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Many people have never experienced addiction of any sort. For these people it can be very hard to understand and grasp the logic behind drug abuse. But with drug use getting more and more prevalent in America, it's now common for people to dig deeper and look for the reasons why people use drugs and alcohol. This is not meant to be a complete list, nor is is meant to be medical advise, but I feel this article can shed some light for addicts or family members of addicts dealing with this burning question…

If there are people around, then there are drug users around. It is simple as that, people have been using drugs to get high since prehistoric times, and they aren't going to stop anytime soon. Chances are you might be addicted to a drug, like nicotine or caffeine.

Throughout history, people have used different kinds of drugs to change the way they feel or see the world. Different cultures have developed social rituals and rules around drug use as a way to control their impact on society. drugs and how they are used also have different meanings in different cultures. For example in the Pacific Islands, kava is drunk as a means of making contact with the supernatural, to welcome visitors to the community and to cure illnesses. Some Native American Indians use a mushroom that causes dream-like states as a way of getting in touch with the Great Spirit. We use alcohol to celebrate special events like birthdays and weddings.

Young people try drugs for many reasons including relaxation, socialising, curiosity or peer pressure. Alcohol, tobacco and cannabis are the most commonly used drugs by teenagers. Around one in five teenagers have tried cannabis at least once. Parents can reduce the risk of drugs for their children with some strategies.

People take drugs because they want to change something about their lives. Here are some of the reasons young people have given for taking drugs:

Unwanted sexual encounters and unsafe sex are rife among drinkers and drug users, a survey has found. Nearly one in four of the 6605 Australian respondents to the Global Drug Survey said they had been taken advantage of sexually because they were vulnerable after consuming drugs or alcohol.

Why people take drugs There are many reasons why people take drugs. Here are some of the factors which can influence them:

A person may or may not be aware of underlying reasons for their drug use. If you think about why you or others may use alcohol, this will give you some idea as to why young people like to use alcohol or other drugs. For example:

Drug Addiction

Cupcakes may be addictive, just like cocaine. A growing body of medical research at leading universities and government laboratories suggests that processed foods and sugary drinks made by the likes of PepsiCo Inc. and Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT) aren't simply unhealthy. They can hijack the brain in ways that resemble addictions to cocaine, nicotine and other drugs.

DrinkWise Ambassadors Mike McKay, Dr Andrew Rochford, Rob de Castella, Liz Ellis and Susie ONeill share their thoughts and concerns about the drinking culture in Australia and attitudes to alcohol, including binge drinking and peer pressure amongst teenagers. For some binge drinking has become routine and many see drinking alcohol to get drunk as not only acceptable, but expected. Alcohol misuse is dangerous and increases a person's risk of injury or harm. Is it possible to change the national drinking culture? Generational change is the key to a healthier future for Australian society. Research shows that parents are their children's' most influential role models.

SYDNEY punched and brawled its way through another two nights of alcohol-fuelled stupidity this weekend. No one was immune - tourists, locals, even women - were punched and kicked on the city's streets. They all ended up in the emergency ward of St Vincent's Hospital, the front line of treating victims of the violence that mars our streets after dark at the weekend.