Why do people get into drugs? Why can't people just stay off things that cause harm?

Question

NikolaiIvanovB41 · Accepted Answer

You know how sometimes in cities, you see benches with weird designs or spikes in doorways? That's what we call hostile architecture. It's a fancy term for making public spaces uncomfortable for homeless people. The idea is to keep them from sleeping or hanging out there. It's like putting up a sign that says, "You're not welcome here."

Now, why do they do this? Often, it's the people with money and influence who push for these things. They want their neighborhoods to look neat and tidy, without having to deal with the sight of homelessness and poverty. It's a way of sweeping the problem under the rug without really solving it.

Here's the kicker, though. The problems that many homeless people face, like addiction or mental health issues, aren't just poor people problems. Rich folks deal with them too. But the difference is, they've got the resources to hide it. They can afford private rehab or therapy, and their struggles stay behind closed doors in their big houses.

So, while a rich person might be dealing with the same addiction as someone on the street, they don't have to face the same judgment or discomfort. And by making public spaces unfriendly to the homeless, they're kind of saying, "We don't want to see your problems."

This creates a divide. On one side, you have people who can afford to hide their issues and keep their neighborhoods 'clean.' On the other side, you have people who are struggling and have nowhere to go because even a simple bench is designed against them. It's not just about physical barriers; it's also about who we choose to acknowledge and help in our society.

ImHere22 · Accepted Answer

Oh wow, you literally just solved all of addiction. Thanks, friend!!!

People spend their careers working on answers to questions like this. We have billions of dollars pouring into treatment programs, law and order campaigns, awareness, etc. Politicians, citizens everywhere, journalists are killed for trying to crack down on drug cartels or just for being in the way.

It is a fact, almost with as much certainty that the sun will rise in the east tomorrow morning and set in the west, no matter where on the planet you are, that cigarettes and the chemicals and nicotine in them are toxic and cause cancer. Yet the tobacco industry is thriving. Literally thriving because of the billions of people who continue to smoke.

If people would just stay off things that cause harm, wouldn't that be amazing? Drugs are... incredibly complicated for a lot of people. Be thankful you are not part of those communities. If do become a member of a community, know this: you're not alone, and there is always someone who can help.

I'm sorry for sounding crass earlier- but that's a loaded question with not as simple an answer as you might believe.

Coolcow245 · Accepted Answer

Curiosity, Stress, peer pressure, coping mechanisms. Trying to fit in, etc. for me it started with curiosity about weed but I can’t remember how I became intrigued or the thought about smoking came to be. Somehow curiosity led to YouTube videos, which led to friends. No peer pressure. The first time I smoked, I had a trip too strong. I was tweaking and hearing birds in the back of the car while it was midnight. I kept hearing birds until I preyed myself to sleep. I wanted the high to end and preyed it away. and the bodily high was something I never experienced before. I didn’t think I would keep smoking. I had try again just because but i started smoking once in a blue moon because it was strong. This changed to once a month, to every week with my stoner friend. smoking with my friend was how I started to get addicted. We would smoke every week, then I started buying and smoking everyday, this turned in to multiple times a day turn into I never go a day without smoking weed.

jennifer_bloom · Accepted Answer

I don’t have first or second degree friends who do drugs, meaning my friends don’t do it, and the friends of my friends don’t do it either, but maybe they do drugs because they can’t accept that they can’t have everything they want. I have met people who want to hold others accountable in many ways, but can’t handle others holding them accountable in even one a single, low responsibility, light intensity way. They think they are gods and everyone else is just a lady bug.

rigmarole · Answer

What kind of drugs? Doctors give people drugs all the time to manage illness... Most people take drugs because they are advised to do so... Outside of that people take recreation drugs (which for the most part were developed by pharmaceutical companies for specific purposes) for a sense of entertainment, relaxation, curiosity, mental exploration, etc. Many drugs aren't theoretically bad for you. They are targeting specific enzymes in your body to trigger a cellar reaction. Abuse of drugs in high dosages repeated is where problems tend to arise.

genericname85 · Answer

here's an annekdote from rat experiments that should give you the idea:

so there's to comparative experiments in both experiments, rats have the choice between straight up water and water that has been mixed with drugs.

rats who are hold captive in a cage where they're deprived of a happy life with mates, something to play with and to get busy with and do all the things rats do in nature will cloe to 100% always go for the drugged water till they die of overdosing.

rats who are held in the optimal rat environment with everything that rats need and do, rats will very rarely drink the drugged water and 0% of them die of overdose.

same can be found in social scientific studies. the choice of taking drugs is usually a consequence of a fucked life. not the cause of it. allthough of course taking drugs never makes it any better. drugs can easily create a downward spiral but they don't typically do, if the persons life wasn't already fucked to begin with.

AmeerX · Answer

Some do it for thrill, some do it for depression, some do it because a stupid friend got them addicted.

Really feel pity for them. I know my uncles son who got addicted to it and ruined the entire family. He and his wife both. Uncle is a great man but in sad state and it's painful.

One of my uncle himself got addicted, his family had a lot of things, industry and everything and drugs let them turn to dust sadly.

I am not going to lie, I was tempted to start drinking in my lowest ebb from heartbreak but lucky for me God helped 🙏. I know if I did end up doing something like that I will turn vile as one can imagine.

Rule of drinking though is that drink just enough to enjoy but not enough to get drunk. Best to avoid but if you must then do it in moderation

NathanDavis · Answer

most people can try them and that's it... they won't do it again, or not that often...

those who always get hurt by drugs, are the ones with different brains (plus other vulnerabilities) and their brains will get hooked to it, won't let go...

and for that matter, it could be anything... drugs, food, gaming, gambling, sex... and many other things, you just can't fight it as easily as everyone else that just won't get hooked...

WrinkleBrain · Answer

I actually watched a documentary about addiction and trauma. Behind every addiction is pain, and using drugs is often an unhealthy coping skill for mental illnesses and unresolved trauma. I guess it's similar to why people cut themselves, or use other harmful coping skills.

CalmUntilAbused · Answer

Well... Sometimes staying clean and alive causes even more harm. Drugs can grant You a loan of happiness, and if You knew You've got no happiness in Your life to pay this loan back anyway, You might become willing to take that loan. If You've got some real happiness to lose, You'll be wary of such loans, but if You had none and all You were waiting for in life is death... What's the big deal?

Levin · Answer

It's not that easy. But it's usually about escaping something, some unresolved emotion, some aspect of their lives that they've allowed to wither and decay. Coming off the drugs brings all that back to the fore.

I feel there may be also a general level of hopelessness. Like, if you don't believe an alternative is possible then you would not even try.

iFarted · Answer

I'm no expert but I watched a lot of Soft White Underbelly stories on Youtube. I also dated a girl that had a brief period of meth in her past. She has a rough upbringing with abuse from family.

A lot of times it's to escape reality and it's a coping mechanism. It "helps" them get away from the pain they're feeling like 24/7 just existing. PTST from prolonged periods of physical, mental, verbal and/or sexual abuse is real.

MrPickles13 · Answer

A host of reason sometimes it's peer pressure, the fact that life is shit and it does have some affects that people like to have, could be accidental ingestion but it made them feel good and its addictive, prescribed medication that is addictive.

I think some others like hallucinogenics have been used for some forms of treatment and they have historically been used for religious purposes. I see no reason that doesn't still occur.

I'm sure there are others I haven't listed.

Kingofkings1992 · Answer

Been there, done it. Drugs provide someone with a mental escape. Sometimes a person’s mental health can get so bad, they don’t care what causes harm as long as it takes them out of reality for a little. Sometimes, people just try drugs out of curiosity, and eventually end up becoming addicted. Any person has the potential to become addicted to something.

sawno · Answer

Two things, either mental / physical dependency once they were either convinced or curious enough to try them. Or them being very unhappy with their lives and wanting that pain sedated.

Whitewulf · Answer

Because they are trying to escape trauma or pain or trying to be someone they are not because people like the funnier more out going person when hi. Or it just feels good.

musclesimp · Answer

I don't get into drugs. I get into women. And drugs get into me. Hahaha. I don't know though I think that's what alfa men are supposed to say. Are vaginas actual holes?

Static_In_The_Attic · Answer

Caffeine is classified as a drug so I think we are all guilty especially soda or coffee drinkers.

AngryCarl · Answer

I assume it's a peer pressure thing. If your family and friends do drugs it's almost inevitable that you will too. Of course once you start anything harder than dope it starts a cycle of dependence.

Just say no, kids.

Nikki1989 · Answer

Because they make people feel good.

Wood3nWhal3 · Answer

It's mostly just escaping from reality for a brief time. The reason for which they enjoy or choose to do so varies but it is a weird way of going about things.

jshm2 · Answer

That's rather small minded of you.  Think of the bad habits you have and why you can't just "let go" of them.  That's what addictions essentially are.

ChicoFromThe305 · Answer

Cause it's different for people, but I agree, it's unfortunate.

syncheart · Answer

People get into drugs because they want to escape from emotional or physical pain.

SmokinAces2000 · Answer

I’ve only ever smoked weed and I knew it wasn’t dangerous in itself so I tried it but I wouldn’t ever try any hard drugs

Jerre · Answer

Tough question to answer. I think it all goes back to the parents and the environment the kids were raised in.

Cubus · Answer

They try out of either boredom or curiousity and then get addicted.

AnusNdaPainus · Answer

If I’m sober suicide will be the only thing I can think about

jahaims · Answer

It relieves mental agony. Not everyone has the same life.

noohair · Answer

I can start as self medication for emotional pain and then turns into physical addiction.

TallAnon · Answer

Because it makes them feel good, we evolved to chase things like that.

msc545 · Answer

People use drugs to feel better (recreational use) or normal (addiction).

dolemite58 · Answer

cuz life is horrible for some people in ways you probably can’t understand

Charliefretz329 · Answer

They give a little temporary false relief. And some people are just grasping for anything to bring them happiness. Sadly the happiness from drugs resides on a declining scale.

Amur8711 · Answer

I haven't ever done any drugs, alcohol, smoke, or anything of the sort.

loladevine · Answer

Everyone I know who does drugs does them because someone they knew does them

KostasKouvalis · Answer

Unfortunately many people see taking drugs as a stress relief and escape from their problems

love_conquers_lust · Answer

Vices. Boredom, peer pressure, coping, prescription.

Staximus · Answer

They are trying to run away from something in their head

RedInnocent68 · Answer

Haven’t been able to stay off girls either… 🤔😉😂

Dreamclouds · Answer

From what I know boredoom

Christoff92 · Answer

Relaxing and comfort that's why.

Gabriel-Chicanito · Answer

"Self dislike".

RevengeofLadyJ · Answer

It's very addictive

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