The Centers for Disease Control recently released data that show for the first time that more people now die from drug overdoses than from car accidents in the United States. In particular, researchers attribute the increase in overdoses to a dramatic rise in the misuse of prescription narcotics.

From 2000 to 2008, the number of people dying as a result of drug use doubled across the nation, with Nevada, New Mexico, Alaska, West Virginia and Rhode Island having the highest numbers. In 2009, drug overdoses killed almost 37,500 people in the US, or one hundred per day; the number of deaths is highest among adults aged 40 to 50.

In contrast, car safety devises such as airbags and seat belts have caused traffic fatalities to fall by over 30 percent in the last thirty years. Although advances in medicine, automobile and highway safety, and social programs have resulted in a decrease in the number of people dying from preventable diseases and issues, drugs have proven to be an anomaly. Prescription drugs used to treat chronic or acute pain and anxiety are the most widely abused drugs in the US.

Commonly prescribed tablets, such as oxycodone and Valium, are being augmented by novel pain-relief approaches, such as Fentanyl patches. Although often initially prescribed for valid medical reasons, many patients become addicted to these dangerous and potent drugs, requiring increasingly larger doses to get relief. Once medical professionals refuse to continue writing prescriptions to an obviously addicted person, the patient must turn to fraud, theft, or the black market in order to get their fix.

For a while now prescription drugs have been killing more Americans than illicit street drugs like cocaine or heroin. Many of these deaths are accidental, either due to the patient taking too large a dose or mixing different types of medication without medical supervision. For those using pain relief patches, applying more than one at a time can often have deadly consequences. Prescription drugs have been found to be more dangerous than street drugs, mainly because users get a false sense of safety, either because their own doctor prescribed them or because they know that doctors routinely prescribe them for patients.

Research into the root causes of the U.S. prescription drug epidemic has shown that the problem has developed over the course of many years and can be tied to an interaction between aggressive drug companies eager for profits and caring doctors trying to control the often debilitating pain suffered by patients. In California, the number of prescriptions written for pain pills and anti-anxiety medications has increased by almost 50% over the past few years, while the strength of doses has increased by the same amount. Vicodin continues to be both the most commonly prescribed and the most abused drug in the US.

Recognizing the danger our society faces if the prescription drug problem is left unchecked, the federal government has begun a series of programs aimed at reducing the opportunities for prescription drug abuse. Since many abusers steal pills that are left over in medicine cabinets of friends and family, and it is unsafe to flush unused medicine down the toilet, over the past few years government agencies have begun accepting left over medication for disposal at area pick-up sites. They have also begun exploring ways to better train medical professionals how to prescribe commonly abused drugs for valid medical purposes and how to identify drug seekers. Although some states have also begun tracking individual prescription drug use via online pharmacy databases, early results from these programs show that they are not effective at reducing drug-related deaths, likely due to the high number of drug thefts and black market purchases.

Addiction treatment professionals would argue that limiting access to prescription drugs may prevent some future addiction, but it will not help those already dependent on these powerful narcotics. The addict will seek out the drug through other channels once the addiction takes hold, and some will even switch to illegal drugs such as heroin if they find those easier to obtain than prescription opiates. For these people, more access to residential treatment will give them the best chance of overcoming their addiction.

There is a question that is often asked – why do people smoke cannabis?

Globally, marijuana is the most commonly used street drug. A 2007 survey found that 14.4 million people in the America alone had smoked cannabis at least once in the last 30 days.

There are a variety of reasons that people take drugs and we certainly don’t have all the answers. However, there are some classic psychological reasons that people start and continue to smoke weed that we can explore.

Psychological reasons

The psychological reasons for taking drugs can be similar to the reasons that people make purchases, visit certain websites or choose an impulsive or momentary course of action at any particular time.

While dopamine transmitters make up only 1% of the brain they “are wired” in the most important parts.

Dopamine is commonly associated with the “reward system”, providing feelings of enjoyment and reinforcement to motivate a person to perform certain activities.

Dopamine is released and rewards experiences such as food, sex, and drugs.

The function of dopamine transmitters isn’t fully understood but it could explain a variety of “urges” in human behavior. We will naturally be attracted to any activity that provides a reward. It may explain why humans will take drugs for an instantaneous reward when a longer term negative effect is fully understood.

Here is an action flow diagram which may explain the process:

Need for life to change > Take action > Receive benefit > Learn association

We’re conditioned to seek out food and are rewarded with nourishment as well as a “dopamine reward” which is then learned so the process can be repeated. Drugs can also give us a positive experience (the “high”) and this coupled with a “dopamine reward” which is then “learned” and encourages habitual behavior.

This would explain the circular causation that many addicts experience. They are bored (hunger), take drugs (nourishment), are rewarded, learn the association, and then the next time the positive associations are reinforced thus forming a habit.

So, we all have dopamine transmitters but only some of us take drugs. So what are the other reasons?

To fit in / peer pressure

One of the strongest psychological factors to explain behavior is known by a variety of expressions such as “monkey see, monkey do”, “peer pressure” and “social proof”. This can be described as a copying or mimicking of behavior we see around us.

For various reasons we are conditioned to do as others around us are doing. So, simply enough, if there are a lot of people smoking weed around us, we are likely to follow suit.

This pressure to fit in can be a more powerful amongst younger people as we all know. However, taking drugs just to fit in is not the whole picture and should never be understood that way. However, it may be a contributory factor.

Copying of role model / hero

Another reason why people smoke weed is allied to the previous point of copying behavior. People naturally try to copy the behavior of individuals that are held in esteem by a peer group. So copying the drug taking habits of celebrities can be explained in this way.

Alcohol

Some of the most important role models for most people are their parents. Many children “learn” to drink alcohol from their parents and then when the effects of this drug aren’t appreciated marijuana can seem a desirable alternative.

Rebelling

Similarly, depending on the individual and the “stage” in adolescence or young adulthood, smoking grass can seem like a way of differentiating themselves from their parents.

Relax

Life for everyone can be stressful at time. Young people are particularly susceptible to sudden bouts of stress and smoking dope can be seen as a temporary release from this tension

Experiment / take risks

Young people, males in particular, can be prone to taking greater risks and to experiment more than people of other ages.

Religious

Many religions emphasise the importance of smoking cannabis to find oneself spiritually.

Medicinal

Marijuana is known to be a pain reliever for various ailments. For young women it can be particularly helpful in combatting period pains.

Inherited

And lastly, there may be some evidence that a tendency to be addicted to mind-altering substances may be hereditary.

How does alcohol affect the brain in terms of the way it elicits anxiety or depression? What most people don’t realize is that alcohol is a drug. It is in a category of drugs called “depressants”. What this does to someone who is already predisposed to depression is going to make them feel worse. While many use alcohol as a way to escape, it is really just a one way ticket to bringing on a whole other range of problems, including psychological ones.

Alcohol can even affect heart rate, and can create the possibility of causing heart disease and other problems with our internal organs. Chronic alcohol abuse can lead to pancreatic cancer, liver disease and eventually death. This is mostly due to the strain and stress it puts on our internal organs to function normally.

The response to stress is different in each individual. Some people cope with stress better than others. People with poor coping skills tend to use drugs and alcohol as a way to escape or retreat from their problems without having to actually deal with them head on. Rather than processing an issue and taking personal responsibility, alcohol or drugs can temporarily “stuff” or mask problems, which gives the user the illusion that everything is fine. The reality is, everything is not fine. Until one faces their internal demons, problems don’t go away on their own.

Alcohol and drug users can benefit greatly by learning more effective stress management techniques. These skills might include relaxation exercises or learning to get proper exercise. Other stress management skills could include improving ones diet, getting more rest, taking daily breaks, or learning some simple meditation techniques.

Other skills that help improve stress are skills in communication and listening as well as empathy. Most alcohol and drug users will say they have a hard time letting other people know how they are feeling and what is wrong. Gaining skills in speaking more effectively can be a huge step.

Many of these skills can be gained in an Online Drug Class or Alcohol Awareness Class

For those under 21 considering Minor in Possession Classes might be the wise choice. These programs are educational in nature and can help the participant really understand the effect of alcohol and drugs as well as teach some useful strategies for curbing additive behaviors. Early prevention is the key to change. Get started making those changes today.