Why are people ignorant enough to start smoking and/or do drugs even though they know that it's dangerous?

Answer 1

It isn't ignorance.

I am surprised anyone had the guts to sue the tobacco industry because cigarettes turned out to be "bad for you". 100 years ago they called them "coffin nails"...

I think a lot of it is environment.

And physiology of youth that creates an illusion that you are invulnerable. Almost no one "takes up" smoking or drugs in their 30's or later. If they don't catch you as an adolescent, they don't catch you.

Studies show that the teenage brain goes through as extensive a restructuring process as a new born baby's does. These studies have shown the teen age brain is actually wired so differently they are not able to separate (on a physiological level) a logical choice from an emotional one when faced with a split second decision.

Adults can make a logical choice first, then deal with their emotions. The teenage brain reacts on emotion first and then tries to apply logic to solve the problem at hand.

With this different thought protocol it is easy to see how teens are much more susceptible to environmental cues. Either at home or from friends.

When you combine this with the innate human belief that "It won't happen to me"... People always weigh their personal risk of cancer or addiction much lower than the statistical truth.

---But everyone can't be the exception, right?

Answer 2

These are the kind of people who don't realize that feeling good NOW does not mean feeling good later. They'd rather do things the easy way in order to avoid the hard and ultimately more fulfilling road to life. It's much easier to take a puff than to solve a problem that's making you want to to take that puff in the first place.

It also has a lot to do with social pressure. Peers and even elders do it, so they perceive it as something that they need to do to fit in. Smoking especially fits this category. People like this often are uneducated in the dangers of the drugs themselves, and don't realize their long-term consequences. Some of these people ignore their dangers out of their own social fears, with very little wisdom and foresight into what it will cause.

Answer 3

I smoke and do drugs because it feels good. It has nothing to do with being ignorant or pressured by my peers. I like the effects. I don't care about the health risks so much because the good feeling I get now outweighs the bad feelings I might get later.

Answer 4

Some people are forced into the situations to take drugs...

Take me for example...

When I joined the Marines back in the 70s, I never did any type of drugs, (wasnt raised that way, nor wanted to do anything like that).

Well, I got to my Battallion and as soon as I got there, I was called a "narc"..(Now, not being in the drug culture, I had no idea what THAT was!).

Well, there was only TWO people in my whole Battallion that didnt take drugs! Another guy and ME!

Well, we were out on manuverse and I was out in the fied for a month ahead of the Battallion setting up..(being a 'boot Marine', they sent us out first), and the other guy was back on guard duty... then the Battallion came out and it was only a few weeks in the field when we got word that the "other guy" was KILLED!!

He was SHOT on Guard Duy, up in a tower with HIS OWN RIFLE! He reported in at 11 oclock, and was found an hour or two later when they went to releive him... (He had been dead since 10 oclock!).

When we heard about it, it went all throught the Batallion like wild fire... (I didnt know him, only saw him occaionsionally and dont believe I ever spoke to him), but, when I heard it.. A lance Corporal looked at me and pointed his finger in my chest and told me YOUR NEXT!

I didnt know what he was talking about and told him so, and he plain out told me that I was a 'narc' and my turn was coming!

I told him to give me that joint he was smoking and after that...it was hard for me to get off drugs for the four years I was in there and off alcohol for a long time afterwards...

You see, if some one "didnt" do drugs, they were suspected of being a Narcotic Agent, and were "gotten rid of"...I found out later.. So, no one who never did drugs was ever in my Battallion...

So, sometimes its forced on some one, whether they like it or not!

I wish you well..

Jesse

Answer 5

You can't really consider it ignorant because if they know what harm will occur, they do not suffer from ignorance, just stupidity. However, to answer your question...I don't know...it's beyond me. But people have free will, though suffer from the pressure of peers and society, so just blame it on TV, like everyone else blames everything.

Answer 6

Actually, they are each lovely unhealthy. Heroin is quite addictive and the syringes are ******* horrible. Meth, is fabricated from probably the most shittiest stuff combined in combination and has principal results in your face. But I'd cross with Meth considering that many individuals can inform you are a druggie with no trouble.

Answer 7

It's all about being defiant, walking on the wild side. Trying to be a rebel. A lot of people who try illegal drugs, think that they are the exception, that they won't get hooked.

Answer 8

Because they don't want to remain ignorant. They want the experience. Anyway, for in case you haven't noticed, life is dangerous. Deal with it.

Answer 9

Ya' know, I've always wondered that! I mean, yeah peer pressure and whatnot...but still, it baffles me. They know the result they will get from it, and that it's deadly..but yet they still do it! How does that work, I just don't understand. I can see why the addicts do it, they're addicted! But why do people even start???

Good question, sorry I couldn't answer it.

Answer 10

They feel like they are missing out on something....older people can safely say 'they didn't know' it was wrong....but they still did it...younger people want to try everything at least once...there mind are running a million miles a minute and they need satisfaction.