Sociological cause of drug abuse

The sociological causes of drug abuse vary by person, but some of the reasons include depression, financial problems, family tension, social inequalities and political disenfranchisement. Not all people abuse drugs because they lack the ability to function in life, sometimes it's the social climate.

Traumatic Situations

• Some people abuse drugs because of traumatic events in their lives. For example, there are cases when war veterans have trouble recovering from their stressful experiences in combat, and when they return home, depression sinks in. In addition, they may not be able to find work immediately, and sometimes they become homeless and turn to drugs for comfort.

Lack of Community Resources

• Drug abuse sometimes occurs when the community is void of resources that will help families succeed. For example, if there's a neighborhood where low-income families struggle to earn sufficient incomes, they may turn to the drug trade as a way to survive. Another example is when the youth do not have places to foster their creativity and receive emotional help for their problems.

Job Losses

• In some cases, drug abuse can be the result of prolonged unemployment. For example, if a person lost his job and goes several weeks without landing a good job even after numerous interviews, he may grow discouraged and use drugs to escape the pain.

Societal Pressures

• In other situations, drug abuse can be linked to social pressures. This is often the case with teenagers who want to belong to a certain peer group or who struggle with a poor self-image. They see drugs as a way to gain more friends and popularity.

Significance

• The sociological causes of drug abuse affect people from all racial groups, all socio-economic classes and all ages. This should cause us to be more compassionate toward those who experience drug abuse because often they feel it's the only way to cope with their pressures.