Thiloththama Jayasinghe, Jadetimes Staff
T. Jayasinghe is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Social Issues
These are only some of the reasons people turn to drugs; most are medically, psychologically, and socially explained. Following is a detailed explanation of some of the key medical reasons one would consume drugs:
Neurochemical Effects on the Brain
Drugs, mainly psychoactive, may alter brain chemistry and, therefore, become substances of abuse. Most drugs generally take their toll on the "reward system" of the human brain by releasing neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, or endorphins. These aforementioned chemicals are those which are associated with feelings of pleasure, relaxation, and euphoria. In this way, the brain correlates drug use with pleasure and forms an encouragement loop that reinforces further use.
Example: Cocaine and methamphetamine are drugs that give a tremendous feeling of euphoria for only brief periods, which results from an escalation of dopamine, thus creating the compulsion to continually use these drugs in order to experience the feeling again.
Self-Medication for Mental Health Disorders
Some take drugs as a form of self-medication against ailments like depression, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. If these disorders go untreated, they may press an individual to use substances to help alleviate symptoms. For instance, a person experiencing social anxiety will try alcohol in an attempt to feel relaxed in company.
For example, one's depression, if left untreated, might lead to an attempt to kill emotional pain with opioids, thus creating a vicious cycle of addiction.
Treatment of Chronic Pain
The most abused prescription painkillers are opioids, which have been prescribed for a variety of painful conditions. Effective in the short term, a lack of strict medical supervision during the course of medication may result in dependence and addiction. It is thus expected that individuals who have been exposed to such pathological states as arthritis, cancer, and injury-related pain will continue taking these drugs beyond their painful state into active addiction.
Example: Opioid painkillers, such as oxycodone or fentanyl, may lead to tolerance, where larger doses would be needed as time goes by, and the danger of dependence would be higher.
Genetic Predisposition
Some simply have a genetic predisposition to substance use disorders. Current estimates suggest that 40-60% of the risk for addiction is heritable. This may be manifest in how the brain responds to drugs and how susceptible a person may be to drug use reinforcement.
Example: A person who has a family background of addiction will get the substance use disorder even by casual use of drugs.
Developmental Factors
Because of their still-developing brains, adolescents and young adults are uniquely vulnerable to substance use. The prefrontal cortex-e.g., the part of the brain responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and risk assessment-is not developed until about age 25. As a result, younger individuals are at a greater risk of trying drugs and taking risks with little consideration of potential consequences.
Example: Marijuana use among teenagers influences cognitive functioning and increases the vulnerability to various mental illnesses, like schizophrenia.
Social and Environmental Influences
Although this is a more sociological factor, one has to state here that environmental and social triggers can involve drug use. Peer pressure, the stress of work or a relationship, and the availability of drugs within one's environment can lead to initial drug use. On a more medical note, chronic stress and trauma can elicit changes in the form of the brain, thus predisposing an individual to addictive tendencies.
