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Why do people use drugs? A neglected question

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Abstract

The aim of this article is to revisit the multivariate causes of drug use. From the initial drive to experiment, to a progression towards dependence, this review endeavours to extrapolate the aetiology of causation. In doing so, prevalence of, and attitudes towards drug use are firstly examined. Influences on why people use illicit drugs are subsequently explored through the lens of established risk factors. Drug use and dependence are embedded within a complex interplay of invidual, genetic, cultural, and socio-economic components. By exploring the aetiology of drug use in a holistic sense, this will not only aid the therapeutic quality of intervention from clinicians, but enable the development of more comprehensive and tailored intervention plans in supporting recovery.

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Acknowledgements

This article was written as an entry for the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland Faculty of Addictions Prize 2023.

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  1. Department of Psychiatry, St. James’s Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland

    Aoibheann McLoughlin

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  1. Aoibheann McLoughlin
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Correspondence to Aoibheann McLoughlin.

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McLoughlin, A. Why do people use drugs? A neglected question. Ir J Med Sci 193, 329–333 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-023-03416-4

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