What draws a person to drugs?

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For many who have maintained a clean slate and remained unblemished by any form of drug use in their lifetime, it is not uncommon to wonder what draws a person to drugs. Maybe that puts them in a position to help out rather than pass judgment on another. According to Dr. Curtis Cripe, understanding drug users is one of the biggest keys to helping them get out of the bad habit permanently.

A common trend in individuals who get into drugs is that they want to change something about their lives. Research has shown that people first get into drugs for the following reasons:

• To fit in and find a sense of belongingness
• To exercise independence and claim maturity
• To experiment out of curiosity
• To escape from a source of stress
• To rebel or protest against something

The first instance that a drug dependent takes drugs is not always seriously motivated, shares Dr. Curtis Cripe. However, the problem with drugs is that it gets addictive. This goes on to the point that taking drugs brings a sense of comfort to the person who gets into it.

Image source: neurosciencenews.com 

Through frequent use of drugs, the individual digs a deeper hole. They no longer need any stimulus or external factor to draw them to their particular choice of drug. As their own body gets poisoned by the chemicals they take in, so does their mind.

At some point, the person does not think rationally anymore. They are only motivated by one thing alone: the craving for the high that drugs bring to them, which leads them to the darkest moment along their path to drug use.

Dr. Curtis Cripe encourages anyone related to a drug addict, in any way at all, to be mindful of these facts if they truly want to help the person out.

Curtis Cripe, Ph.D., hails from a multidisciplinary academic and professional background that includes addiction and psychophysiology. He is the director of research and development at the NTL Group, a company specializing in neuroengineering programs to diagnose and treat a wide array of neurological dysfunctions. For more related articles, visit this page.