What is Drug Abuse?

Drug abuse may be defined as any use of a drug that leads to problems (apart from undesirable side effects sometimes experienced by particular medical drugs). Problems may include health (illness, damage to organs, addiction), emotional (depression), social (loss of friends), family, and financial (loss of job, cost of drugs) and legal (stealing for drug money).

Why Do People Use Drugs?

Although drug users may have some similar characteristics (low self esteem, anxious, etc.), they can come from all walks of life. A drug user may be rich or poor, young or old, male or female, educated or uneducated. The reason behind drug use may vary from drug to drug and person to person. More than one explanation may be involved and an individual may start for one reason (curiosity, pleasure, emotional, social and group pressures, or medical reasons) and continue to use for another (previous drug use, psychological and physical dependence).

Curiosity

In today’s culture, drugs are frequently talked, written and sung about. Most people know someone who uses drugs and have access to drugs. Curiosity is a natural part of human nature and it is not surprising that many people, especially young people, are tempted to experiment with drugs.

Pleasure

Some drugs offer feelings of pleasure, contentment, and/or emotional and physical strength. These feelings are temporary and often follow a period of depression. Withdrawal symptoms, such as, nausea, the sweats, muscle spasms, headaches, etc. may occur if the drug is used for an extended period of time.

Emotional Pressures

Some individuals use psychoactive drugs (alcohol, street drugs and some medications) to relieve various emotional problems, such as anger, stress, anxiety, boredom, or depression. Insecure people may take drugs to boost their self-confidence. Some youth may use drugs as an expression of feelings of alienation and rebellion.

Social/Group Pressures

Social and group pressures to use drugs can be very strong. Songs and advertising often glorify drug use. In some groups, drug use is the fashionable thing to do. It is a badge of belonging and the key to social acceptance. Abstainers are excluded.

Medical Reasons

A doctor prescribes some medication for a legitimate medical reason. For instance painkillers may be prescribed after surgery. The patient may become addicted to the medication and find it difficult to stop using them once they are not medically required to take them anymore. This type of drug problem can become as serious as abusing street drugs.

Previous Drug Use

For most people, trying a drug for the first time is a major step. An isolated incident of drug use does not necessarily translate into regular drug use. It may, however, increase the likelihood that the individual will try drugs again. Furthermore, the user of one type of drug is more likely to try and use other drugs.

Psychological and Physical Dependence

Some people use drugs because they have become psychologically and/or physically dependent on them. When a person continues to use a drug because they experience emotional or physical discomfort and distress when use is discontinued or reduced, they can be said to be drug-dependent.

Who Is Using What?

National surveys carried out, on behalf of Health and Welfare Canada and in Ontario by the Addiction Research Foundation, indicate that among both youth and adults, alcohol and tobacco are the most widely used drugs. Health and Welfare Canada point out that young Canadian boys and girls, on average, smoke the same amount of cigarettes. In recent years, teenage girls are more likely than boys to report smoking regularly. Boys more frequently reported the use of cannabis and cocaine, as well as, prescription drugs. Studies by the Addiction Research Foundation revealed that older students are more likely than younger students to use drugs. Younger students, however, are more likely to sniff glue, gasoline and other inhalants than are older students.