Drug Addiction

Drug abuse and drug addiction are the growing problems in the society today. Drug abuse means taking a psychoactive or performance enhancing substance that directly affects the working of your nervous system. Drugs abuse can cause many problems, not only related to health, but also socialism and morality. Most people fall to drug abuse during their college life, as kids or teenagers. The largest consumers of drugs are young adults and teenagers.

There are many reasons for falling for drug abuse and getting addicted to drugs. A person, who suffers from low self esteem, is emotionally unstable and wants relief from mental pain; hence, he/she usually goes for drugs. These people do not have enough self-resilience to handle pain or stress, depression and loneliness, and find drugs a helpful way to escape the situation. Even a one-time use of drugs can cause drug addiction.

One of the factors that increase drug abuse risk is family history; if one of the family members is using drugs then it also influences the other members. An untreated physical pain or mental illnesses, like anxiety or depression, can also increase the risk of drug abuse. One of the most common causes of drug abuse is peer pressure. Teenagers and adolescents usually get into drug addiction due to peer pressure. Peer pressure means the pressure to fit in a group, to be liked or be popular. Sometimes teenagers try drugs because they are curious, or just because "everyone is doing it". Peer pressure can make one indulge in activities and do things that one would not do in normal conditions.

People, due to peer pressure, leave their principles, common sense, responsibility and morals behind, and do what their friends want them to do. With peer pressure, it becomes very hard to say no to drugs. But, it is very important to be conscious about the learning one has gotten, common sense, beliefs and feelings about drugs, before trying it. Only if one is strong and confident, resisting the peer pressure and avoiding drug use becomes easier.
Following are some ways to ignore peer pressure to take drugs:

1. Have a friend or peer who backs you up when everyone is pressurizing you to take drugs. If you have such a peer, who says no to drugs too, leaving the group and resisting the peer pressure becomes much easier. Make friends that share your values, respect your boundaries and are ready to leave with you when you ask them to.

2. If your friend or your group is pressuring you, you can also ask for an advice from an elder. Talking to an elder, parent, teacher or counselor can give you a lot of confidence in yourself. They will also give you tips and help you make new friends.

3. Set your own limits and boundaries, and speak up and communicate them to your friends, whenever possible. They might tease you, but most of the people respect the limits others have drawn for themselves. If they still force you and pressurize you, do not be afraid to leave the group.

4. Studies have shown that people are in a parent-adolescent relationship and having a strong family structure makes it easier to avoid peer pressure to take drugs.

James Handforth is a health expert. You can get complete substance abuse treatment and guidance to live a healthier life.

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