Understanding addiction and its causes A person about to take drugs. SOURCE: AFP Understanding addiction and its causes The use of drugs and other addictive behaviour is a form of self-medication to help cope with unpleasant feelings In her early twenties and a fresh graduate from one of Karachi’s top universities, Sana* first started using drugs for recreational purposes with her boyfriend during college, just to fit in. She felt like she desperately needed for him to love her, while also getting some sort of attention from him that she craved while growing up in a house where her parents were constantly fighting with each other. Her mother was also emotionally unavailable most the time as she was suffering from depression and other mental health issues.