Substance abuse is a difficult problem affecting the population. The effects of substance abuse are felt by the whole family, but to know how to reduce drug use we must first find out why people use drugs. The three main categories of perspectives on substance abuse are biological, psychological, and sociological theories. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Biological theory explains that genetic abnormalities cause human behavior. Some people may enjoy a substance or activity so much that it becomes very tempting and difficult to resist, but another person may not have the same effect. Reasonable thinking is a brain function that varies from person to person. Biological theory explains that your genetic makeup makes you vulnerable to developing an addiction. Psychological theory focuses more on personality differences between drug users and non-users. The psychological theory assumes that users have a personality trait that makes someone prone to drug use. These traits are low self-esteem, need for stimulation, and low self-confidence. People's thoughts and beliefs create their behavior, so if someone's thoughts and beliefs may be unrealistic or dysfunctional, their behavior will be too. Some researchers suggest that there is something wrong with the individual's emotional or psychic sphere that makes drugs attractive to him. Sociological theory suggests that drug use includes peer influences and the social environment. Being close to family and friends can make a difference. Young adults who are not close to family and friends are more likely to use drugs of various types. The sociologist points out that peer pressure greatly influences someone's use of a substance. When friends use drugs, the individual is tempted to use them too. The theory that I find most convincing is the psychological theory. Psychology is understanding human behavior and promoting people's well-being and life satisfaction. A person who wants to try or use drugs is trying to escape reality, but this does not solve the problem, rather it makes it worse. I believe mental disorders are the cause of addiction, normal people don't find drugs desirable. The least convincing theory is the biological theory. The biological theory assumes that genetics is the reason for drug addiction. I believe we are not slaves to our biology, so our biology does not drive our behavior. I think we are capable of changing our lives and our health the way we want. I'm not saying genetics aren't important, they just don't determine your life. We can control our choices. Sociological theory explains substance abuse best because the use of some drugs begins at a young age, when peer influences are important. Friends at this stage of life who smoke or use drugs can have an impact on individuals because many of us want to fit in with the crowd. Most of us learn by observing others, so the social environment plays a role in individual drug use. The biggest influences are the people who matter most to us such as family, friends, neighbors and teachers. Sometimes we see our parents smoking weed to relax or relieve stress and drinking while socializing and when we see these things as teenagers we want to try those behaviors. Please note: this is just an example. Get a document now.