What causes substance abuse?

Answer 1

Here's a few reasons someone could be addicted to something.

Peer Pressure

You hear about this one a lot as a teenager, particularly with nicotine addiction. Despite the numerous cliche's associated with this, it is legitimate. You may be thinking, "Oh, well, why would anyone do drugs just because someone else was doing it? Everyone knows drugs are bad." Well, you have to understand that doing drugs, among teens, can be as much of a trend as wearing a particular clothing brand. If you don't do it, you can be socially disowned. Unfortunately, a lot of people take drugs as opposed to the alternative.

Stress

Stress and anxiety are another common reason for substance abuse. Let's say you have an unequivocally stressful job, which you might. Let's say every night you come home annoyed and angry at what occurred during the day. Now let's say I offered you a pill that could make you feel better instantly. For a lot of people, that's what drugs are like. A magical substance that makes everything better. The downside is, is that drugs aren't a magical cure-all. While they may make people feel better temporarily, in reality, they destroy lives, and are completely detrimental to a person's health.

Curiosity Ever heard that old adage "Curiosity killed the cat."? Well, as it turns out, curiosity can be pretty harmful to a human also. Particularly when it comes to substance abuse. Literally everyone above the age of 5 has heard of drugs, as well as the drastic effects they have. Some people are bound to want to try them out, and that leads me to my last point...

Addiction

This one may be common sense, but there's a point don't worry. All of the previously mentioned topics for taking substance; Peer Pressure, Stress, and Curiosity aren't fatal. If you could take cocaine once without any side effects, once in your life, you'd be fine. The bad thing is, humans have addictive personalities. Some more than others. We begin to crave the substance. For some lucky people, they get themselves into rehab. For some unlucky people, substance abuse consumes their lives.

Overall, substance abuse can be caused by several factors. There are many more than I listed above, but everyone is driven by different motives, and that's true with substance abuse as well. None of these reasons justify doing drugs, as there is no benefit from taking them. Short term or long term.

Answer 2

Most often, people develop drug addictions because they are depressed/unhappy, or have a psychiatric disorder, and are attempting to self-medicate in order to feel better or to control the symptoms.

Some people also have what is called an "addictive personality." There is evidence to suggest that this addictive personality may be hereditary. Studies have shown that 75% of alcoholics or drug addicts have at least one blood relative who is an alcoholic or addict.

Answer 3

Adolescents like to experiment. While no one sets out to become a drug addict, lots of people are curious enough to want to know what it feels like to use some particular drug, and once they use it, they may like it enough to use it again, and so they may gradually become habitual users or addicts. Adolescents often have friends who would like to help them gain more experience about drugs. People are often offered drugs at parties, or just when socializing. I certainly have been.

Answer 4

social factors are involved, including family problems and peer pressure. Primary mood disorders (bipolar), personality disorders, and learned behaviors can be influential on the likelihood that a person will become substance dependent.