1. By
Naorem Binita Devi
Address: Dept.of Psychology,Mizoram University,Tanhril,Aizawl-796004,INDIA
e-mail: naorembd@gmail.com,binitaji@yahoo.co.in, binitadevi@hotmail.com

2. Abstract
 In the present study an attempt has been made to investigate the personality profiles of
drug-addicts and non-addicts. The main research objective is “to find out the
personality traits of drug addicts and non-addicts of Mizo populations.” For this
study,the investigator randomly selected 50 Drug-addicts(male) and 50 non-
addicts(male )ranging the age level of 25-45 yrs from the Mizo-population. All the
selected samples were administered 16 PF (form E) individually. The results obtained
were analyzed with the help of t-test which revealed significant differences between
drug-addicts and normal on personality factors except A,F,I,L,M,N. The mean values
indicated that drug abusers are capable of concrete thinking, whereas normal are better
at abstract thinking. Drug users are found to be affected by feelings but normal in
contrast are emotionally stable. Drug abusers are lacking rules, self indulgent. whereas
normal are conforming, moralistic, staid and rule bound. Drug abusers usually have
inferiority feelings, dislike occupations with personal contacts, and are not given to
keeping in contact with all that is going on around them. Drug abusers are apprehensive
whereas the normal are self-assured. Drug abusers are experimenting whereas normal
are conservative. The mean value of drug abusers are self sufficient whereas the normal
are group-oriented. The drug abusers are undisciplined self-conflict whereas normal are
following self-image. In conclusion the investigator suggested to do further study on the
intervention n prevention strategy level.
 Keywords
 Personality
 Profile
 Drug
 Traits
 Factor

3. Description:
 Researchers like Antonio Terracciano, Corinna E
Löckenhoff, Rosa M Crum, O Joseph Bienvenu and Paul T
Costa Jr(2008), Waheeda Khan and Salma ( 2003) have
studied that Personality traits are considered risk factors
for drug use, and, in turn, the psychoactive substances
impact individuals' traits.
 Emily R. Grekin and others( Dec 2006) have examined that
personality traits related to neuroticism and disinhibition
have been consistently associated with substance use
disorders (SUDs). From the results it reveals that
antisociality and certain core personality traits predicted
multiple types of substance pathology. In addition, several
personality traits were differentially associated with
alcohol, drug, and tobacco symptomatology.

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 Dual addiction is commonly referred to as addiction to two
addictive substances. Clinically, however, it also refers to
addicts who also have a mental illness. Legal drugs such as
nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, acetylcholine or any one of a
thousand prescription drugs, easily available through doctors
who are unaware of an addict's history, often allow an
exponential increase in addictive behavior, denial, and other
psychological disorder. Drugs used to treat mental disorders
may worsen an addiction. Making treatment even more difficult
is the fact that an addict may switch to a kind of psychological
addiction which is combined with one of these socially
acceptable drugs. Each addictive substance, and dual forms of
addiction, must be looked at and treated differently. And each
addict's individual situation and history is of primary
importance in his treatment plan.

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 Amphetamines and cocaine have no real physical
addiction in the biological sense. They act on the
individual like tobacco by increasing our neural
activity, endurance and stamina. The effects of
cocaine and nicotine last a very short time and
become very addictive, psychologically. The brain is
well motivated to continue this stimulation, but the
uninterrupted use of these drugs tends to lead to
serious social and psychological problems which
include psychosis and violent behaviors.

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 The cocaine plant is a perfect source of high non-
caloric energy for extended endurance and stamina.
Opiates, are a highly addictive set of drugs which
include opium, morphine, and heroin. All of these
drugs come from the same plant, the opium poppy. In
the Orient, opium is usually smoked as a powder or
pulp which is derived easily from the poppy seeds.
 Morphine is a much more potent synthesis of the
poppy seed which was developed as a pain medication
by the military so that people who had severe injuries
might be comforted.

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 Heroin is the still finer derivative, a drug now used
around the world for its euphoric and calming effects.
Heroin is highly addictive and has a very painful
physical withdrawal syndrome, making it hard to quit.
Studying the opiates affect on the brain led to
important discoveries in the natural process of pain
control and our sense of well being.
 Hallucinogenics are different in the sense that they
seem to produce effects similar to psychotic episodes.
They work on areas of the brain related more
specifically to perception and symbolic reasoning.

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 In the biomedical model, Physiological states and personal
responses can be judged as sympathetic and parasympathetic
arousal and relaxation.
 Drug abuse is powered by motivational and emotional aspects
of our nature. The most important physiological relationship for
consideration in psychology, is the mutual relationship of the
central nervous and endocrine systems. Neurotransmitters and
hormones direct all things motivational and emotional in
human conscious and unconscious experience.
 The specific character of each drug is best seen in the actions of
the central nervous system and the endocrine system. The
actions of these two systems also well defines human
psychological and behavioral processes. The neurotransmitters
of the brain and the hormones of the endocrine system control
and direct our perceptions, cognitions, and expressions. They
regulate our physical and mental processes, and our natural
rhythm cycles, such as activity and rest, eating and digestion,
exploration and survival - as well as all other human states or
moods.

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 Our motivational drives and emotional responses are really
analogous to the interactive relationship that exists between the
central nervous system and the endocrine system.
Amphetamines, Cocaine, and nicotine are the three common
drugs which actually increase the natural neurotransmitter
Dopamine in the brain. These drugs are considered stimulants.
Opiates have neurotransmitter like substances which fit very
well into certain neuroreceptor sites. These receptor sites were
discovered through the action of opiates, even before discovery
of the natural substance meant for these receptors. Finally,
endorphins, such as encephalin, were identified as a primary
natural substance which helps us cope with pain and critical
stress. Actually, the endorphins our bodies produce are very
much like opiates. They can create euphoric like states and are
now being identified as the "natural opiates". Endorphins can be
produced within our body by those behaviors closely related to
the flight or fight syndrome. At the first sign of danger our body
will start producing endorphins.

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 All forms of sickness, disease, and mental disorder can be
defined in some way by an imbalance or dysfunction within this
homeostatic relationship. Drugs affect the cycle of this
relationship by causing an increase or decrease in neural and
hormonal action or suppression. Substances in foods and drugs
may block, increase, or mimic the actions of one or more
natural neurotransmitters in the brain and may be able to
change the homeostatic relationships within us. This affects our
moods, and emotions and motivations, as well as our basic
perceptive, cognitive, and expressive processes. Each drug, or
combination of drugs will cause a different kind of affect on
these systems. Food, danger, and bee stings also bring about a
change in homeostatic balance affecting our hormonal and
neural activity. So do yoga, exercise, and processed sugar, as
well as sex, fighting, and heights. Any of these substances
produce their own unique potential for physical or
psychological addiction or habituation.

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 If there is a social-environmental element to the basis of
addictive personality, or a predisposition for addictive
behavior, it is best explained not by teen peers, or
socioeconomic factors, not by race or education, but by
our personal orientation to life. This aspect of our
character is well established long before we complete our
early childhood development. It is now accepted that we
have minds of our own well before we are born. Our basic
character and life orientation is established between 24
weeks and 24 months of age.
 The health behaviors of the mother, her motivation and
interest, and competence at parenting, combine with
genetic and hormonal factors in the prenatal development
of the fetus.

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 Problem of choice:
Keeping on the present scenario of the drug which is
earlier treated only from the medical model, the
researcher want to explore the personality traits of the
drug addicts. The researcher want to see
psycholopathological variables along with the
personality traits in latter research work. First the
researcher want to pick up only personality traits on
the drug addicts and normal people.

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 Research Objectives:
 The main research objective is “to find out the personality
traits of drug addicts and non-addicts of Mizo population”
 Methodology:
 In this research proposal the researcher randomly selected
50 Drug-addicts(male) and 50 non-addicts(male )ranging
the age level of 25-45 yrs from the Mizo-population. All
the selected samples were administered 16 PF (form E)
individually.
 The investigator manipulates drug addicts and non-
addicts as an experimental conditions.
 Reliability for the present study is .87 (alpha)

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 RESULT:
 Table 1


Mean, SD and t-values of Mizo drug users and normal on Sixteen personality factors
 Personality Drug abusers Normal t-values
 Factors M SD M SD



A Cool/Warm 4.43 1.65 4.51 1.59 -.22
 B Concrete/abstract 4.82 1.84 6.30 1.77 -3.9**
 C Affected by feelings/emotionally stable 3.65 1.55 4.18 1.28 -1.8**
 E Submissive/Dominant 3.84 1.46 3.08 1.56 2.4**
 F Sober/Enthusiastic 4.56 1.18 4.49 1.45 .27
 G Expedient/Conscientious 3.63 1.53 4.63 1.13 -3.6**
 H Shy/Bold 3.15 1.39 4.16 1.58 -3.2**
 I Tough minded/Tender 4.54 1.31 4.53 1.67 .04
 L Trusting/Suspicious 4.34 1.33 4.30 2.01 .11
 M Practical/Imaginative 3.85 1.15 4.00 1.64 -.51
 N Forthright/Shrewd 3.93 1.48 3.83 1.47 .32
 O Self-assured/Apprehensive 5.06 1.42 3.77 1.77 3.9 **
 Q1 Conservative/Experimenting 4.24 1.53 3.36 1.30 2.98**
 Q2 Group oriented/Self-sufficient 4.26 1.16 3.18 1.62 3.68**
 Q3 Undisciplined/Controlled 3.06 1.78 5.04 1.24 -6.3**
 Q4 Relaxed/Tense 4.47 1.68 3.55 1.56 2.77**


Note: N=95,df=93,
 P<.05

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 Discussion:

 In the present study an attempt has been made to investigate the
personality profiles of drug-addicts and non-addicts.
 Number of studies were carried out on drug addicts indicating that
differences exist between the personality profiles of drug-abusers and
non-abusers but research evidence is rather inconclusive.
 The 16PF form ‘E’ used in the present study is one of the latest forms
and has been found to be useful with rehabilitation clients because of
the simplicity of its language.
 Studies have demonstrated that some common personality traits are
also prevalent among drug abusers, they tend to score low on
wellbeing and self-satisfaction; are inclined to be more non-
conforming, more alone and isolated at home, less optimistic about
vocational future and more disorganized under stress
(Craig,1979;Stein et al.,1983; Gautam et al.,1991).
 The results obtained were analyzed with the help of t-test which
revealed significant differences between drug-addicts and normal on
personality factors except A,F,I,L,M,N.

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 The mean values indicated that drug abusers are capable of
concrete thinking, whereas normal are better at abstract
thinking. Concrete thinking implies low mental capacities,
tends to be slow to learn and grasp, dull, poor judgement
capacity. Normal on the other hand are quick to grasp ideas, a
fast learner, intellectually adaptable and show better judgement
capacity.
 In this context Spotts and Shontz (1992) concluded that
differences were not found among drug user groups, but non-
users differed significantly from all the drug user groups in
respect of personality.
 Drug users are found to be affected by feelings but normal in
contrast are emotionally stable. This implies that the former
gets emotional when frustrated, easily annoyed, changeable and
plastic, active in dissatisfaction, and having neurotic symptoms.
Whereas the latter group is emotionally stable, mature, faces
reality, calm, adjust to facts, unruffled, possessing ego strength,
better able to maintain solid group morale.
 Drug abusers are lacking rules, self indulgent. whereas normal
are conforming, moralistic, staid and rule bound.

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 Drug abusers are often casual and lacking in effort for
group undertakings and cultural demands. Sometimes
they lead to antisocial acts. Whereas normal are usually
conscientious and moralistic, prefer hard working people
to witty companions.
 Drug abusers are shy, withdrawing whereas normal are
bold, sociable, and ready to try new things, spontaneous,
and abundant in emotional response. Drug abusers usually
have inferiority feelings, dislike occupations with personal
contacts, and are not given to keeping in contact with all
that is going on around them.
 Drug abusers are apprehensive whereas the normal are
self-assured. This implies that the former tend to worry
and feel anxious and guilt-stricken over difficulties. The
latter have a mature, unanxious confidence in themselves
and their capacity to deal with things.

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 Drug abusers are experimenting whereas normal are conservative.
This implies that the former are skeptical, less inclined to moralize.
The latter are cautious and compromising in regard to new ideas.
 The mean value of drug abusers are self sufficient whereas the normal
are group-oriented. This implies that the former discount public
opinion, but are not necessarily dominant in their relations with
others. The latter prefer to work and make decisions with other
people and like and depend on social approval and admiration.
 The drug abusers are undisciplined self-conflict whereas normal are
following self-image. This implies that the former are impetuous,
painstaking, may feel maladjusted, and many maladjustments. The
latter have strong control of their emotions and general behaviour, are
inclined to be socially aware and careful, self respect and high regard
for social reputation. The mean value of the drug abusers show that
they are tense, frustrated, overwrought, has high drive whereas the
normal are relaxed, tranquil, composed, has low drive, and
unfrustrated.
 In conclusion the investigator suggested to do further study on the
intervention n prevention strategy level.

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 Acknowledgement:
 Thanks to LIANSANGPUII for helping in data collection.
 Reference:
 Antonio Terracciano, Corinna E Löckenhoff, Rosa M Crum, O Joseph
 Bienvenu and Paul T Costa Jr(2008). Five-Factor Model personality profiles of drug
users, BMC Psychiatry, 8:22doi:10.1186/1471-244X-8-22
 Emily R. Grekin ; Kenneth J. Sher ; and Phillip K. Wood ( December 2006). Personality
and
 substance dependence symptoms : Modeling Substance-specific traits. Psychology of
addictive behaviors. Vol. 20(4) 415-424.
 Waheeda Khan and Salma(2003). Personality profile of drug addicts and normal. Journal
of
 personality and clinical studies. Vol 19(1), 23-34.
 Manual of the 16PF (1991 edition).
 Internet Material regarding smoking and drug addicts
 www.google.co.in
