<p>Phillip Hoffman’s recent death made me wonder do drugs?
Does it help them escape reality?</p>
<p>This is an extreme oversimplification. </p>
<p>Do you really think the explanation can be explained in a post? Go look at the volumes of literature on the subject by experts. </p>
<p>Try them and you’ll find out… </p>
<p>Seriously?? That’s like asking why an insulin-dependent person can’t just quit and be OK; or why someone with dementia can’t just snap out of it; it’s a biochemical problem. It’s a daily fight, for the rest of your life. You’re given tools to fight it, but you must use them everyday. </p>
<p>Perhaps, a better question would be why do people start drugs.</p>
<p>To that I would answer:</p>
<p>They may have been enticed by its allure, not aware of the dangers of drugs, self-loathing, or mentally ill…</p>
<p>You could probably find a bit more.</p>
<p>That’s still an extreme oversimplification.</p>
<p>They like being bad, dangerous, rebellious, and think it will be fun. They usually start young and continue once addicted. It is no different from being a slave. </p>
<p>Why people start is much easier to explain than addiction. Starting can be as simple as experimentation. </p>
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<p>I sincerely, SINCERELY hope you mean addiction is no different from being a slave and that it is not connected to the rest of what you wrote. </p>
<p>There are a myriad of reasons as have already been listed. One addict who I knew spent the last years of his life creating “legal highs”. When I asked why, his response was everybody wants to feel good and if they can do it legally and safely, then it would be great.</p>
<p>One kid I know who does heroin started because he was in prison and bored.</p>
<p>This article explains how the drug makes physical changes in the brain, that last after you stop taking it, so thar you need it to feel normal.
<a href=“PERSONAL HEALTH; Addiction: A Brain Ailment, Not a Moral Lapse - The New York Times”>http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/30/health/personal-health-addiction-a-brain-ailment-not-a-moral-lapse.html</a></p>
<p>Ive observed that addicts are self treating mental or physical illness.
True some are drawn to new sensations, but Id also wonder if those people are maybe bipolar.</p>
<p>
Yes. Yes. Yes. </p>
<p>One time. One day. One week. One month. One year. One lifetime.</p>
<p>In regards to quitting, it’s really easier said than done. Especially, when no one knows you have an addiction and it’s just you and your drug.</p>
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<p>Some addictions are quite obvious, but the addicts still have difficulty quitting. Tobacco is an example.</p>
<p>Well, I’m not disputing that. 
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<p>Support is key…or awareness, even. It’s that much harder when no one knows. </p>
<p>So we are supposed to address the personality dynamics, social issues, biochemical neurotransmitter responses, etc of the person with addictive proclivities in one thread?? I’d say that calls for a drink but someone would complain that that wasn’t amsing.</p>
<p>There are people who begin taking doctor-prescribed pain meds for legitimate reasons and become addicted that way. </p>
<p>One thing that’s abundantly clear…those who have not suffered from addiction will NEVER be able to fully comprehend addiction. </p>
<p>Disagree, socalmom. Thre are plenty of people who treat peple with substance dependencies who themselves have no history of abuse.</p>
<p>I expect socalmom23 was talking about non-professionals, at least most of them. I suspect there is a small contingency out of professionals who really don’t fully comprehend addiction - more along the lines of the conspiracy theorists… like those who believe one’s sexual orientation can be changed with therapy. (or like those who think a beating heart means someone is still alive despite brain death).</p>