How Does Drug Addiction Start?

Most, if not all people, do not start out with the goal to be a drug addict. In fact, many believe their beginnings with drugs are innocent encounters that mean nothing, and will amount to nothing more than a fun time, a quick peak of interest, or a temporary solution to a recent injury. No-one imagines a life of grief and pain for everyone involved. Adding to the situation is the fact that drug addiction is a progression, making it hard to believe that anyone can be addicted. Although the final results usually end up dire for most addicts, the ways in which drug addiction starts generally vary, leaving family and friends to wonder, "how does drug addiction start?".

Accessibility is sometimes all that it takes to get hooked on drugs. Whether young or old, having prescription drugs around the home can be a temptation to someone in need. Sleeping pills and pain killers are popular drugs that can be found legitimately in many households. But, the problem is the people who end up abusing their prescriptions, and others that use the prescriptions that are not even meant for them. A couple of episodes of feeling good can lead to drug addiction in some. Over time, most people will become addicted if the drug is used habitually.

Moreover, those who have legal prescriptions for pain killers may gradually become addicted simply because their bodies seem to become immune to the drugs. The pain never really goes away, and the more drugs they take never seems to alleviate the pain. It then becomes a viscous circle, as the individual is afraid to stop taking the drugs for fear that the pain will be worse, yet at the same time, the person has now formed an addiction. For many people, it now becomes necessary to find new doctors to write more prescriptions so that the supply of drugs continues.

Another way drug addiction starts is through experimentation. For example, party goers may be introduced to different forms of drugs through others at the same event. Some try the drug once and then walk away with no further interest in either the drug itself or the activity. Others progress to a stage of recreational use where they do use the drug on a regular basis, but are not addicted per se. Often, marijuana falls into this category where individuals both smoke it and use it in baking. It has even been considered medicinal in some countries. Lastly, the final group of experimental drug users has no control over the cravings for the drug. These individuals invariably move to the stages of drug use where they are completely addicted. Their lives now revolve around getting the drug and abusing it.

The truth is that drug addiction can start at any age and can affect any type of person. If the right circumstances are available, and if the individual seizes the opportunity, drug addiction can be a real possibility. Once the addiction starts, it becomes increasingly difficult to stop. Very often addicts keep using despite having serious intentions of stopping. But even more so, without help, trying to stop oneself can be just as dangerous as taking the drug.