Drugs don't just affect people who take them. As well as putting yourself in potentially dangerous situations, using drugs can damage friendships and your relationship with your family. Sometimes things can happen that you would never have considered before you took the drugs.
Progressive’s Drugs Usage research (2008) amongst 16-26 year olds shows:
- 50% accept that there is some mental harm involved in drug taking
- 80% accept that cocaine can have a negative effect on relationships
- 61% know someone who has had difficulties because of drugs
There are many reasons why people start to use and then go on to misuse substances:
- Curiosity and a sense of rebellion or influence from peers
- They may find the experience enjoyable and want to repeat it
- Starting when unhappy or stressed or trying to cope with problems in life
When asked ‘Do you wish you had a different life?’ 44% of people who didn’t take drugs stated ‘never’, compared to 19% of people who did take drugs.
Know the theories
The so called 'gateway theory' (which suggests that the use of drugs such as cannabis leads to the use of other drugs such as heroin and cocaine) is a hotly-debated and controversial topic.
- We know that many of the people who come into contact with drug services as a result of serious problems with drugs such as heroin, began their drug taking by experimenting with cannabis.
- We also know that dealers who sell cannabis may also offer, or try to persuade, customers to experiment with other drugs.
On the other hand, we know that some young people will give up drugs of their own accord, without any major problems. They might know people who have either tried cannabis and given it up, or who continue to use cannabis occasionally, without any obvious signs of developing an addiction or moving on to other drugs.
The bottom line
Everyone reacts differently to drugs. Whilst some people appear to be more vulnerable to addiction than others, all drug taking is potentially dangerous and carries serious risks to physical and mental health.
If you think someone needs help visit the help section to find a suitable service in your area. To talk to someone in person or find out more, call the free confidential drugs information and advice call Know the Score on 0800 587 587 9.