Drug abuse and addiction is a complex problem and may have many reasons behind it. We can not stereotype anyone who gets addicted to alcohol or drugs, as there are different situations for everyone. Also, anyone from any background can get addicted; it doesn’t matter if they are rich, poor, educated, or uneducated, drug addiction can get hold of anyone. Let’s learn about the factors and reasons why some people become addicted to drugs while others don’t.
Risk Factors of Becoming Addicted to Drugs
Many people possess inherent risk factors that make them more susceptible and prone to addiction. These factors include genetics, family history of addiction, and personal levels of temperament.
Genetic studies tell that genes contribute to about 40-60% of a person’s vulnerability to drug or alcohol addiction. Also people with impulsive tendencies and sensation-seeking behavior are also prone to be addicted to drugs. Similarly, people lacking coping skills may also be at risk of substance and drug abuse.
Environmental Factors
The environment you grow up in influences your attitudes, lifestyle, and behaviors toward becoming addicted to drugs. There are several factors, such as peer pressure, availability of drugs, and easy access to substances.
Cultural Factors
Cultural factors affect drug use in many ways. Cultural factors and societal norms greatly influence becoming addicted to drugs as they highly influence people living in that culture. The media portrayal of being addicted to drugs can also impact your perception of drugs and increase the risk of addiction.
If the culture portrays drug and alcohol use as usual, the perception will be created that it is normal. This way, any teenager or adult normalizes it and starts using it. Similarly, if the media portrays this as a bad thing, then everyone will be alarmed and create a perception that it should not be used. Therefore culture defines if it’s good or bad.
Developmental Factors
The developmental stage at which an individual begins drug experimenting can impact addiction. Adolescents and teenagers have brains that are still developing and are more vulnerable to the use of drugs. Taking drugs early increases the likelihood and probability of drug addiction.
Substance abuse during developmental ages can easily disrupt brain chemistry and function, gradually leading to long-term changes perpetuating addictive behaviors. Therefore, controlling drug use at the initial stages should be done so that people won’t become addicted to the substances and drugs. Developmental factors influence the risk of being addicted to drugs in many ways, which should be identified on time.
Mental Illness & Trauma
These two factors highly influence the person to become addicted to drugs. Mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression often coexist with drug addiction, creating a complex and challenging situation. People from any age group suffering from conditions such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD may turn to drugs to self-medicate or to escape their emotional pain and suffering.
That escapes from reality and becomes addictive, and that’s why the person demands more drugs. This leads to dependence on drugs as it gives you an easy escape from the reality of life.
Physical & Sexual Abuse
This is another leading factor that pushes a person to use drugs. Such people are at a higher risk of turning to drugs as a coping mechanism or to numb emotional distress. The trauma of physical and sexual abuse is not bearable for people who want to forget it. The drugs temporarily give them a false escape, but in the long term, they become addicted to drugs and dependent on them. This thing makes the situation even worse.
Addiction Treatment Medicines
In recent years, the development of addiction treatment Medicines has provided new opportunities for people struggling with drug addiction. These medications include naltrexone, methadone, and buprenorphine, which can help manage withdrawal symptoms in people. These medications reduce cravings and block the effects of drugs.
But the effectiveness of these medications varies and depends on different factors. These factors include the individual’s overall health, genetic makeup, and the substance being abused. Therefore combining addiction treatment Medicines is another cause of drug addiction.
How Developmental & Environmental Factors Interact
Environmental factors and developmental stages do not act independently, but they work together to increase an individual’s susceptibility to addiction. Genetics, drug access, and early initiation of substance use during adolescence can significantly increase the risk of being addicted to drugs.
In the same way, a stable, safe, and supportive environment, positive peer influences, and the development of healthy coping mechanisms can eliminate the risk associated with being addicted to drugs. Understanding these aspects is essential because it will give the solution to control and stop the addiction problem.
Lack of Awareness
Sometimes people get addicted because they have limited knowledge about the risks and consequences of drug abuse. Lack of awareness regarding the addictive nature of certain substances or the potential impact on physical and mental health may lead to experimentation.
This way, they gradually become addicted to the drugs, which affects them in the longer term. This lack of awareness could be controlled by educating people on a mass level using media, television, and public service announcements. The awareness about the harmful outcomes of drugs will eventually educate the masses about drug addiction.
Lack of Support Systems
The absence of strong and safe support systems, such as stable family, role models, or access to mental health service centers, can increase the risk of drug and alcohol addiction. A lack of emotional support may lead a person of any age to seek escape and fun in drugs, and this way, they get addicted. A good and strong support system always reduces the chances of people going towards drug use.
Conclusion
Drug addiction is generally recognized as a chronic disease that can negatively impact individuals during critical developmental stages. Drug Addiction is mainly characterized by compulsive drug-seeking harmful consequences and is often influenced by genetic, psychological, and environmental factors.
Emmaus Medical & Counseling is a Full-Service Addiction Medicine Clinic specializing in treating addiction problems for years. Our goal is to rehabilitate individuals who struggle with drug or alcohol addiction. We provide services of Drug Rehab, Substance Abuse Treatment, Addiction Treatment Programs, and Opioid Addiction Treatment. Contact us today to know more.