Why Do People Use Drugs?

PSY215 DRUGS AND DEPENDENCY ESSAY ONE wherefore DO PEOPLE USE DRUGS? LACHLAN SLOAN 30790798 passim history, the great unwashed have apply antithetical kinds of do mediciness to expurgate the centering they olfaction or reckon consciousness. Ritualistic utilize of medicates has been ordinarily exercise by various cultures such(prenominal)(prenominal) as the mushroom aro implementd view state utilised by aborigine Ameri lavatory Indians to commune with the Great Spirit. pacific Islanders drink Kava as a means of connecting with the supernatural, healing illness and have guests to the community.Whilst Indians referred to universe consciously high as the state of Shiva and associated this process with the theology of ace of their prime deities, Shiva. Over clip the ritualistic hold of do drugss has integrated as a part of modern alliance which can be observed in celebrations such as weddings and birthdays where inebriantic drink is commonly consumed. As there is such a vast prescribe of drugs and put to break d sustains available with umteen a(prenominal) established accustoms and categorisations the process of determining why people commit drugs baffles intricate real rapidly.Norman E Zinberg developed a opening on drug utilise which is a widely accepted public health impersonate. The priming of this theory argues that it is not electromotive force to understand drug use, the put togethers or the come outcomes of the drug fellowship unless you invade into theme the inter likenessship of factors between the drug, the purlieu and the single(a) (Zinberg, 1986). For the purpose of this analytic thinking various aspects of tempt have been categorised based on Zinbergs theory to coherently subscribe why people use drugs.The categorizations argon as follows Individual (cognition, genetic science, and forcible/ mental state), drug (perceived lives of drug use in society/specific purpose for victimisation a particul ar internality, drug related to expectancies and compulsive use) and surround ( brotherly/contextual direct). Boys et al (2001) recorded among a study of 364 participants that had used cannabis all over the past course of instruction that, the two most popular reasons for utilise the drug were to just get unfeignedly stoned or intoxicated (90. 7%) and help you to relax (96. 8%). mess utilise drugs often state that they use them to feel obedient.What makes these people feel good is the way in which the chemicals in these drugs influence cognition. This state of feeling good and or being high is r each(prenominal) because most drugs act on the limbic system in the mavin, referred to as the diversion centre. The presynaptic oddment releases the neurotransmitters Dopamine, Noradrenaline and serotonin via brace determined at the terminal. These neurotransmitters atomic number 18 released and travel to the post synaptic terminal where specific receptor sites ar located o n the nerve cell for each neurotransmitter.Here nerve action potential is developed via neurotransmitter action on the receptor site. commonplace drugs act by blocking, mimicking or elating the release of neurotransmitters via the presynaptic terminal. When Dopamine levels are increased, mimicked or reuptake is permitted (blocked) the reward pathway in the brain is affected which when stimulated creates feelings of pleasance and euphoria ( joyousness is associated with reward). The ingested drug is hence associated with pleasure and reward and the person is influenced to continue exploitation the particular drug.Current cognitive-motivational theories of dependance assert that prioritising appetitive, reward-related info roleplays an inherent role in the exploitation and continuation of substance abuse (Field & vitamin A Cox, 2008 Franken, 2003 Wiers et al 2007). A study think on reward-related attentional processes among 682 young insubstantials (mean hop on= 16. 14) had participants complete a motivated juicy in the format of a spatial orienting task as a behavioural index of appetitive-related attentional processes and a questionnaire to index substance (alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis) use.Correlational analysis showed a positive relationship between substance use and enhanced attentional engagement, with cues that predicted potential reward and non- punishment (Ostafin et al, 2013). Research since the middle 1960s has established that genetics play a modest (yet relevant) role in the development of drug use problems in more(prenominal) than or less mortals (Pickens, 1988 Farrell & adenosine monophosphate Strang, 1992 Hill, 1993). It has been conveyed by Mcgue (1994) that genetics have an influence on a persons disposition to use drugs.After a review of literature on genetics research in relation to alcoholism, Mcgue established that genetic factors exert a moderate influence on potent and female risk for alcoholism. It has been suggested by Hansler (2001) that mental illness motivates sufferers to take drugs ( ethical drug and recreational), this process can cause drug problems (when a person takes drugs in the hope of escaping their symptoms or becomes unfree on a prescription drug). Ex amples take a person suffering from cordial anxiety ingesting cocaine in lay out to temperamentally enhance their sociability when passing out with friends.Most of the evidence, however, seems to indicate that these factors can prevail to problems that is, biological, kindly and/or environmental factors dispose a person to have both(prenominal) a mental health and a substance abuse problem. Aesthetics and animalism are also motivators for drug use. A person will ingest substances to alter the physical temperament of their trunk, primarily payable to the fact that they are not quelled with a particular aspect of their physical self. Examples accommodate performance enhancing drugs (steroids), Viagra and antibiotics.In reservoir the process of analysing the perceived functions of drug use/specific purpose for using a particular substance, mind-altering drugs are the number 1 place to start as out-of-pocket to the broad range of this category. The sort of psychoactive drugs is sub divided into three categories (with some drugs falling into more than one category) Depressants, Stimulants and Hallucinogens. Depressants work by inhibiting the activity of the CNS (Central sickish System), which slows down various bodily functions such as heart rate and breathing.This classification of drugs has with it a reputation inherent inwardly society as having a solace make (popularised primarily due to alcohol its acceptance and availability). masses generally take this type of drug to relax, another principal(a) function and motivation of the use of depressants is to beset the effects of stress and anxiety (reduces nerves and relaxes muscle). These drugs are typically easy to aim being available il de jure and legally. Examples include acquiring a depressant legally via a doctors prescription or benzodiazepines to treat anxiety and purchase marihuana from a local drug dealer in parade to take over stress from work. Stimulants work by impact the CNS (increasing brain activity) which causes the body to become more aroused and responsive. Hence stimulants conjure up the mood, create excitement and even induce a state of euphoria. Due to the nature of stimulants improving responsiveness this category of drug is associated with increasing peoples zilch levels as brain activity is dramatically increased.Stimulants are widely available legally and illegally with the most common being caffeine, which is the most widely used drug in the world (Julien, 2001). Hallucinogens are a class of drug that alter perceptual functions sight, hearing, smell, taste or physical touch. Hallucinogens cut out how the nerve cells and the neurotransmitter serotonin interact with the CNS. By alt ering the natural levels of serotonin in the body, hallucinogens alter the way in which your brain processes information relevant to perceptual functions.The forbidding of the users perceptual functions allows for the body to generate an intense high. Hence many users of hallucinogens utilise this type of drug to experience the intensity of the high and/or to pull out reality. Examples of hallucinogens include magic mushrooms, marijuana and LSD. A web based survey of 96 (50 female, 46 male) regular drinking college students over a ten week period) report on their previous week alcohol use and experience of 24 alcohol-related consequences, including their unobjective evaluations of those consequences.Most notably of the results, hierarchical linear model tests revealed that students drank less and experienced fewer consequences pursuance weeks in which they rated their consequences as more prejudicial (relative to their own typical subjective evaluations), suggesting that view ones juvenile consequences as aversive prompts self-initiated behaviour change. It was conveyed by Boys et al (1999) that significant relationships between perceived functions and both the persons intentions to use the drug again in the future and the recent use of a particular drug.Data was collected from a cocker sectional survey of one century participants aged 16 21 historic period of age. Higher scores on a five item social/contextual function scale (Eg. using a drug to help you feel more confident in a social situation) were associated with a greater frequency of recent cannabis use. do drugs expectancy is a psychoactive process that occurs as a response to an individuals foreboding that a drug induced effect will occur. dose expectancy divulges the nature of a person desire to experience the effects from a particular drug(s).The effect occurs from a persons own experience with a drug, education, feedback from peers/family and media influence. Once acquired via chair ex perience with a drug, the memory intercommunicate of positive expectancies can be set by internal or foreign drug associated cues. Primed expectancies are survey to guide concomitant drug use (Hersen, 2013). Self-reports from 704 college students were content analysed and used to develop the marihuana Effect Expectancy Questionnaire. Responses were examined using alpha and confirmatory principle components analysis.Six marijuana expectancies (34. 6% of variance) were identified (a) cognitive and behavioural impairment, (b) relaxation and tension reduction, (c) social and sexual facilitation, (d) perceptual and cognitive enhancement, (e) global ban effects, and (f) desire and physical effects (Schafer & Brown, 1991). When a person begins using a drug on a regular basis they begin to become subordinate on the drug. As gross profit margin towards the drug grows in the person they become more dependent on the drug in set to achieve the same effect they attain from their first usage. drug colony can demo in both physical/psychological forms. This can be classified in the sense that the body requires the drug to function properly relating to either form of classification. When a person abstains from retaining the normal level of the mistreat drug in their blood insulation symptoms begin to act. Those with a physiological dependency experience physical irritation, shaking, nausea and chuck as drug withdrawal symptoms. People with a Psychological dependence feel depressive, anxious, in-your-face and irritated.Research supports the belief that the negative nature of withdrawal symptoms is associated with drug users continued abuse of a certain drug (Rogers, 2002). Social/contextual level influences have a huge level of governance over a persons rationalising to use drugs. College students suppose they utilise alcohol and drugs in pronounce to lessen depression, increase sociability, satisfy curiosity, rise sexual pleasure, alleviate physical d iscomfort and expand consciousness (Robbins et al. , 1970). Association with peers tilising drugs is one of the strongest predictors of adolescent drug use (Fergusson et al, 1995 stand out et al, 1990). If other members of the group begin using drugs, some people are influenced to swap sobriety for use in order to fit in and adapt to the group. motivation for this exists in the individual wanting to adjust to the dynamics of the group paired with solicitude of rejection from the group. An example of this is conveyed by Hohman et al (2013) via a study of data obtained from the National come later on of Parents and Youth (N= 1,604).Two hierarchical multiple turnabout models were developed examining the association between ambivalent attitudes, intentions and later marijuana use. The hierarchical models consisted of an analysis of the moderating effect of ambivalency on the persons intent to use marijuana and the exam of the moderation of ambivalence on erratum marijuana use a form later. Results from both hierarchical analyses propose that ambivalence moderated the association of friend norms and subsequent adolescent marijuana use friend norms were break away predictors of marijuana intentions (? 0. 151, t = 2. 29, p = 0. 02) and subsequent use when adolescents were attitudinally ambivalent about marijuana use (? = 0. 071, t = 2. 76, p = 0. 006). The environment of a person greatly influences their talent to drug use. Not only does the social context of a person influence drug use but the environment itself plays a very influential role. A study undertaken in Zinbergs Drug, Set, And position The Basis For Controlled Intoxicant Use, analysed a group of American soldiers who began using and became inclined to heroin during the Vietnam war.After the war effort, usage roughly ceased, with only 12% of the soldiers remaining accustom after returning back to the coupled States. It is evident that these American soldiers were utilising heroin as a for m of escapism, a way to disassociate themselves from the harsh reality they were determined in. Hence it can be judge that a persons socioeconomic status would affect their use of drugs. People living in a negative environment and/or of a bring low socio economic status would be more likely to turn to drug use as a means of traffic with and escaping their predicament.In the process of determining why people use drugs a diverse range of conclusions have been reached via a model interpreter of Zinbergs theory. We began by stating the ritual usages practiced for thousands of years which have transcended into society after society. We begin with Zinbergs notion of the individual and diverge into the way in which gracious cognition is affected by drugs. As this topic is explored it is conveyed just how susceptible our brains are to drug use and why we jollify the temperamental effects drugs create.Genetics, physical and psychological disposition are also conveyed as influencing rea soning for drug use. Drugs are communicate via the perceived functions of illegal and legal drugs by an analysis of drug categorisations where perceived functions and reasons for use are conveyed. Drug expectancy and tolerance is explained and the reasoning for continued use and addiction is communicated via a study by Schafer & Brown (1991). The social/contextual level of influence is analysed via various studies by Zinberg (1986) and Hohman (2013) conveyance environmental and social influences.People ingest a diversity of different drugs for a grade of different reasons socialisation, environmental factors, perceived norms, to relax, pleasure, to conform, genetics, addiction, out of boredom or curiosity or to escape their problems. 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