In attempting to explain why people become dependent on drugs, a variety of different approaches have been taken: Addiction Recovery Essay, TCD, Ireland

In attempting to explain why people become dependent on drugs, a variety of different approaches have been taken. What follows is a summary of three different areas of explanation. The first concentrates on the neurobiological effects of drugs and explains drug dependence in biological terms. The second approach is psychological, with explanations concentrating on behavioral models and individual differences.

The final approach is sociocultural, with explanations concentrating on the cultural and environmental factors that make drug dependence more likely. As will become clear, there are a variety of approaches to the question of why people become dependent on drugs. These are not mutually exclusive.