Discussions

Respond to these 3 classmates, saying what you liked and agreed with what they wrote.

1. I feel like the main reasons people take drugs is to fit in, to self-medicate, or as a form of self-loathing. In middle and high school, it is a crucial time to want to be apart of a "cool" crowd, you want to be invited to parties and not seem "boring".  You achieve this goal by following the crowd and doing things that would impress the people who surround you. People in that age group, literally, have not completed their brain development and can make impulsive decisions without thinking of future consequences. People also choose to do drugs in order to self-medicate. Anxiety and depression is a raging issue in this country and sometimes a person chooses to use drugs like marijuana, prescription medications or illicit substances like cocaine or heroin to self-medicate and "heal their pain". People like this may have started out doing drugs for fun and develop a physical or psychological dependence. Then there are people who seek drugs to potentially fix/ numb the way they feel due to a legitimate chemical imbalance. Another reason a person turns to drugs is due to self-loathing. A person who has body dysmorphia may turn to amphetamines or cocaine to suppress their appetite to the point of anorexia. A person who suffered sexual trauma or another traumatic event of that magnitude might harbor feelings of guilt or self-hatred. These would all be scenarios in which someone would turn to drugs because they feel like they hate themselves and do not care about the consequences of their actions. There are many factors, biological and psychological, that can determine someone's reason(s) for using drugs. It's hard to just attribute one thing.

2. Why do people use illegal drugs? Is a question that can be discussed for days, months, and maybe even years. For young people going through middle school and high school, It's a simple answer, and that is trying to fit in or peer pressure. I can remember in high school if you weren't drinking, smoking weed or cigarettes you were considered lame. As you transition to an adult, the use of illegal drugs almost becomes a case by case basis with that person. You'll get a mixture of everything for why people use illegal drugs. Some are depressed and as the video stated, the use of illegal drugs will help lift that person out of depression for that short period of time, but by the time they sober down they're still suffering with depression. Also, the video made a great point when they asked "why do people use drugs, because their simply bored." Others will simply use drugs because they're bored then that will lead to an addiction down the line lead to poor decisions in life, so to answer the question on why people use illegal drugs? In my opinion, it's just bad decision making with a mixture of everything else. 

3. First and foremost, people take drugs because they are either unaware of the consequences or just do not care about the consequences. Young people, for example, do not usually think long-term or care about their health ten years from now. Young people do not usually think this far. I know I do not consider long-term consequences when I do just about anything. There are so many factors to this because of the fact that everybody and the life they live is different. Some people, especially when they are younger, are people pleasers. These are the ones who are likely to give in to using drugs to "fit in" or to impress their friends. They do not have that independence to not care if they are the only ones who do not use drugs. On the other hand, they may get excited to try something new. This brings me back to my original point, being that long-term consequences do not matter to most young people. They are only focused on the spur of the moment. I have read and heard many stories of people getting high off of several different types of drugs, who then hope for the high to go away. These same people are likely to do those same drugs again regardless of the fact that they clearly do not enjoy their high. There are several people who grow up with strict parents who choose to rebel as soon as they get a chance to. These people are likely to do drugs and are not likely to get help for it because they will hide it well from their parents. A strict relationship with your child will only take away trust and the child would not be able to get the help they need if their drug use turns into addictions because there is no responsible person to stand for it. The younger age group, being between 12-24 years of age, have the highest rates for depression. These are also the ages where drug use may begin. This could prove that a lot of drug use is done in hopes to better their state of mental health. I have personally met people who resort to drugs when they are sad and/or angry. They will use these drugs to escape what they are feeling or whatever problems they are facing. There have also been tests, also known as brain mapping, that will show imbalanced waves when people suffer from mental health issues. This includes depression, post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, etc. This is where the persons need for drugs could become medical. There is no one answer for why a person would use drugs. Everybody is different and everybody has their own story.