Profile of the dependent person, in 9 traits and habits

The use of psychoactive substances it is a relatively frequent phenomenon in our society. The reasons for such use are multiple and varied, from treating the effects of a disorder or disease to alleviating the mental or physical suffering caused by certain circumstances or even simply make recreational use of they.

But many of the people who use drugs on a regular basis end up generating addiction and dependence on the substance. In order to try to treat these people, it is necessary to study their characteristics and see if there are common points from which to work. In other words, it is very useful establish a profile of the person with drug dependence.

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What do we consider drug dependence?

Drug dependence is understood to be the situation in which an individual habitually consumes one or more substances that he is not able to do without, said consumption being carried out in a compulsive way in order to maintain a state of well-being or avoid the discomfort associated with withdrawal symptoms.

The subject in question does not have control of consumption, constantly wanting it and carrying it out despite the fact that he may want to and make various attempts to quit. The person in question spends much of his time and effort getting the substance. This addiction generates various problems and it diminishes the functioning of the person in a great majority of the domains and vital areas.

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From occasional use to addiction

Being dependent on a substance or drug involves a more or less long process (depending on the substance, frequency of use, quantity and personality characteristics). The process begins with sporadic consumption that, despite not causing the need to repeat itself or generating its absence anxiety, ends up reappearing and little by little becoming something more habitual.

Over time, the body acquires a certain tolerance and it begins to be necessary to consume more quantity in periods less and less separated in time in order to obtain the same effects as at the beginning. Consumption goes from becoming occasional to abusive, generalizing to various situations despite not being essential. Finally, as habituation increases, the subject needs more and more in less time, losing little by little the control of consumption and coming to suffer adverse reactions in the absence of drug.

The profile of the drug addict

Abusive use and drug dependence can be the result of a wide variety of situations and circumstances, thus Establishing a typical profile of the subject with drug dependence can be complex.

However, through the analysis of representative samples of the population it is possible to establish a number of common characteristics among people who suffer from such an addiction.

1. Most frequent addictive substances: Alcohol, cocaine and heroin

There is a wide range of substances and drugs capable of producing dependence. The most frequent is alcohol, which, due to the social acceptance of its consumption in general and its popularity, tends to provoke almost half of all substance dependence cases.

Regarding illegal drugs cocaine is the substance to which the greatest number of people are addicted (although the most consumed is cannabis, it does not usually generate a dependency), followed by heroin and other substances.

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2. Gender and age

The different studies carried out regarding the type of individuals who suffer from drug addiction show that there is a higher prevalence of substance addiction among men than between women.

The average age of drug addicts is currently between twenty and fifty years of age, with the onset of use being frequent during adolescence or early adulthood.

3. Marital status: generally single

With the exception of alcohol addiction, in which around 62% of cases have a partner, the most typical profile of the subject with drug addiction is that of a single person. In cases where there is a couple, there are usually marital problems and family problems, whether they are the cause or consequence of the addiction.

4. Medium socio-educational and labor level

When you think of a subject addicted to drugs, many people tend to think that they are people with a low educational level, without work or studies and with few economic resources. However, while in some cases this image inherited from the 1980s is true today, a large number of drug addicts are individuals who have at least primary and secondary studies, in many cases even higher, having a job or profession that allows you to live with relative normality.

The exception, according to reports from Proyecto Hombre, can be found in individuals polydrug and / or heroin addicts. Individuals addicted to heroin or more than one substance tend to belong to more unstructured environments, having more family and social problems, as well as health. In many cases they do not have studies or work occupation.

5. Personality characteristics

Regarding the way of being of the addicted person, their personality and way of perceiving and acting in the world, there is also a great divergence between subjects. However, as a general rule they tend to be people with difficulties in setting limits and with little tolerance for frustration. They tend to have high levels of anxiety or frustration.

In many cases there are feelings of low self-esteem and an adverse self-image that they try to supply through immediate need gratification and avoidance. Also the presence of emotional instability is frequent, relational dependence and low self-confidence. Sometimes they may have expectations that are too high, which they cannot reach, although in other cases the problem is the lack of aspirations due to vital inhibition.

In many cases the origin of the addictive process can be found in the attempt to be accepted socially, overcome one's limitations or alleviate a situation of pain, isolation and poor adaptation to context.

6. They may seek to fill feelings of emptiness or despair.

Addiction to a substance does not appear out of nowhere. Sporadic contact or consumption with a drug can cause very different sensations that the user may consider pleasant, but in many cases behind continued consumption there may be the attempt to reduce anxiety and suffering. The psychoactive substance is used in order to fill an internal void, experiencing thanks to it sensations that help to avoid and be distracted from aversive and frustrating situations such as abandonment, family or social abuse, or the existence of a disability or disorder.

In this way, the drug consumed has a role and meaning for the drug addict, being an important element to try to maintain a certain mental well-being by at least temporarily supplying the internal or external.

When treating drug addiction, it will be necessary to identify and work on the meaning of the drug or the fact of taking drugs for the individual, what it represents for him and what allows him to do, feel or stop doing or feeling.

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7. They live in a sociocultural context that promotes their consumption

The sociocultural context is also an element to take into account when explaining drug addiction. In a society with a large number of social norms and impositions, some of them applied partially or unfairly, many individuals turn to the consumption of illegal substances as a show of rebellion, generating the social perception that consuming is positive. Living with this type of context in which consumption is valued positively and is seen as a sign of rebellion and release facilitates contact with the substance, directly or indirectly inducing consumption frequent.

It is important to bear in mind that the sociocultural context is not necessarily referred to (although in some cases there is also some link) to the family environment, being frequent that many drug addicts grow up in families with values ​​contrary to consumption. Friends, partners, work contacts or simply the knowledge that other people use drugs as a means of evasion, search for identity or protest may be other triggers of contact and subsequent dependence of substances.

Also in cases in which the addicted person decides to stop consumption, detoxification is much more complex if the stimuli the reinforcement received at the environmental and / or social level can be associated with the drug.