Saturday, September 15, 2007
okay toda cant go swimming at Wild Wild Wet YAY!!dun nd swim with my boring sis...okay today i going to aunty hse okay then next wk then i go watch a movie CAlled UNDERDOg...i tink it will be a good show...but i have too post today...i will throw in craps...
Why do people use drugs?
There are a variety of theories as to why people feel the need to use illegal drugs. There are only theories, no one knows exactly why people use them. I will discuss two main categories: Biological Theory and Psychological Theory.
Some of the Biological Theories
"Biological theories are those that postulate innate, constitutional physical mechanisms in specific individuals that impel them either to experiment with drugs or to abuse them once they are exposed to them." (Drugs in American Society)
Genetic TheoryThis theory is easy to understand if you compare it to alcohol. Most people are familiar with the idea that there is a gene that contains a predisposition to alcoholism. The same may be true for other illicit drugs. This does not meant that if your parents are drug addicts, you will be one, nor does it mean that it they are not, you wont be. It simply means that certain humans may carry a gene that gives them a natural predisposition to drugs. Studies have shown that certain people naturally have a higher tolerance level to drugs than others. Similar studies have also shown that some people are more likely to become addicted more easily than others.
Metabolic TheoryThis theory is that some people have a natural metabolic imbalance that drugs can correct. A good example of this is heroine. When heroine is introduced to certain people, it is like introducing insulin to a diabetic person. It seems to effect them on a metabolic level and thus makes them feel un-normal when the drug is no longer present. However, this theory is vulnerable because scientist are yet to locate just where the metabolic deficiency is, or if it even exists.
Some of the Psychological Theories
The psychological theories can be broken down into two main categories: those theories that drugs are a mechanism of reinforcement and those that say that a person's personality is responsible for their drug use. Reinforcement theories hold that people get either positive or negative reinforcement by using drugs. The personality theories hold that types of personalities impel people to use drugs.
Positive reinforcementThis theory holds that people do drugs because they like the way that they make them feel. A person may use cocaine because he or she likes the high that it gives them. People will continue using the drugs, and become psychologically addicted, because they want to continue to experience the euphoria of a high. I studies, lab animals chose drugs over food because they seem to have gotten so much pleasure from the drugs.
Negative reinforcement This theory is similar to the positive reinforcement theory. However, this theory is not focused on pleasure, rather it is focused on pain. It holds that people may originally use drugs for pleasure, but they continue to use them to avoid pain. Many drugs have withdrawal symptoms that can be painful. By continuing to use the drug they avoid the pain that they would feel if they didn't use it. When this happens, the user is no longer using the drug to reach a euphoric state, they are now using it just to feel normal.
Inadequate PersonalityThis theory holds that people do drugs because there is something wrong with them emotionally which makes drugs attractive to them. These people take drugs to escape reality. Drugs become a defense mechanism to these people. This theory also says that not all people who use drugs have to have the same level of emotional distress. Some people may simply lack self esteem and give into peer pressure easily. This is why not all people become addicts when they experiment. "In short, for the week, drug abuse is kind of a 'crutch;' for the strong, experimentation leads to abstention, not abuse." (Drugs in American Society)
Problem Behavior PronenessThis theory is held by some social psychologists that believe drug users typically have values and attitudes that are different than most non-users. These people tend to not care as much about social laws and norms. They are often rebellious and risk takers. This seems to be mostly directed at teens, because another characteristic is that they are more transition-prone. This means that they use sex, alcohol and drugs as a right of passage into adulthood. These types of people also tend to seek pleasure more than others. This is another reason why they often use drugs.
The Flame is in u But is It Glowing?* 7:20 PM
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