TOP 9 REASONS BEHIND DRUG ABUSE

Drugs might excite your brain and make you feel good, but after a while, the feel-good endorphins of your brain get so used to it that it becomes difficult to quit. Then you have to take more of the drug to get the same high. Soon, your brain and body will require the drug to function normally. You feel awful, irritable, anxious, and sick without the drug. You no longer experience the euphoria you once did when you first started using the drug.

This is how destructive addiction is – and in some instances, it can get worse.

However, this does not always prevent people from experimenting with them in the first place. Nowadays, drug abuse is not solely the result of a poor upbringing, homelessness, or a mental illness. Educated people with high-paying jobs and seemingly perfect or desired lives can also be vulnerable to drug abuse. In general, there are many reasons why people use drugs. Still, most of the reasons are always the result of psychological, physical, or emotional categorization.

Let’s take a look at the top reasons behind drug abuse:

1. Grief

Loss is a part of life that everyone faces at some point. Unfortunately, that fact does not make it any easier to deal with. The unexpected loss of a loved one or the end of a long-term relationship can physically and emotionally impact a person’s mental health. Sudden episodes of depression can result from grief. It can also take the form of physical pain. Some people go through the process quickly, while others find it difficult for years to find peace. Unfortunately, the longer it takes to grieve, the more likely a person will turn to drugs or alcohol. Seeking professional therapy from a reputable rehab center is always the right way to remove the menace of addiction from your life for good. Click on substancerehabilitation for more information on rehabilition facilities can help addicts.

2. Social glorification

We live in a system that glamorizes the use of drugs and alcohol on nearly every occasion. People drink and smoke freely at all social gatherings. Alcohol and drug use are portrayed as having little to no repercussions on television and movies. As a result, society minimizes the risk of “acceptable” intoxicants like marijuana.

As a result of this glorification, people seek social gratification through drugs and alcohol. They believe that others will not accept them unless they have a drink in their hand or take a hit from a joint. People who become accustomed to social users are more prone to developing a full-fledged addiction.

3. Self-Medication 

Mental health problems are common. According to the CDC, more than half of the population of the US will be diagnosed with a mental illness at some point in their lives. However, this figure only includes those who seek professional help. Unfortunately, there are far too many people that suffer in silence.

For years, anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems may go undiagnosed. As a result, many people turn to drugs to alleviate their discomfort. However, self-medication with drugs is a risky route to take. While getting high may temporarily help bad emotions, it is not a healthy solution. Over time, users require more significant and regular doses to achieve the same effect. In addition, substance abuse can cause physical harm. Depending on the drug, the user may experience lung, heart, or liver problems.

4. Trauma and Abuse 

Traumas from the present or past, such as accidents, abuse, emergencies, and other events, can negatively influence people. Traumatic events can imprint the mind, making it more difficult to move on.

Even childhood traumas can resurface in adulthood, bringing new feelings and thoughts. Unfortunately, individuals may use drugs to help them forget these memories rather than seeking therapy to address trauma healthily.

5. Recreational Use 

Many teenagers use alcohol or drugs to get high. This results from a need to feel a rush, a more strenuous sensation that they can’t get from pleasures like exercise or food. This is the stage at which the addiction cycle takes its course. Drugs alter brain functions, and our bodies experience joy. When a person abuses any substance, the brain produces more than ten times the usual amount of dopamine. The chemistry that occurs is unnatural, but the human brain recalls it. It longs for it.

6. Peer Pressure 

One of the most common ways for people, particularly teenagers and young adults, to begin using drugs is peer pressure. People may start using drugs due to the influence of their peers, which is commonly referred to as peer pressure. For them, it becomes widely accepted, and as a result, they feel pressured to continue using drugs even though they are aware of the severe consequences. Furthermore, younger adults may be subjected to social pressure to use drugs due to social media, television, and other celebrity influences.

7. Demands of the Family

Typical family demands include raising children and balancing work and financial responsibilities to family members. However, when those demands become too much to bear, they can be hard to manage. That is especially true for new mothers, who may experience feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and isolation. Drug use, particularly prescription pills, can become a convenient way for parents to deal with family demands.

8. The Dissolution of a Relationship 

One of the most psychologically painful events in a person’s life is the end of a relationship. When a relationship ends in a divorce or breakup, it can harm self-esteem. This has ramifications in other areas of life, such as one’s career, friendships, family, and even one’s ability to find a purpose. If the person does not have adequate help and support, they may turn to drugs to cope with the loss of their relationship.

9. Lack of Awareness 

Some individuals grow up believing that using drugs is normal. Musicians sing about it, movies romanticize it, and TV commercials attempt to sell it, and apparently, there is a drug for everyone, whether you feel sorrow, are sleep-deprived, or have a migraine.

Our culture runs on the“pill cures all” way of thinking, which has led to our youth feeling the same way about illegal substances. Many people are wholly ignorant of the effects of drug use. Many teenagers are unaware of its dangers to their relationships, bodies, and minds. The younger generation needs someone to inform and educate them about the realities of substance abuse.

Conclusion

So these were some of the top reasons why people use drugs. Regardless of the trigger or cause for addiction, it is always wise and healthy to seek proper treatment. After all, no one is beyond treatment, and several options are available. Thus, if you know someone suffering from addiction or you are a victim, don’t let it consume you. Be brave, reach out for help, and soon, you will get your life back. If you know a loved one who is struggling with substance abuse disorder, please seek help from an online suboxone clinic especially if they are struggling with opioid use disorder (OUD).