Yes; Methamphetamine, through its stimulant effects, produces a positive feeling, but later leaves a person feeling depressed. This is because it suppresses the normal production of dopamine, creating a chemical imbalance. The user physically demands more of the drug to return to normal.
Imagine a drug abuser, imagine a drug misuser, and imagine a recreational drug user. How would using this drug affect his or her work?
Abuser: Male, around 22 years old, has a blue collar job, he’s a white man from the south, dislikes his job and likes his family, his friends are similar to him and he has many old friends from high school, his family is a lot like him (low class, blue collar job...)
He is not very happy because of his job and doesn’t get much money. One night after trying ecstasy, the euphoria makes him addicted and all his earnings go towards buying more drugs. The dysphoria of not being on the drug when he runs out of money to buy it drives him close to insanity (withdrawal symptoms) and he begins to get high on elevated doses of prescription drugs on purpose.
Misuser: Female, 40 years old, middle class – has a desk position in an office, American, dislikes parties and loud environments, enjoys cocktail parties and being with friends, her friends include co workers, neighbours, but doesn’t keep in touch with college friends, she has middle class earnings, low self-esteem
On elevated doses of sleeping pills for insomnia, has an addiction but doesn’t realize, not following the proper instructions for taking the pills, causing a certain amount of dysphoria.
Recreational: Male, 17 years old, student, American, likes partying, drinking and trying new things, dislikes authority figures and rules, his friends are similar to him, he’s quite popular and in the popular hut, has a really low self-esteem, his parents are too strict on him that’s why he rebels.
Unidentified Male= Bob
Bob, a junior in high school loves to have fun and party with his friends in clubs. He’s a very curious guy who hates having people tell him what to do and restrict him from anything due to the excessive strictness his parents are on him. All his friends are in the popular hut with him and they’re all quite the same as him; going out almost every weekend and drinking. He’s doesn’t have an addiction but every once in a while, his self-esteem goes lower and the uncomfortable dysphoria he feels pushes him towards trying new drugs with some of his friends. The euphoria after taking the drugs is unimaginable for him and he begins to take elevated drug doses every week. Sometimes, the amount he takes is too much for his tolerance level and he has many near death experiences.
Bob begins to realize that he’s becoming addicted to drugs and wants to quit. As soon as he does, he begins feeling irritable, depressed and fatigued all the time; he always craves the drug. His withdrawal symptoms begin to clash with his school work; his previously above average grades start to decline towards Cs and Ds which angers his parents and creates family conflicts.
These withdrawal symptoms continue until he finally gives in to them and one night satisfies his weeks long craving of the drug. Unfortunately, with the excitement of finally taking the drugs again, his dose is much too elevated. Bob overdoses and dies.
Is the character physically or psychologically addicted to the drug?
Both; Bob feels happier because of the endorphins released while on the drug which leaves him physically craving more due to the chemical imbalance.
Bob would also be psychologically addicted because he is away from authority figures when he’s doing that and he’s partying with his friends; those are all his likes and he would want to always be in that situation. This makes him psychologically addicted to not only the drug, but the surroundings.
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