Drug addiction is something that millions of people suffer from, whether they are aware of it or not. When trying to figure out why someone might use drugs, it’s important to remember that everyone’s life and issues are different and can be very complex. Even still, there are some major reasons why people end up abusing drugs and why they stick with the habit of using them in the long run. Here are eight common reasons why people use drugs.

1) They have mental health issues

Drug addiction causes can be a physical reaction to mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. For example, people who suffer from bipolar disorder may use drugs to try and balance their moods. In some cases, certain medications for mental health disorders can cause drug dependency. When people have been taking these medications for an extended period of time (more than 3 months), they should stop taking them gradually instead of stopping cold turkey, as this can cause serious consequences.

2) As a way to cope with stress

While many individuals turn to drugs as a way to cope with stress and mental illness, using drugs as a solution rarely leads to positive results. In fact, it can make your problems much worse by making you dependent on substances to feel normal or get through your day. The more you use drugs in an attempt to cope with stress, anxiety or other mental health issues, the harder it will be for you to stop taking them.

3) To have fun

Whether a person is stressed or having a bad day, drugs can be abused simply to have fun. For example, if you’re feeling down and are ready to have a good time, you may decide to smoke marijuana or drink alcohol. While drugs may seem like harmless fun in these situations, they can lead to drug addiction. Many people enjoy using drugs with friends as it creates a heightened experience.

4) To get rid of physical pain

Drug addiction is more of a coping mechanism for some than a true medical condition. For those people, using drugs to relieve physical pain—or at least get them through a hard day—seems reasonable. But drug use and other methods of avoidance have been shown to only prolong our problems. If you are trying to lose weight, don’t take pills in place of working out or eating right; doing so won’t create lasting solutions to your issues.

5) Due to peer pressure

A lot of people use drugs due to peer pressure. Peer pressure is something that has always been around, and it’s not going anywhere. Whether you like it or not, you have to deal with peer pressure at some point in your life. That being said, there’s no reason to allow someone else to control your behaviour, especially when their opinions are irresponsible or even dangerous.

6) Out of curiosity

Perhaps you’re curious about a drug that a friend or family member has tried, or you’re intrigued by what seems to be a popular trend in your community. Curiosity may lead to experimentation—but it’s important to remember that just because one person did something and it didn’t cause any negative effects, doesn’t mean that you’ll have an identical experience.

7) Severe depression

When someone is depressed, they may feel like nothing will ever get better and that everything will always be bad. This can lead to people abusing drugs in an attempt to escape their everyday life. They’re hoping that these drugs will make them feel better, but it usually only makes things worse. This can lead to self-destruction—mental and physical health decline as well as isolation from friends and family members.

8) Boredom

Some people turn to drugs to escape a boring life. They may feel like their life is stagnant and they don’t have anything going for them, so they decide to look elsewhere for excitement. Taking drugs gives them a thrill and helps them forget about their boring existence. It’s only a temporary solution, though, because soon enough they’ll realise it isn’t making them happy; in fact, it could be causing more harm than good.