-confident, in control, or any number of other outcomes. Teachers, parents, and health care providers have crucial roles in educating young people and preventing drug use and addiction.

This publication is available for your use and may be reproduced in its entirety without permission from NIDA. Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. Drug Topics. More Drug Topics. Quick Links. About NIDA. Points to Remember Drug addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences.

This is why drug addiction is also a relapsing disease. Relapse is the return to drug use after an attempt to stop. Relapse indicates the need for more or different treatment.