Final answer:
People continue to use drugs due to the powerful nature of addiction, which affects the brain's chemistry and impairs self-control. Despite harmful consequences, the compulsion to use these substances can overpower rational decision-making. Additionally, withdrawal symptoms can make quitting difficult, perpetuating addiction.
Step-by-step explanation:
People who continue to use drugs despite harmful effects often do so because of the strong grip of addiction. Psychoactive drugs can alter brain chemistry, leading to changes in mood, perception, thinking, and behavior. This can foster a compulsion to continue using the substance. A drug becomes addictive when it creates a strong desire to use it continuously, despite the potential for negative and harmful consequences to one's well-being. The initial decision to take drugs is typically voluntary. However, with recurrent use, a person's ability to exert self-control can become seriously impaired; this impairment in self-control is the hallmark of addiction.
Drug abuse and the subsequent addiction it may lead to symbolically characterize problematic drug use and attach a stigma to admitting a problem and seeking treatment. Once a person becomes addicted, they may prioritize drug use over other activities, increasing their tolerance and possibly leading to an overdose, which can result in death. Thus, despite being aware of the harmful effects, the overwhelming need to feel the drug's effects can overpower rational thought, leading to continued use. Some psychoactive drugs, like opioids, can produce withdrawal symptoms that make quitting difficult, further perpetuating the cycle of addiction. Examples of medical use of such drugs, however, include managing chronic pain or treating opioid dependency with drugs like methadone to alleviate withdrawal symptoms.