[VoteHarryBrowne2000]

I'd be curious if people with brain problems are more predisposed to use drugs, or if the drugs cause or exacerbate an existing condition. There is an interesting book called "CHANGE YOUR BRAIN, CHANGE YOUR LIFE" by Dr. Amen and in it he shows brain scans of drug users and others with abnormal behavior. His take is that drug users are self-medicating for a structural problem (congenital or accident induced) or brain chemistry imbalance. It's an interesting theory that may explain why we have this on going problem.

[pooh fan]

Listen people, humans always seek altered states on some level. Just look at little kids spinning around to get dizzy, then falling on the ground to feel the effects. Don Juan Castanada wrote several books about seeing God while under the influence of a variety of substances. Just because we can, doesn't make it right. We have choices--its like cheating on a spouse; you can if you want to, you DON'T because you know it will hurt the other person.

[Chemist_Geek]

I'd be curious if people with brain problems are more predisposed to use drugs, or if the drugs cause or exacerbate an existing condition.

Yes, this is the interesting question. I'm not sure exactly how to study it, though, because if one were to find young persons with a condition it wouldn't be right leave it untreated whilst one follows them to see if they self-medicate.