When it comes to drugs it seems there are 3 categories of drug use: experimental, recreational and dependent. This article examines the differences and whether they are as clear-cut as they seem.
The three levels of drug use are:
1. Experimental
2. Recreational
3. Dependent
Some points to consider when examining levels of use:
1. Experimental drug users may be at risk from the effects of drugs the first time they use them due to low tolerance levels and unpredictable effects. This is certainly the case with alcohol, solvents and medicines.
2. Recreational users may see their use as regulated, when they are in fact causing significant harm to their health. This is often the case with insidious drugs such as alcohol and cigarettes.
3. Dependent drug users may have several physical, psychological, social and economic problems that need addressing.
It has been argued by some critics that there is no such thing as recreational drug use and that it is the behaviour that is recreational.
Experimental
- Short term
- Group activity
- Exploratory
- Indiscriminate and irregular
- Lack of knowledge about effects
- Drug taken and method of use limited
- May develop into recreational use or remain experimental
Recreational
- Generally regulated and controlled
- Pleasure-producing activity
- Usually accustomed to effects
- Use ranges from occasional to heavy
- Use is discriminatory
- Often viewed as normal activity
- May develop into a dependency but just as likely to remain recreational
Dependent
- Long term
- Strong compulsion to take the drug
- Chaotic, often poly drug use
- Large amounts and frequent use
- Life revolves around obtaining the drug
- Solitary or small group practice
- Often accompanied by emotional, psychological and social problems
- Likely to lead to severe health problems
It is helpful to understand why people choose to consume drugs. Their reasons are often positive - the same sorts of reasons that might apply to any activity of choice:
- Enjoyment - they enjoy the short-term effects
- Excitement - risk taking
- Poor self-image
- As a declaration of independence
- Adventure
- Peer influence - their friends use them
- Poor decision making skills
- Boredom
- Curiosity - they are curious about the effects
- Anger, hurt or rejection
- Self-medication
- Relaxation
Many people enjoy their drug use. They may see no problem and, if they use an illegal drug like cannabis, they may argue that this is safer than drinking alcohol.
Let’s look at a few reasons in more detail
Enjoyment - The evidence of drug use, especially by young people, suggests that the experience of using substances is often pleasurable rather than negative and damaging. So probably the main reason why people take drugs is that they enjoy them.
Environment - Many people live in communities which suffer from deprivation, with high unemployment, low quality housing and where the surrounding local services are poorly resourced. In these communities, drug supply and use often thrive. Drug use in these areas might also be associated with the stress and boredom of living in such communities. Young people with poor job prospects also look to the financial advantages and the status that they can achieve through the supply of drugs. However, drug use is certainly not restricted to areas of urban deprivation. As the press stories of expulsions from private schools and drug use in rural areas show, drug use is an aspect of our society from top to bottom and in all regions.
Curiosity - Young people, especially, are naturally curious and want to experiment with different experiences. For some, drugs are a good conversation point; they are interesting to talk about and fascinate everyone.
The defence mechanism - Some people will use drugs specifically to ease the trauma and pain of unhappy relationships or physical and emotional abuse.
Natural rebellion - Young people like to be exclusive (own something that is personal to them) and, consciously or unconsciously, drug use may act as a means of defiance to provoke adults into a reaction.
Promotion and availability -There is considerable pressure to use legal substances. Alcohol and pain-relieving drugs are regularly advertised on television. The advertising of tobacco products is now banned on television but recent research from Strathclyde University, published by the Cancer Research Campaign, concluded that cigarette advertising does encourage people to start smoking and reinforces the habit among existing smokers.
Despite legislation, children and teenagers have no problems obtaining alcohol and tobacco from any number of retail outlets. Breweries refurbish pubs with young people in mind, bringing in music, games, more sophisticated décor, and so on, while the general acceptance of these drugs is maintained through sports sponsorship, promotions and other marketing strategies. Obviously, the illegal drug market is more discreet, but those determined to experiment appear to have little trouble obtaining drugs.
This article has been put together by the distance learning organisation Start Learning who are experts in home study. If you want to find out more about Substance Abuse and Drugs Misuse or many other distance learning courses please browse their website: http://www.start-learning.co.uk
A good way to find out more about Substance Abuse and Drugs Misuse is to sign up for a distance learning course on the subject. By studying in your free time and pace, you can gain the necessary knowledge while tailoring it to suit your schedule.
Kerrana McAvoy
Academic Director – Start Learning
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