Q41. Why do people take drugs? - Drug Addiction FAQs

A41. There are so many reasons as to why people take drugs. These include excitement, risk taking, escapism, curiosity or as a form of relaxation.

People such as clubbers or partygoers take drugs to heighten their mood and enjoyment of the music. Some will take drugs for the ‘buzz’ or the ability to dance all night followed by drugs for ‘chilling out’ afterwards. Other people take legal drugs such as painkillers or prescription drugs for a medical condition which can lead to a dependency. Then there are other people who have low self-esteem, are awkward in social situations or have a poor self-image. These people use drugs as a way of coping with that or to boost their confidence.

Some people enjoy taking drugs, for example drinking alcohol, having a cigarette after a meal or smoking a joint. In their eyes this is a relatively harmless activity and one that they are in control of. Pressure is another factor: if someone works in an environment where heavy drinking or drug taking is part of the culture then it is very hard to resist. They will join in rather than be thought of as not a team player. Anyone who takes drugs has their own reasons for doing so.

Drug Addiction FAQs Index:

Faqs drug addiction Intro

1. What is an addiction?
2. What is the difference between a dependency and an addiction?
3. What causes an addiction?
4. Why do some people become addicted but others don’t?
5. What are the physical effects of an addiction?
6. What are the mental effects of an addiction?
7. What is the relationship between addiction and crime?
8. Can you have a harmless addiction to something?
9. Are there any risk factors for addiction?
10. How do I know if I have an addiction?
11. How do you treat an addiction?
12. What is ‘withdrawal’?
13. What are ‘cravings’?
14. What is a ‘relapse?’
15. Can you be cured of an addiction?
16. How does drinking lead to alcoholism?
17. What are the signs of a drink problem?
18. What is the difference between alcohol abuse and alcoholism?
19. What is ‘alcohol tolerance’?
20. What are alcohol withdrawal symptoms?
21. I think my partner is drinking heavily what can I do?
22. What is the treatment for alcohol addiction?
23. Why is smoking so addictive?
24. What is ‘nicotine'?
25. Why is it so difficult to stop smoking?
26. What are the effects of nicotine withdrawal?
27. How does smoking cause cancer?
28. How do some people smoke heavily all their lives and never get cancer?

29. What are the effects of smoking?
30. What is ‘caffeine’?
31. How can you become addicted to caffeine?
32. Which foods or drinks contain caffeine?
33. What are the effects of too much caffeine?
34. What is caffeine withdrawal?
35. I think I am drinking too much coffee, what should I do?
36. How much caffeine is there in energy drinks such as Red Bull?
37. How does an addiction start in young people?
38. I think my daughter has been taking drugs, what do I do?
39. Why do young people become addicted?
40. How can we stop young people from becoming addicted?
41. Why do people take drugs?
42. What are ‘hard’ drugs?
43. What are ‘soft’ drugs?
44. Is drug use confined to deprived areas only?
45. What are the signs of drug abuse?
46. What are the effects of drug use?
47. What is the link between drug use and crime?
48. Which are the most popular drugs in the UK?
49. Why do teenagers take drugs?
50. Can using cannabis lead to the use of harder drugs?
51. Can you stop taking drugs by willpower only?
52. Why do people lie about taking drugs?
53. How do you treat drug addiction?
54. What is ‘cold turkey’?
55. What is drug rehab?
56. Does drug treatment work?