A Social Psychological Analysis
Introduction
Substance use has been rated as one of the main public
health problems of our time, bringing far-reaching personal, family, and social
consequences throughout the world. The term "substance use" refers to
the use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol, tobacco, prescription
medications, and illegal drugs. While the first ingestion of such a drug can be
given on a voluntary basis and for recreational reasons, it becomes compulsive
and unstoppable with serious physical, psychological, and social damages.
Historically, substance use has been part of human culture,
dating back several millennia, with records indicating that even ancient
civilizations used alcohol and psychoactive plants for medicinal, religious,
and social purposes. But the modern landscape of substance use is far more
complex and perilous, with synthetic drugs adding to the proliferation of
prescription medication abuse and the globalization of illicit drug trade.
Nowadays, SUDs represent one of the serious public health issues: They affect tens
of millions of people worldwide and have high economic costs, hazards to public
safety, and healthcare burdens. Substance use is an important research domain
in social psychology, as it gives the opportunity to investigate how social and
psychological factors influence the initiation, continuation, and cessation of
the substance use. Unlike the purely medical or biological approach, social
psychology underlines the role of social influences, cultural norms, identity,
and cognitive processes that shape substance use behavior. By grasping these
factors, better prevention and intervention strategies would be developed to
deal with the multilevel, multifaceted issue of substance use.
This paper reviews the nature of the substance use problem,
its social impact, and measures taken to address this issue; it provides a
critical social psychological analysis. We examine below some social
psychological theories and concepts that will help us analyze the psychosocial
mechanisms driving substance use and discuss how such insights can also inform
public health initiatives and treatment programs. We will also consider the
global view on substance use, comparing different cultural attitudes and policy
responses to this pervasive issue. Finally, evidence-based intervention
strategies shown to be effective in the treatment of substance-use disorders
will be reviewed to further support individuals on their journey of recovery.
Substance use is a major public health problem and also
eminently social, since it affects the social weave. From the individual
suffering from addiction to the wider community that is affected by crime,
economic costs, and social disruption, the ramifications are great indeed. A
social psychological approach toward understanding and addressing substance use
may help in developing a more holistic and effective response to this global
challenge.
Nature of the Problem
Substance use represents a complex phenomenon influenced by
the coming together of biological, psychological, and social factors. The
nature of substance use would therefore need to understand the various types of
substances, the drug action on the brain and body, and different factors that
might precipitate or lead to the manifestation of a substance use disorder.
Biological Factors
The reward system in the brain, especially the
neurotransmitter dopamine, highly associated with pleasure and reinforcement,
is affected directly by active substance use. Alcohol and opioids, among other
drugs, along with stimulants such as cocaine, work to elevate dopamine levels
in the brain and bring on that euphoric feeling. This amplified state of
pleasure reinforces the need to keep using the substance, initiating a vicious
cycle of continued use that may gradually progress into dependency and addiction.
Addiction changes the structure and function of the brain. A
user will notice over time that their brain becomes less responsive to the
substance, which would mean higher dosage levels just to achieve the initial
effect of their first exposure-a process known as tolerance. Further, natural
production by the brain itself may go down, resulting in a condition whereby
one cannot find any enjoyment in any activity without the substance. This
state, known as anhedonia, further reinforces the cycle of use as the individual
attempts to regain their sense of normal through continued substance use.
Substances can either stimulate or depress the brain and
body. Depressant drugs like alcohol or benzodiazepines reduce the activity of
the central nervous system, relaxing the person and promoting sleep but may
also impede concentration and coordination. Stimulants, which include cocaine
and methamphetamine, generate increased alertness and energy but can lead to
dangerous cardiovascular effects and also cause disturbances in psychological
processes such as paranoia and hallucinations. Hallucinogens, which include LSD
and psilocybin, change perception and mood, creating experiences that may be
psychologically intense but sometimes distressing.
The final biological component in substance use is the
genetic predisposition towards addiction. In fact, it has been shown that
individuals who have a family history of substance use problems are more
vulnerable to experiencing the same problem. Hence, it can be considered
hereditary. Also, two other personality characteristics impulsivity and
sensation-seeking have been found as the among the personality traits that
predispose people towards substances use; once again, the biological cause of
this type of behavior is exposed.
Psychological Factors
On a psychological basis, drug use is closely associated
with coping mechanisms for dealing with specific states of distress, such as
stress, anxiety, depression, or trauma. In fact, many people tend to take drugs
for their pain and distressing feelings. For example, it would not be
surprising that a person who, in a recent period, has gone through serious life
stressors, such as the loss of a loved one, financial or other types of
problems, or relationship issues, uses alcohol or drugs in an attempt to keep
their emotional feelings more tolerable. Anyhow, such kind of self-medication
can soon turn into maladaptive coping and lead to dependence, which may worsen
the underlying psychological problems.
Substance use also co-occurs with a variety of mental health
disorders. Many who suffer from substance use disorder also suffer from another
mental health diagnosis, including depression, anxiety, and/or posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD). The very important relationship between substance use
and mental health goes both ways: some mental health issues may contribute to
substance use as a way of selfmedication, while substance use can greatly
increase the severity of other mental health problems, or even cause them.
Other psychological factors in substance use include
cognitive distortions-or irrational, biased ways of thinking-that can be used
to justify or maintain substance use. For instance, individuals might exhibit
extreme thinking, such as a belief that they must continue using a substance
because they have already "ruined" their lives or that it would be
impossible to quit now after prior failures. These cognitions make recovery
pretty difficult since they enforce the view and belief that changes are
impossible.
Social and Environmental Factors
Social and environmental variables constitute an important
understanding of substance use. The pressure from peers, cultural expectations,
and the availability of drugs in the immediate environment play an important
role in the use of substances.
This is partly because peer influence is most potent during
adolescence and early adulthood when people are rather sensitive to social
pressures and still find themselves in the process of establishing their
identity. The need to belong to a group of peers may thus result in substance
experimentation despite knowledge of the potential risks. Anyway, it is a kind
of phenomenon called social conformity, which means a person simply goes to the
behavioral patterns, attitude, or belief of their peer group to get social
acceptance and avoid social exclusion.
Cultural norms also form attitudes toward substance use. In
some cultures, alcohol is part of social ritual and celebration, while in other
cultures, it is prohibited on either religious or moral grounds. These cultural
attitudes may affect not just the prevalence of substance use but also how the
behavior is viewed and treated.
