We all know of the risks, by why do people still do it?

Unless you lived under a rock, you know the dangers of things like smoking, alcohol, drug use, etc. We get told about how bad it is as a child and most of us have seen it in real life.

But with that, why do still do things like smoke, drink, or take drugs? I has to be some sort of sub conscious thing because I've never understood how a person can willingly kill themselves over time (or immediately depending on how your body takes it).

That is why it is called addiction. No control and neglecting own health just to get some of the substance you are addicted on. Even it is not addiction yet, people tend to think that it will be just okay occasionally and/or in small quantity.

Like said above: addictive personalities are just the way they are. Of course it's better if they are aware of this before and do not push their luck with bad substances, but if you have issues and are prone to being addicted, then you could get addicted to all sorts of things that would be harmless to most -- love, games, chocolate, food, work, shopping, gambling, etc, etc.

In my experience, people do these things to blot out past experiences or to try and forget about their problems. Addiction soon takes hol and it's not really a choice that someone makes at all. Try not to judge anyone who is alcoholic or drug addicted - we know nothing about the circumstances that led to their problem.

I see what you guys are saying. But in order for something to become an addiction, you actually have to try it first.

Normally, before any of us try alcohol or smoking, we were already taught the dangers of it. So what compels people to try these things when the end results were already shown to us?

There are so many things even outside of drugs that we know are bad for us and we still end up doing them anyway. I think that's just how life goes. I honestly don't think most people set out to destroy their lives with drugs and alcohol. Most times I believe people are looking for a good time and end up going too far.

I agree with this. Small quantities turn into addictions if the mind is not careful of what the body is taking in. Poison in small doses is still definitely poison.

I think with certain things like drinking people take it on socially and some loose control. Other factors like smoking or stronger drugs, I think factors like peer pressure and experimentation over take some regardless of the teachings they have had.

Well, what I believe is from peer pressure. When you see all your best friends doing it, it doesn't seem all that bad at the moment. You get sucked into it at the moment and it slowly, or quickly depending on what is done, becomes an addiction.

Because humans are generally curious, they would want to do and experience everything about life. And most people have risk-taking behaviors such as that because they give some sort of pleasure and excitement to them.

I think it all starts with curiosity or peer pressure. Then when the person has already tried it and they liked it, they keep doing it. But whether they get addicted to it or not is really dependent on the person's personality. I have already tried marijuana and cigarettes, and I liked both at first, but now it has been many years since I smoked a weed or cigarette. As for alcohol, I was appalled by it's bitter taste on my very first sip.

That is a great question. Today I got out and did some walking. I felt short breathed, but then lit up afterwards. I don't know why it's so hard to quit.

Yes, we all know that there is a consequence but because of the influence they cannot avoid it. Sad but true, a lot of them suffer from many diseases that leadto risk life or maybe death. Many of them who abuse their own life doesn't know what the purpose of theirlife.

I think there is an innate madness in the human mind.
I think deep down there is a part of every human being that wants to harm themselves.
I think this to be true unfotunatly.

Curiosity killed the cat. From what i know, most people who have problems with drugs started off because they were curious about that particular drug. They thought it would be harmless if they tasted it or smoked just a little and from that little innocent act, over time it ballooned to full time addiction.

I believe it is Satan. He tempts us all the time. He is all about prowling and waiting and watching. He sees a weakness and pounces. One may have fear and worry. One may be lonely. They may be dealing with a bad past. Any number of things. Satan comes along and whispers in their ear: Try this, it will make the pain go away. If you do this all will be better. Join them and you will belong. You want to forget, drink this, inject that, sniff this and you won't remember. It doesn't even have to be drugs in which Satan whispers temptations about it can be other destructive paths too. For he has free reign here and we all have a choice until it is too late. The Light is always there to help. The Light is all people to whom open themselves to give the better option in the darkness.

I, for one, don't think that Satan should take the rap for us. It is indeed a rather complex, age-old question why we do the stupid things we do. And it's not like we ever learn from our mistakes. We seem to only learn from the mistakes WE make (at least some of us). So, basically, in order to understand the answer of the question, you need to employ the trial and error approach. As unpleasant as this might appear to be, it is the only way to discover why people fall into the same trap over and over again. A word of advice - in this case, ignorance is bliss. It's just the way things are.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/11/health/still-smoking/

I traveled recently and saw this very old and feeble lady smoking her cigarette and I thought to myself "surely she knows those can't be good for her". I found the reading all of which I have not read to be quite interesting. I suspect for a lot of people it's their friend, their comfort. I don't see it having anything to do with "Satan".

Actually, the majority of substances of abuse are plant derivatives. Who put the plants there in the first place? According to the Bible, God is the creator of everything...

Rather than blaming a non-existent concept, it might be more useful to look at the reasons why people abuse substances in the first place. Addressing these social problems will probably do more to help the war against drugs than anything else.