Profile of the Dependent Person, in 9 Traits and Habits

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

But many people who regularly use drugs end up becoming addicted and dependent 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

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 or she is not able to do without. said consumption being carried out compulsively in order to maintain a state of well-being or avoid the discomfort associated with withdrawal syndrome.

The subject in question does not have control over consumption, constantly desiring it and carrying it out even though he may want to and make various attempts to stop. The person in question spends much of their time and effort in obtaining the substance. This addiction generates various problems and decreases the person’s functioning in a vast majority of domains and areas of life.

From occasional consumption to addiction

Suffering from a dependence on a substance or drug is a more or less long process (depending on the substance, frequency of consumption, quantity and personality characteristics). The process begins with sporadic consumption which, despite not causing the need to repeat itself or generating anxiety, ends up reappearing and little by little becoming more common.

Over time, the body acquires a certain tolerance and it begins to be necessary to consume more in periods increasingly 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, gradually losing control of consumption and suffering adverse reactions in the absence of the drug.

The profile of the drug addict

Abusive use and drug dependence can be the result of a wide variety of situations and circumstances, so 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 series of common characteristics among people who suffer from an addiction of this type.

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

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

With respect to illegal drugs, cocaine is the substance to which the greatest number of people are addicted (although the most consumed is cannabis, dependence is not usually generated), followed by heroin and other substances.

2. Sex and age

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

The average age of the drug addict is currently between twenty and fifty years of age, with the onset of consumption frequently 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 dependence is that of a single person In cases where there is a couple, there are usually marital problems and family problems, whether these are the cause or consequence of the addiction.

4. Average socio-educational and labor level

When thinking about a drug addict, many people tend to think that they are people with a low educational level, without work or studies and with few economic resources. However, although in some cases this image inherited from the eighties is true, today a large number of drug addicts are individuals who They have at least primary and secondary education, in many cases even higher having a job or profession that allows you to live relatively normally.

The exception, according to reports from the Man Project, can be found in individuals polydrug addicts 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 problems. In many cases they have no studies or work occupation.

5. Personality characteristics

Regarding the way of being of the addicted person, your 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 establishing limits and a low tolerance for frustration. They usually 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 overcome through immediate gratification of needs and evasion. Also the presence of emotional instability is common, relational dependence and low self-confidence. Sometimes they may have too high expectations, which they cannot achieve, although in other cases the problem is the absence of aspirations due to vital inhibition.

In many cases the origin of the addictive process can be found in the attempt to be socially accepted, overcome one’s own limitations or alleviate a situation of pain, isolation and poor adaptation to the 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 pleasurable, 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 sensations thanks to it that help to avoid and distract 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 begins to have a role and meaning for the drug addict, being an important element in trying to maintain a certain mental well-being by making up for, at least temporarily, internal or external deficiencies and frustrations.

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

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 subjects resort to the consumption of illegal substances. as a sign 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 liberation facilitates contact with the substance, directly or indirectly inducing frequent consumption.

It is important to keep in mind that the sociocultural context does not necessarily refer (although in some cases there is also some connection) to the family environment, and it is common for many drug addicts to grow up in families with values ​​contrary to consumption. Friendships, partners, work contacts or simply the knowledge that other people use drugs as a mechanism of evasion, search for identity or protest They may be other triggers for contact and subsequent dependency of substances.

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