Addictive

What motivates anyone to do drugs? Is it peer pressure? Is it natural human curiosity? Is it biological? Is it the need to fill an internal void or just a recreational escape from the pressures of our own typical lives? These reasons could be related to any person who has attempted drug or alcohol consumption. It seems to be human nature to always search for a type of pleasure or euphoria. Psychoactive drugs, such as cocaine, marijuana, alcohol, opiates, etc can provide that. A psychoactive drug is any chemical substance that alters a person’s mood and behavior as a result of the drug’s function of he brain (Deckers,78). A simple motivation such as the environment or people you are with can lead to a normal person trying psychoactive drugs out for recreational use. For example, being college students, how many parties have you been to where alcohol and drugs were being used? How many of you have used any drugs? The stress of moving out, moving on, new surroundings, and pressure to make something of yourself can really motivate someone to want to let loose and not think. For some it will only be an experiment, an impulse, or just plain curiosity. For others, it can be the beginning of an addiction. (Deckers,77-80)
Drugs like alcohol, cannabis, amphetamines, and cocaine can alter a person’s mood. It is a safe bet that if drugs started out making you feel bad, few people would use them. The truth is that each drug can have a different effect, whether it is a relaxed sleepy feeling of bliss or an enthusiastic burst of energy, it makes a person feel good. Most people experience such a “positive Feeling” when they consume drugs that it is hard to match that incredible high with anything else again. Addicts begin to “crave” the substance. They want that amazing feeling back. The only way to get that feeling again is to use again. The more and more someone uses the more of a tolerance they build for their drug of choice. When a person begins using on a regular basis they can build up a tolerance for whatever substance they are using. When a person becomes tolerant of alcohol or any other drug, this means that it they will need to consume more then their usual amount in order to get that same “good” feeling. Once that feeling is gone they usually go through withdraw symptoms such as anxiety, vomiting, depression, etc. These negative effects can become a motivation to find another fix of their drug of choice. They want to replace the sick, bad feelings with good feelings. (Deckers,77-82)
These good feelings come from what is known as “The Pleasure Center” of the Brain. When a drug in consumed different chemicals, neurons, and hormones are released throughout the brain which create that pleasurable feeling. That pleasurable feeling can become a weakness for those who have inherited the genetics of an addict. A person who has an addict in the family is more likely to be susceptible to becoming an addict. A person’s environment and the people that they surround themselves with are also a common cause addiction. If a person’s parents are consuming drugs in front of them with no consequences, then that person may not understand the risks they are taking when doing drugs. Finally, a person’s personality can be another motivation. An impulsive person or a person that may not have a tight grip on reality is more likely to try and become addicted to drugs. Some people can not see that their family or future is more important then their next high. (Deckers, 80-89)