The use of psychoactive substances is a cultural practice existing since the dawn of time. This habit is very rooted to our understanding of life. Every society’s drug use helps understand the internal mechanism of the society. We may not therefore understand the world view of a civilisation without studying its drug use and abuse.
17 november 2016
Some of the most common habits are smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol or sniffing psychoactive drugs. Nonetheless, in recent decades, the use of drugs such as heroine, cocaine or designer drugs (like LSD) has increased. Due to the technologic society we live in, the excessive use of Internet or mobile phones is also considered an addictive practice.
In recent decades, the use of drugs such as heroine, cocaine or designer drugs (like LSD) has increased
As a consequence, addictions may include several practices, based initially on the concept of physical and psychological dependence. That is, it does not necessarily need to be related to drug use, according to the ‘Addictions Manual for Psychologists in Training Specialised in Clinical Psychology’ (Manual de adicciones para psicólogos especialistas en psicología clínica en formación), coordinated by Elisardo Becoña and Maite Cortés Tomás and published in 2011.
One of the usual and central features of this type of practices is the loss of control. People affected by this type of habits usually has a constant feeling of dependence. In case this feeling is not fulfilled, it can cause drug withdrawal, which is a vicious circle that has a significant negative impact on drug users’ lives. According to Gossop, mentioned in the manual mentioned above, the typical features of an addiction are:
- Strong desire or feeling of compulsion to do the specific habit (especially it is not possible to do it)
- Impossibility to control behaviour (especially in terms of controlling the start, maintenance or level of addiction)
- Unease and altered mood when the practice is hampered or stopped.
- To keep doing it despite the clear evidence it is causing sever consequences in the organism.
The biggest problem of addiction is the effects caused in the near future or in the long term. Thus, chain-smokers will probably die of lung cancer; lots of people addicted to alcohol will probably die of some hepatic disease or accidents; many heroine or cocaine-addicted people could die of any disease related to the abuse of these drugs, such as AIDS or hepatitis.
Many heroine or cocaine-addicted people could die of any disease related to the abuse of these drugs
As regards drug addiction (an issue debated by Professors José Miñarro López in his lecture on 15 November), it is considered that drug use implies the use of a substance that originally has no negative consequences on a person. However, drug abuse implies a continued use of drugs despite the negative effects derived from it. That is the origin of dependence (group of physiological, behavioural and cognitive evidences, in which the use of a drug -or a type of drug- turns into major priority for the person).
WHO’s criteria suggest the existence of physical (tolerance, neuroadaptation and withdrawal), psychological (learning and personal features) and social dependence (social group and environment) in a person, like supplementary elements. Psychological dependence implies a feeling of satisfaction and a psychological stimulation that demand the regular or continued use of that drug, in order to give pleasure or avoid uneasiness.
WHO’s criteria suggest the existence of physical, psychological and social dependence
One of the main risk factors is adolescence, during the process of search for identity, associated to a progressive family independence and an increasing influence of the social group the person belongs to. This is the most critical period as regards risk behaviour in general and drug use in particular. Adolescence is the time when people begin experimenting with these substances.
One of the main risk factors is adolescence, during the process of search for identity
According to the study ‘Intensive Alcohol Use Profile in Young People’ (Perfiles de consumo intensivo de alcohol en jóvenes), published in 2012 by Maite Cortés, Professor of the Master’s degree in General Health Psychology of the Universitat de València, along with other partners), the younger people begin drinking alcohol sooner and sooner. This is consider an easy way to interact socially. Furthermore, young people aren’t aware of the negative consequences derived from drinking it. They don’t even consider the possibility of developing an addiction.
As science that studies human behaviour to understand its actions an mental processes, psychology plays a significant role in the understanding of substance abuse, as well as in the elaboration of efficient treatment and prevention programmes.
