31. Causes of Drug Abuse

It is common knowledge that drug abuse leads to harmful consequences. Why then do people, particularly youngsters continue to use drug? Psychologists claim that there are three basic 1) motivations that influence people to take drugs: curiosity, stress, and environmental factors. Sometimes, youngsters take drugs simply because they are 2) curious. Taking drugs seems to be the “in-thing” that they do not know that taking soft and seemingly innocuous (无害的) drugs can develop into cravings (渴望) for stronger stuff later on. In some cases, youngsters are 3) depressed or frustrated because of problems related to parents, schools or the 4) opposite sex. They take drugs to escape from the stress brought on by all these problems. In other cases, the environment is conductive to taking drugs. If, for instance, a youngster belongs to a community, school, or peer group where other youngsters take drugs, he may soon be tempted to 5) follow suit, for fear of ostracism or non-acceptance.

There is growing consensus(一致) nowadays among social workers and psychologists that the best possible6) approach to the problem of drug 7) addiction among the young is for school authorities, social workers and the Police Narcotics Division to work together to provide young people with much-needed education on the effects and dangers of drug abuse. Moreover, parents can do a great job in leading children away from drugs. They should spend more time with their children, listening and talking to them. Most importantly, parents should show them 8) attention, concern and love. Parents who always scream at their children and nag them about their failings and weakness are regarded as unwilling drug pushers.9) As far as young people are concerned, a warm and happy family, wherein members share both joys and sorrows and where children get maximum encouragement and support, is the best bulwark (壁垒) against the onslaughts(猛攻) of drugs. It is no 10) exaggeration to say that a happy home is a drug-free home.