Why Do People Use Drugs?

Why Do People Use Drugs?

1. Biological Theories: Postulate specific physical mechanisms in individuals that compel them to use or abuse drugs.

   • https://www.yalemedicine.org/stories/overcoming-opioid-addiction/
   • Genetic Theory: The genetic makeup of individuals predisposes them to drug-abuse and alcoholism.
   • The Theory of Metabolic Imbalance: Once individual uses a substance, such as heroin, a biochemical process takes place. This cause the body to crave the substance much like a diabetic's body would crave insulin.

2. Psychological Theories: Two theories that emphasize the mechanisms of reinforcement and stress the personality differences between addicts and abstainers.

   • Reinforcement Theory: Drugs provide a positve reinforecment when an individual experiences euphoria causing them to want to repeat the use.
     • Underplays the idea of personality traits between users and non-users. You can't explain a variable without a constant.
   • Inadequate Personality Theory: Psychological disorders pathologies or defects explain drug abuse. Something is wrong in emotional life that makes drugs attractive to them.

3. Sociological Theories: Seven over lapping theories that emphasize the individual. These theories include broader, structual factors that would influence the individual.

   • 1. Social Disorganization 2. Anomie/Strain Theory 3. Social Control Theory 4. Self-Control Theory 5. Social Learning and Sub Cultural Theory 6. Selective Interaction/Socialization Theory 7.Broken Windows/Collective Efficacy

Images and files in the map

• The Game Has Changed: Chris Herren at TEDxUMassAmherst (Embed)
• Russell Brand on His Addictive Personality | Oprah Prime | Oprah Winfrey Network (Embed)