How do people become addicted to smoking, drinking, and drugs?

[Anonymous]

I can have the odd cigarette, the odd drink, and even sniff the odd line, and I have never physically craved any of it. How do people become addicted?

[RandomGirl42]

Like you, I smoke when I'm drinking but not when I'm sober so I missed that addiction. And I prolly drink too much sometimes but oh well, it's not an "issue" in my life. I don't crave it.

And at one point I thought I was immune to everything too BUT in college, I was introduced to cocaine. And I started liking it too much. I didn't become a crack whore or anything but I understand now how it happens. And for me it happened fast without even really realizing it. I started hanging out with different people and going to different parties just 'cuz I knew coke would be there while convincing myself it was for all kinds of other reasons. I became "a party girl" and all my attention went there instead of studying. I started mixing it with all kinds of other stuff and washing it all down with gallons of booze. I started to crash and burn hard while everyone saw it but me. I didn't believe it could happen to me. But it did. And then one night I overdosed. It changed my perspectives on many things and I have never taken any hard drugs since and I pray to god I never do again.

Anyways, that's how it happened for me.

[Chazmatazz269]

“Less Than Zero” (1987)

[FreyaRed]

Once intravenous injected heroin floods your brain receptors, you taste the bitter almond taste in you mouth and you feel rewarded 1000 times better than by sex, you will never stop craving for this feeling again.

Some people who grow up in orphanages say it's like hug from a mother they never had, people who have never been loved say it's like cuddling with a partner, some find ever connection to god.
You can't stop, your desire for that will never stop. You brain will cry for more, again and again..
The drug becomes you new god.

[Chazmatazz269]

The prevailing theories suggest that there’s an intrinsic sensitivity or vulnerability. Like most things it’s on a scale and it’s subjective. Some people are more likely to become addicted to certain substances than other people and few people are prone to addiction to all substances. I’m an alcoholic but i can take or leave cocaine, methamphetamines and other uppers. Lifestyle factors in too. Some addictions can be reduced to the substance or behavior producing dopamine and endorphins in the user. If everything else that you do produces none of these, then you try one or more things that do, you have an increased risk for addiction.
A lot of people become addicted to painkillers after major surgery despite being otherwise healthy and well adjusted. That’s primarily a physical dependence rather than a psychological dependence. Addiction is tricky, and you’re lucky you haven’t triggered it within yourself. If you keep trying things, there’s still a chance you develop a habit that you find very difficult to break.

[WindAtMyBack]

People don't think it will happen to them. They also don't realize what it means to be addicted and how much they'll regret it later. People take chances all the time, thinking the negative consequences will not happen to them.

As for yourself doing these things casually, most likely you will become addicted yourself if you keep it up. Although there are some VERY rare people who can do that for years without becoming addicted. You ask why they become addicted? Because they do the same thing you are doing. It simply affects some people more than others, but their actions are no different than yours.

[Persephone02]

If you have the money for it (which I don't) it's easy to become addicted to something like that. Smoking eases stress, drinking takes your mind off things, and drugs makes your day easy and relaxed. I've done all three and each brings a difference but still all leads to the same thing which is to escape from reality for a little while.

When people have access to that kind of thing on the daily, it becomes a crutch and easier to want to escape from reality. It's no wonder that people become chain smokers or potheads or alcoholics.

[CuriousMufuxka]

Bad decisions, trying to fit in, compulsions, and seeing how far one can go. Not preaching any moral ground here, just telling my story a bit.

[jahaims]

They are unhappy and the brain become chemically dependent

[In_Trance]

they same way they become addicted to sugar, gambling and validation

[DarKnight36]

I only use IQOS, I quit smoking 2 year.

[Anonymous]

Coping with bad stuff, I've had addictions in my youth (caffeine and huffing solvents)

[Kaneki05]

I be the same so no idea