Who does addiction affect?

 

The use of drugs is not recent. Evidence goes back to the Sumerian people (4000BC) using psychoactive substances in order to alter their state of consciousness to enable them to cope with their life and environment.

 

Drug addiction can affect anyone, but those with a background of child abuse, neglect, trauma, poverty or mental health are disproportionally affected. Young mental ill-health suffers are most likely to “act out” through experimentation, resulting in a long term risk of drug abuse.

 

Homelessness is another key factor in prolonged drug abuse, due to the lack of access to support services. In 2010, 38% of homeless people in London had drug support needs.