How is drugs and alcohol a pyschology problem?

Answer 1

They are not. They are a choice. That's like saying alcoholism is a disease. It's not a disease it's an excuse

Answer 2

Drugs including alcohol affect the chemistry of the brain. When you become dependent on these reactions to effect your life, then it is called a psychological addiction. If the drug is used long and frequently enough to replace the natural stimulates, like endorphines, of hormones, like saratonine, then you are physically addicted. Some drugs are powerful enough to burn out natural stimulate production within a few uses. Physical dependancy however can be overcome that is the whole detox program. Psychological dependancy however will keep the person addicted even when their body doesn't need the drug.
The person has to establish new ways of handling difficulties, disappointments, or whatever they used the drug for. Unfortunately, getting rid of psychological dependancy is a constant struggle, this is why AA says take it one day at a time. Imagine finding something that makes life easier, and for long periods makes you numb or forgetful. You can lose yourself in this substance where problems become insignificant, where the past seems far away, and where you don't have to think about being scared, hungry, or anything. Then imagine having to go through life without it. Life loses it's soft edges and becomes harsh and painful again.
It's a crutch to stand up when it seems like you can't stand up on your own, and that's the kind of thinking psychologists have to reprogram if they want to save addicts.

Answer 3

Step's answer is good but there is another aspect I did not see addressed in that post (and if it is & I simply missed it my apologies.) Physocological issues may be the cause of alcohol & drug abuse. Some people self medicate to ease the pain of life and although it may be due to physical ailments I suspect it is more often emotional or psycological pain. Years ago I read about a doctor who studied alcoholics and drug users for years and it was said there was a common denominator. All of them were either angry or lonely and in the years since then I have not found it to be wrong. Of course those are psycological issues and so if you can resolve them you have a good chance at eliminating the psycological dependance. As for the person who said alcahol is not a disease but an excuse they are only partly right. There is evidence of a gene predisposing people to alcaholism and it is known to run in families but that does not account for all the cases. Like so much in life though I don't think there is just 'one' right answer.

Answer 4

Psychology is the study of the mind.

Drugs and alcohol is the study of relinquishing control of the self over the mind.

Psychiatric medication included. While they can stabilize brain chemicals, our goal is to live a happy life, not keep our chemicals balanced. Hormones and chemicals in the brain are an after- effect of choices on how we deal with our emotions over time. The only way out is to deal with the emotions better, resolve the "trauma" and create new memories (i.e. clean your subconscious).

Medications shortcut your will, and compromise your personality. You don't earn your 'good feelings'. They just set you back.

Answer 5

The reason drugs and alcohol is a psychology problem is because, there is always a reason that someone would have that problem. If you have a problem, there has to be a problem inside yourself. Find the cause, what caused you to have an alcohol or drug problem. Thats is why it has to do with psychology, theres always mort to it.

Answer 6

The effect of using drugs and alcohol upon the brain is of interest in psychology in the biological or medical model. They can effect memory, neurochemicals and transmittors (brain chemistry) and therefore can be used to argue that everything has a biological/physical cause. (as opposed to freud who believed in the id, ego and super-ego, and in the subconcious)

Answer 7

some drugs make u hallucinate.

Answer 8

it creates a dependacy