Why People Take Heroin

Midterm Exam Redo There is an infinite amount of reasons why people may take heroin or any other drug for that matter. From personal observations I have noticed that even though the reasons vary by individual there is still a main pattern. I believe most people take heroin because they like the feeling of being drugged. When they are in this state they don 't have to think about problems. In a way the drug is a diversion from their true feelings and an escape from their ordinary lives. Another reason people may fall into the heroin habit is to fit in or become part of a particular group. Often times the group doing the drug may seem cool or different. It is human nature to want to be accepted so people may feel peer pressure to try a drug like heroin not realizing how highly addictive and destructive the drug is. Finally the number one reason why I believe people take heroin is because they want to feel better about themselves. In a way this reason sums up all of the other reasons in one. If a person takes the drug to feel better about themselves, then they are seeking an escape, trying to feel more socially important and accepted, trying to overcome shyness, divert their attention away from their flaws or problems. I believe that this reason stems from low self-esteem, hopelessness, unhappiness and these are perhaps one of the main causes of addiction. In its most narrow of definitions the term addiction is described as a compulsion to repeat a behavior regardless of its consequences. It is often characterized by cravings, increased tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms if the behavior is discontinued. Medically there are two types of addiction. The first type is psychological addiction this is mostly behavioral or a dependency of the mind for example nail biting is psychological. The second type is physical dependence and this includes the abuse of a substance in which you become physically dependent on meaning that you are likely to experience physical

Cited: Addiction: Wikipedia Encyclopedia. Retrieved April 22, 2006 from Wikipedia website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction Moraes, F (2001). The Heroin User 's Handbook. Port Townsend, WA: Loompanics Unlimited. Volkow D., Nora (2005). National Institute on Drug Abuse: Research Report Series: Heroin Abuse and Addiction. Retrieved April 22, 2006 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse website: http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReports/Heroin/Heroin.html