DRUG ABUSE Psychology I 2-20-00 Drug Abuse Drug use is generally defined as the use of a drug with such frequency that the user has physical or mental harm or it impairs social abilities. The substances that are discussed in this report consist of hallucinogens, opiates, stimulants, and depressants. These drugs affect moods, emotions, feelings and thinking processes, or they can alter the workings of the mind. A person dependant on drugs usually carries three basic characteristics that are indicators. First, the user continues to use the drug for an extended period of time. Difficulties in stopping usage is the second characteristic which may lead to one or more of the following results: dropping out of school, trouble with the law, jail, losing a job, and family problems. Mental distress and/or physical pain due to withdrawal are the final characteristics of a drug dependent. Why would people continue to be dependent on and use drugs even though consequences are so severe? Most of the time, drug abusers either are unable to see the penalties or reduce the severity of them in their mind. Their mind and body craves the feeling of them. Let’s take a look at the brain and it’s functions. Inside of the brain, natural chemicals are produced called endorphins. These chemicals make a person feel pleasure and take away pain either during sexual orgasm, physical exercise or spiritual uplifting. Drug abuse is way of imitating these naturally occurring chemicals in the brain. Drug abusers find the sense of pleasure is quite easy to obtain through drug usage. When drugs are repeatedly used to simulate endorphins, the body cuts down on the production of them. This causes the drug user to continue to abuse. Endorphin release is also why some people can become compulsive in exercising or even become an extreme sex enthusiast. Let me first talk about the drug classification called hallucinogens. This classification of drugs includes LSD, mescaline, psilocybin, and marijuana....