Causes of Drug Use in Amsterdam: Social, Emotional, and Environmental Influences Research Paper

Introduction

The Netherlands is a land of laws and rules and hosts the city of Amsterdam. It is interesting to learn that the approach to law practice differs from that in the rest of the world. Possessing drugs less than 5 grams in the city for recreational purposes is legal. Cannabis is sold in coffee shops in Amsterdam in small amounts for recreation. This makes the country attract many tourists from all over the world to experience this freedom.

People associate the use of drugs and substances with the poor, homeless, or heartbroken. Although some medicines are manufactured for medicinal purposes, the country allows people to use them responsibly for different reasons discussed in this paper. This research paper is based on why people use drugs worldwide, especially in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Crime and Drug Use in Amsterdam

The use of drugs in the Netherlands, just as in other parts of the world, has consequences. Crime is the main effect of the freedom to use drugs in the city of Amsterdam. Youths and adults who use hard drugs like cannabis are, in some cases, involved in incidents of nuisance in the streets (Hardon et al.). This happens all over the world in densely populated cities where the use of drugs is not well-regulated. The government of the Dutch nation has responded by imposing strict laws on the production and trafficking of cannabis in coffee shops.

Environmental and Familial Influences on Drug Use

Environmental influence is one of the main reasons people decide to use drugs. People tend to use drugs because they are exposed to an environment where using and abusing drugs is a norm, for example, in Amsterdam (Hardon et al.). Children brought up in a family where parents and other adults use drugs end up following the same suit since they copy their behavior.

Sometimes, people may begin using drugs because of the schools they attend. Once they start their studies in institutions of higher learning, they meet students and tutors who are into the use of drugs (Ritchie and Roser). They end up using drugs to live like them. This is a psychological reason causing people to use substances because they believe they are in the same pattern. Humans across the globe are affected by this reason and lured into the use of drugs that do not help them at all.

Relationship Breakdowns and Emotional Trauma

Some people use drugs due to the end of their relationship with their partners. When lovers separate, some are traumatized by the reality of parting ways with people they had been close to for long periods. Some are left to care for young people in difficult economic situations.

Most people who separate from their partners through divorce resolve to seek comfort in drugs, which they believe relieves stress. According to researchers, the termination of a relationship is one of the most destructive events in the life of an adult (Turnbridge). Some people prefer hard drugs, including cocaine and marijuana, to create hallucinations in their minds to avoid being devastated, which sometimes does not work.

Grief and Substance Abuse

Grieving the loss of a loved one is a cause for drug and substance abuse across the globe. Losing a close relative, friend, or mentor causes great devastation among people across the world. Grief is expressed differently depending on people’s cultural backgrounds and religions.

Most people are afraid of facing the reality of never seeing or spending time with their loved ones again in their lifetime. This harsh reality involves some people in drug and substance abuse (Turnbridge). People face emotional and psychological stress, with some resolving to seek guidance and counseling. Others decide to be comforted by using drugs for short-term problems. This results in long-term use of substances that eventually become addictive and difficult to stop.

Workplace Stress and Career-Related Drug Use

Career pressures cause emotional and psychological stress, leading individuals to use drugs and substances. People fail to take care of their employees or workmates in the workplace. Companies and large organizations are obsessed with making profits without minding the mental wellness of their employees. Pressure is given on workers to hit set targets and objectives, which makes life difficult for them. This is usually hard for some workers to handle and pushes them into the use of drugs to ensure they do not feel emotionally tormented (“Substance Use and Young People | Here to Help”).

People fear losing their jobs and their daily means of income and, therefore, cannot file complaints to their bosses. Employers, in return, pile pressure on workers who may underperform in their lines of duty. This leads to a large number of drug users across the globe.

Peer Pressure and Social Influence Among Youth

Peer pressure and social influence lead many people, especially the youth, to abuse drugs. Young people tend to use opportunities when they are far from their parents and guardians to explore what life is about. Parents discourage their kids from using drugs and substances that may harm their health. When left alone or go to educational institutions, the children realize they can do what they want. This leads them to use drugs and substances like other children who were not brought up like them.

Parties and social gatherings with teenagers from different backgrounds influence teens into using drugs against their plans (“22 Reasons People Use Drugs and Alcohol”). Some use these drugs to avoid being odd among their friends. They do not realize that this eventually leads to long-term use of drugs and, in most cases, addiction.

Boredom, Idleness, and Unemployment as Contributing Factors

Boredom and idleness are some of the significant causes of drug use across the globe. In the recent past, there have been high levels of unemployment in the world. This has led to an increased number of individuals living idly at home or on the streets. This idleness causes boredom, and people resolve to use drugs like cocaine to get high and feel occupied in their minds.

In similar circumstances, underage youths are not tasked with family responsibilities like adults. This makes them live at home and feel bored due to the lack of activities for them to do. This leads to some of them using drugs and substances to occupy themselves (Turnbridge). They do not like sitting and waiting for their parents to provide for them daily. This results in drug use and abuse habits that may affect them.

Conclusion

The use of drugs and substances in Amsterdam was allowed for recreational purposes. This may, however, not be the case for most people who visit the Netherlands, as some abuse their freedom. The reasons discussed above are some significant causes of drug use and abuse. Some people use prohibited drugs manufactured for medicinal purposes to fix their lives.

The world should put more effort into curbing the abuse of drugs among adults and youths across the globe. Guidance and counseling are the most effective methods of preventing people from becoming addicted to drugs and substances. When people lose their loved ones or break up with their partners, they must be guided to live emotionally and psychologically healthy lives. The government of the Netherlands, especially Amsterdam and other cities across the globe, should be responsible for taking care of their citizens in all aspects of life to prevent drug and substance abuse.

Works Cited

Hardon, Anita, et al. “Caring for ‘Hassle‐Free Highs’ in Amsterdam.” Anthropology and Humanism, vol. 45, no. 2. 2020, pp. 212–22. Web.

‌‌Ritchie, Hannah, and Max Roser. “Drug Use.” Our World in Data. 2019. Web.

“Substance Use and Young People | Here to Help”. Web.

‌‌Turnbridge. “Why Do People Use Drugs?” Turnbridge. 2021. Web.

‌“22 Reasons People Use Drugs and Alcohol.” JourneyPure 12 Keys. 2021. Web.