Who Uses Drugs and Why?

In Britain caffeine, nicotine, alcohol and barbiturates are all legal drugs. They are similar to illegal ones in that, sooner or later, they can affect you so that you find yourself depending on a regular supply of them. The extent of dependence varies according to the person and the drug, but most people find it harder to give up even cigarettes or tea, than say, apples or cheese. This is because most of us smoke, have a coffee or drink either as a way of calming ourselves down and relieving tension or as a way of bucking ourselves up, finding extra energy. These drugs become associated with their power to relieve certain feelings and a habit is formed.

Stronger drugs – such as opiates and cocaine – can be habit-forming in just the same way. The drug taker comes to rely on the effect of the drug to produce a sensation of well-being and this reliance increases, until eventually dependence on a continual supply of the drug is established and an addictive habit is formed.

People who are addicted to drugs can be of any age and walk of life. Their reasons for taking drugs are as varied as the environments in which they live. In some cases, addiction will be life-long; in others, it may be a temporary phase which can be broken out of.

In the left hand column there are notes on 5 cases of typical drug takers. Read them and try to match them with the most likely futures from the column on the right; indicate your choices in the boxes below:

Robin Haulk. Magazine For a Change, No. 2, 2001

Drug Takers Age 25. Painter and sculptor by incli­nation but has to do occasional labouring jobs to help make ends meet. Shares small studio flat with his girl-friend. Dropped out of university after one year to go to art school. Has smoked pot irregularly ever since then for pleasure and for inspiration. Recently tried LSD and now takes it every few weeks be­lieving it helps his work. Well aware of the dangers of heroin and thinks he would never try it.

Futures A Never too late to be honest with doctor about her dependence. Could probably be cured by treatment, maybe in mental hospital, but may later be tempted to use pills again. The longer she continues taking pills the more ill she will become and the harder a cure will be.

Age 65. Bedridden at home ever since a serious operation two years ago. After­wards in great pain and unable to sleep. Given barbiturates by doctor to help her sleep. Continued to demand barbiturates from doctor even when pain stopped because they were a great comfort and put her in a dreamy state of well-being. Much preferred this to the boredom and anxieties of being bedridden. Now dependent on barbiturates.

В Almost sure to give up pills within a few years, but might find it impossible. If so, may become mentally disturbed or turn to hard drugs.

Age 35. Housewife. Lives at home with husband and two kids. Always found housework, children and entertaining rather a strain. Rather fat after birth of second child. Doctor prescribed amphetamines for slimming: they also made her more cheerful and energetic. Soon needed more and more pills. Now dependent on them and has to trick chemist to get enough.	C Whilst in the pop-music world is unlikely to stop using drugs. Probably will stick to pot but could try hard drugs and might become addicted. May become dependent on pot.
Age 19. Plays bass guitar with fairly successful group. Lives in communal pad with other group members. Time mostly spent in travelling in group van to and from one-night stands. Smoked pot regularly for last two years. Wrongly considers he needs it to play well. Recently started taking amphetamine pills to overcome fatigue of work. Also takes LSD occasionally for kicks. Has never taken heroin but friends have and some are addicts.	D Because of her age and condition her doctor is unlikely to stop her supply of barbiturates. Most likely to continue taking them until her death.
Age 16. At school, leaving soon. Lives at home. Out most evenings, sometimes on date, usually with friends. Most weekends at all-nighters, clubs or parties. First given a pill by a friend at a party. Started taking 'blues' most weekends because everyone else did and because it prevented tiredness. Soon started taking more for kicks. Had to take increasing numbers to repeat the same effect. Always very brought down on Mondays. Once tried pot but it had no effect.	E Frustration of career could lead to hard drugs but probably he will stick to soft ones. May change his mind about them helping his work and give them up alto­gether, but this is unlikely unless he can cut himself off from his friends who are mostly hippy drug-takers.

Drug takers
Futures:

Check and compare your answers with your partner.

Language Focus

1. Find words or phrases that have a similar meaning to the following:

– earn enough money to survive (1);

– confined to bed due to illness (2);

– depressed (5);

– something which brings a person back to health (A);

– continue to use (C);

– isolate from (F).

Some of the language in the notes you have read is very colloquial. Can you work out what the following mean from the context in which they occur?

– dropped out (1);

– pad (4);

– one-night stands (4);

– for kicks (4 and 5).

Speech Activities

1. Here are two more typical cases. Choose one and write what you think his future is likely to be.

Age 55. Doctor, unmarried, lives alone above his surgery. For a long time has been unhappy about being greatly over-worked under lousy conditions. As a doctor has easy access to dangerous drugs. Two years ago, when depressed, took morphine. After that turned to morphine more and more often whenever things seemed too much. Now dependent on it.	His future:
Age 26. Professional racing cyclist. Lives at home with wife. At first did badly as professional. Decided to quit but friends persuaded him to try stimulants. First tried caffeine then amphetamines. Started winning races. Now always uses stimulants for racing.	His future:

2. Discuss these drug cases with the rest of the group. How many of them would be typical of your own country? For more ideas and new information read the supplementary texts Drug Abuse is Spreading Fast and Alarm over Teenagers Trying Drugs, Clubbers Grow Rich on Drug Profits.

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