As I recall during the dinner scene with Dan's family, they are all a bunch of drunks.
Did that inspire Dan to smoke crack?
My grandparents were awful drunks and that inspired me to rarely drink alcohol.
Could be. The mother was really into wine!
shareWhat a crappy excuse and it seemed like he didn't meet often with his family.
Life's a bitch that's why I married her!
To the original poster...Yes I think so, I think that scene was to show that Dan comes from a family of addicts but in his family's case the addiction is Alcohol.
shareActually it's not clear why he's a druggie. I don't get why he's so depressed and on drugs. Big plot hole there.
shareIt's not a plot hole. It is intentionally left out, maybe, I think, to put us in Drey's position or at least those who know of his substance abuse problem.
It's like there's a party in my mouth and everyone's throwing up.share
Could be genetic. Could be hopelessness. Could be a dangerous coping mechanism. Could be escape. I understand your association to the family - socially acceptable drunks and seemingly oblivious to his detached individuality; but the common addict would probably prefer an abusive history to condone and promote their weakness. His disease is a product of self pity. He processes/reacts to his self-imposed distance via a trigger.
share
I think it has to do with his breaking up with his ex girlfriend.
I believe the film indicates that Dan and his former girlfriend had at one time acted as enablers for one another, so he may have already been a heavy drug user. Don't forget, she mentions having gone through a rehabilitation program.
I'd like to echo what another poster alluded to above, that to look for one clear answer as to the cause of Dan's addiction is already to miss the point of the movie. Dan's life is kind of an addict's perfect storm; it could be any or all of the reasons suggested -- he's lonely, he misses the girl in question, he comes from a family that has a history of chemical addiction, the state of the world (war in Iraq) depresses him, he likes to party, he feels incapable of coping with life, etc.
Or it could be none of these reasons. I was once a teacher, and I would often bump into colleagues in the liquor store after work -- which would seem to be the opposite of Dan's situation, since he seems perfectly at home in a classroom (if nowhere else).
From what I've heard, the hold crack has on the user is about as powerful as it gets, so maybe he tried it once for a kick and that was that.
Dan's Dad has a lot to answer for regarding his son's drug abuse.
He is clearly a racist and he was probably a terrible father.
Dan is hyper sensitive and it's his way of coping.
He is an excellent teacher and feels for his pupils.
I think he smoked crack because he was a dumb ass! That's the only reason I can come up with for anyone who's dumb enough to smoke crack.
Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar, and / or doesn't.