Reflecting on harmful consumption habits

Yesterday, Maria Estrada, a psychological expert on addiction from the Generalitat de Catalunya, discussed one of society’s most pressing issues: alcohol and drug addictions. It’s a problem everyone recognizes, whether the substances are legal or not, and it affects many people despite the awareness of its harmful effects.

The talk covered the gender and health perspectives of these behaviours, as well as the social impact of consumption as a side effect. It also emphasized the importance of raising awareness and providing resources for assessment and information on the topic. The presentation began with an interactive discussion with the students about why people consume these substances and what effects they believe it has.

The audience wasn’t wrong; after all, it’s common knowledge that the cons of addiction far outweigh the pros, with a significant imbalance in harmful effects. However, when it comes to understanding why people consume substances, there are various unknown perspectives.

As discussed in the session, gender norms play a role in shaping these motivations. There are differing views between the motivation to consume and the decision not to. While factors like group bonding, experimentation, disinhibition, or feeling unwell (in the case of choosing not to consume) are common to both genders, gender differences do exist. For instance, men are more often the ones who provide drugs. Ultimately, however, both genders face social pressure in relation to consumption.

It’s important to take action

Injuries, mental health problems, hospitalization, and even mortality are some of the more well-known consequences of addiction. However, there’s another important issue highlighted in the conference that is often less exposed was: the age at which treatment begins. Except for cannabis, substances like alcohol, cocaine, heroin, and tobacco typically see the average age of treatment starting at 42 years old. This means that over 50% of addicts begin treatment between the ages of 31 and 50, with similar patterns for both men and women. On the other hand, another crucial issue is the harm addiction can cause to others. Discomfort, fights, physical assaults, feeling unsafe in public, and traffic accidents are common among addicts who harm not only their acquaintances but also the general public.

The sooner we try to find a solution to these problems, the better it is for ourselves and others. Seeking help is nothing to be ashamed of, and it’s not something you have to face alone. In society, substance use is often seen as a part of leisure, a way to form relationships or even a key element in many of our traditions and celebrations or advertisements. However, there are many public organizations and institutions, including anonymous ones, that focus on rehabilitation.

We understand how difficult it can be, which is why we host talks like these and offer anonymous support through our student program, providing you with all the resources you need to seek help. For more information or support, contact our student advisor, Sandrine Gloaguen, at this email: s.gloaguen@tbs-education.es