Expert: Veronica C. Yost - 3/27/2009

Question
Why do you think some people get addicted to drugs and others do not? Does gender, race and ethnicity, early substance use, perception of risk, and enviornment influence drug use?

What are some examples of how individuals enable others to continue drug use?

Answer
Hi Mary,
 I believe that everyone can become addicted to drugs.  Since drugs directly alter chemicals in the brain (like seratonin) the user has the extreme desire to replace the chemicals.  Some people are more easily addicted while others can "hold it off" for a longer period of time.  But it will eventually get everyone.  
 People can become influenced by their surroundings, if parents are users the likelihood the child use is high.  But on the reverse children who watch parents do drugs my become extremely opposed to any type of drug/alcohol.
 Early substance use.  If a teenager uses drugs and stops, he/she will always be more susceptible to starting up again.  Why?  Because they know how good it was to feel the high.  
 I don't know if gender, race etc have anything to do with drug use.  You can stereotype individuals and their drug of choice.  Many people believe that African-Americans all smoke pot.  I don't know that as a fact.  There is a website that breaks all of that down along with perception of risk.  Keep in mind the below link has an extensive study encompassing your question:

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2377408

 The following comes from Addiction Search and explains why/how people enable another user.  This is the same as how individuals enable other to continue drug use.  Great explanation with a lot of truth in it:

Enabling Drug and Alcohol Abuse

As stated at the beginning, enabling is defined as making possible or easy. In this case, behaviors by family members that allow individuals with substance use problems to avoid the negative consequences that may accompany their actions. There are many ways in which this behavior can manifest. In addition, enabling behavior can be instigated by various individuals including: parents, siblings, co-workers, supervisors, neighbors, friends, teachers, doctors, or even therapists. Though initially enabling occurs as a way to protect the individual from their behavior, it can go on to perpetuate actions that cause repetitively bad behavior. Some ways in which enabling takes place is as follows:

* Doing something for another that they should do themselves.
* Making excuses for the individuals behavior
* A spouse calling his or her significant others employer to say that the person is sick when they are just hung over which is why they can’t work.
* Bailing out a child who has been arrested for possession, use or abuse of drugs, or breaking other societal rules.
* Instead of recognizing a problem the enabler may defend the substance abuser thereby allowing the behavior to continue.
* Generally covering the tracks of the individual in question whether it be by giving/loaning money, finishing up work, or just generally ignoring behaviors that should have repercussions. Usually the enabler stays silent when faced with repeated inappropriate or destructive behavior.

 Hope this helped and let me know if I can answer any other questions.