An addiction consists of the loss of control over the consumption of a substance that for some reason has become essential for coping with everyday problems and situations. The general profile of the drug addict is that of a person who experiences emotions with great intensity and who uses these substances to conceal or hide problems that he/she cannot cope with in any other way.
In recent times, the discourse of drug normalization has increased, and these behaviors are taken as normal and acceptable. Obviously, drugs continue to produce stigmas in the workplace or the family environment, although some drugs considered minor are not so frowned upon by a large part of society.
From taboo to normalization
A good number of substances do not have such a bad press, making it easier to start using them. These include alcohol and marijuana, which are still perceived as “minor drugs”. In this case, it is important to raise awareness, since these addictions have become a public health problem, especially among young people, as they are a generator of psychopathologies in people who are already predisposed and school failure.
If in the 80s and 90s drug use was considered one of the main problems of our society, as shown by CIS data, today the same perception does not exist.
In fact, the latest CIS barometer places drug addiction as one of the least worrying problems for Spanish society, being at the bottom of the list of concerns and none of those surveyed included it among the first two problems.
Although drug use remains stable, there has been a perceived increase in drug use since the pandemic caused by COVID-19. In fact, the United Nations annual report states that around 275 million people used drugs in 2020, compared to 269 million in 2018.
What is the most widely consumed drug?
Cannabis is now the most widely used drug in the world, also being the drug that most leads people to enter the criminal justice system, with cannabis accounting for half of all drug offenses.
Cannabis use increased during the pandemic, and it is considered a drug with little health risk, especially for young people.
Is there a profile more likely to use than others?
A distinction must be made between the addict and the user. The user is the person who takes drugs while the benefits of drugs outweigh the potential problems, while the addict starts using and ends up getting hooked.
This is due to a predisposing factor, i.e. the factor that causes drugs to be used as a kind of anesthetic for problems. The fact that many people use it does not imply that they end up getting hooked. If everyone who goes binge drinking ended up being an alcoholic, there would be alcoholic concentration camps.
It is not easy to distinguish between a temporary user and an addict. However, the marshmallow test carried out in the 1960s by Dr. Walter Mischel in which five-year-old children were put in front of a piece of candy and told that if they could go half an hour without eating it, they would be given two pieces of candy. One in three was able to hold on, and later studies showed that this ability to hold on meant better life outcomes. However, those who gave in to temptation were more likely to be involved in school failure, substance abuse…
What are the consequences of drug use?
Each drug has an effect on the organism. In the first instance, drug use usually produces pleasure, excitement, or even hallucinogens, although it can have important mental and physical consequences. Some of the most common consequences are:
- Family problems.
- Mood alteration.
- Insomnia.
- Anxiety.
- Neurochemical imbalances.
- Isolation.
- Cardiovascular problems.
How to stop an addiction?
The first phase of the process is the awareness of the person, understanding that drug use is bringing him/her several problems. This is the first step to achieve a motivation that will help treatment.
In parallel, the personal life must be rebuilt so that the renunciation of drugs compensates. If the person does not consume, but has a better life, it will be easier to remain abstinent than with prohibitions.
To disengage and stop using is to regain freedom.
For more information, consult a Family Medicine specialist.