What might be causing you to misuse substances?
Scientists still don’t know the exact causes of substance misuse, and the reasons can be very different for different people.
However, below are some of the reasons people might end up misusing substances.
Trying to reduce pain or painful feelings
The most common reason people misuse substances is to dull emotional or physical pain or to escape from the painful feelings caused by problems or difficulties in life.
“I couldn’t get pregnant, so I fell into a deep depression. That’s when I think that drugs saved me because they allowed me to still be here.”
This is a totally normal desire, and while it can make us feel better in the short term, this coping mechanism can have serious long-term consequences on our health and wellbeing.
- Physical pain
Physical pain, especially chronic or severe pain, can massively impact our lives and our ability to go about our day as we wish.
Some of the common causes of chronic or severe pain include pain from an injury or other trauma, surgery, illness, cancer and migraines.
Your doctor might prescribe legal painkillers or other medications that are effective at treating the pain but can become addictive after long-term use. Equally, some people may use illegal drugs or other substances to help manage physical pain, which can turn into a substance misuse problem.
- Painful feelings or memories
- Your current circumstances
Past or childhood experiences
As mentioned above, wishing to escape painful memories or feelings resulting from things that happened to us when we were young is a natural desire and one reason why some people might end up misusing substances.
In addition, young people often learn and imitate behaviours by observing others. If your parents or people in your environment used alcohol, drugs or other substances, you may have picked up these habits or behaviours as a way to cope.
Other causes
- Loneliness or disconnection
Feelings of loneliness can arise if we’re unhappy with our level of social connections.
We might also feel disconnected in a range of different ways. You might feel:
- Disconnected from others, including friends, your partner, or family
- A disconnection between your values and the way you live your life
- Disconnected from a sense of meaning or purpose in life.
- Not feeling seen, understood or valued
- Your social group or environment
Genetic factors
Some studies show that some people are more likely to misuse substances based on their genetic makeup. There are also specific genes related to how your body reacts to and breaks down substances, which can change how some people experience substances.
Regardless of the genetic factors involved, there are still things you can do if you're experiencing cravings, next steps to take to feel better, and long-term strategies that work to manage substance misuse.
The substance itself
Some substances can create physical and psychological dependence after regular use, that will lead to withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking them. It’s important to consult with a doctor before stopping the use of some substances, including heavy alcohol consumption, opiates, antidepressants, and benzodiazepines.
However, in many cases, people’s addiction to a substance is caused by a strong desire to escape other painful thoughts, feelings and situations.
“Substance misuse was about altering my mind state. I was trying to silence what was going on. ”
