Why do people use drugs? Isn’t it obvious how bad drugs are for you? Honestly, there are many reasons why people use drugs.

They may just want to feel good or numb any distress or emotional pain they may be experiencing. Maybe they want to fit in with a certain crowd or simply satisfy their curiosity. Despite the many dangers of drug addiction, people often believe they’re immune or that they’ll be able to stop using drugs whenever they want to. As a rehab in Boston, we know that this is rarely the case. To better understand the causes of drug addiction, we’re sharing the most common reasons for addiction to drugs and experimentation with substance abuse.

Does Alcoholism Run in Families?Why People Use Drugs

People use drugs for a variety of reasons, often with the belief that they’ll be able to stop whenever they want to. The stigma surrounding addiction often stems from false beliefs and simple misunderstandings. It’s important to understand that, contrary to popular belief, people rarely start using drugs or alcohol with the intention of becoming addicted. No one wants to willingly put themselves through a chronic disease that can kill them. This explains why so many people naively jump into experimentation with drugs and alcohol. But it’s not that simple.

Drugs and alcohol are addictive because they excite parts of the brain that make you feel good. For instance, opioids relax the central nervous system, alleviate pain, and produce feelings of euphoria and well-being by activating the chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine. People become accustomed to this sensation and continue using more of the substance because they want to “feel good” again. After a while, the body becomes tolerant or accustomed to these substances, eventually becoming physically dependent on them. You can tell when a person is becoming addicted to a drug or alcohol when they experience withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms are physical and psychological signs that the body displays when a person hasn’t used their substance of choice in a certain period.

Drug use can start as a way to escape from reality, cope with mental illness, or simply satisfy curiosity; however, it usually ends with addiction and PHP treatment.

To put it simply, people use drugs because:

• They want to feel good
• They’re escaping from reality (stress or worries)
• They’re coping with mental illness or another condition
• They’re coping with trauma
• They want to fit in with a crowd of people
• They’re curious

If you find yourself addicted to drugs or alcohol, help is available. Banyan Treatment Centers Massachusetts offers drug treatment in Boston for different kinds of drug addictions that can help you regain your health and sobriety.

Risk Factors for Addiction

In addition to the more direct causes of addiction, there are other things that can make people more likely to become addicted to drugs or alcohol. These include:

• Unstable home environment: If you grew up in an unstable or unhappy home environment, you’re more likely to struggle with drug and alcohol abuse. Often, kids who grow up in these situations experience physical or verbal abuse and other forms of trauma that may also increase their risk of developing an addiction in the future.
• Mental illness: People with untreated mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are more likely to turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to cope with their symptoms.
• Trouble at work, school, or with socializing: Stress or failures at work, school, or with socializing can make life difficult. It’s common for people in this situation to rely on drugs to feel better.
• Spending time with people who use drugs: People who grow up with family members who used drugs are predisposed to addiction, as well, partly due to learned behavior and partly due to genetics. Additionally, having friends who use drugs may also pressure or convince them to use them as well.

Addiction is a chronic disease, meaning it can’t be cured. Luckily, there are treatments that can help people with substance use disorders get sober again and learn how to maintain their sobriety. Banyan Massachusetts offers outpatient drug treatment that can help you or a loved one overcome addiction. To learn more, call us at 888-280-4763.