Causes of Drug Abuse

 

Meaning-cum-Definition  

Substance or Drug Abuse – Consumption of illegal substances or drugs and excessive use or consumption of prescribed medicines and alcohol.

 

          It is the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs (National Health Portal of India).

 

Concept of Addiction

          Addiction due to substance abuse is a disease characterized by the following factors: -

(i)      Compulsive use - An irresistible impulse and repetitive ritualized acts

 

(ii)     Loss of control - The inability to limit or resist inner urges.

 

(iii)    Continued use despite adverse consequences - Use of the substance continues despite declining health and awareness about it.

 

Risk Factors/ Causes

(i)       Peer influence is a significant factor for heroin initiation.

(ii)      Family history of alcoholism or other substance abuse.

(iii)     Environmental factors (Disturbed home).

(iv)     Stress and other psychological factors (Traumatic event, mental disorder, depression).

(v)      Experimentation.

(vi)     Easy availability leading to early usage.

(vii)    Glorification in media.

(viii)   Faulty role models.

(ix)     Genetic predisposition.

(x)      Curiosity.

(xi)     Sensation seeking.

(xii)    Low self-esteem.

(xiii) Inability to cope with stress.

(xiv)    Poor self-control.

(xv)     Poor family support and control.

(xvi)    Faulty of poor self-management.

(xvii)   Poverty (Socioeconomic status).

(xviii) Psychological rewards (pleasurable experience).

(xix)   Unscientific use of drugs by registered medical doctors (Saha, 2004).

 

References:

1.       Murthy, P., Manjunatha, N., Subodh, B. N., Chand, P. K., & Benegal, V. (2010). Substance use and addiction research in India. Indian journal of psychiatry, 52(Suppl 1), S189–S199. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.69232

2.       https://www.bmj.com/rapid-response/2011/10/30/reasons-drug-abuse-india.

3.       https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3146212.

4.       https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-38824478

5.       https://www.altamirarecovery.com/drug-addiction/causes-effects-drug-

addiction/

 

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