Drug addiction is more common in some families and probably involves a genetic predisposition. The link between genetics and addiction remains a topic of strong debate. Reports have found that between 40% and 60% of addiction predisposition is the result of genetics and, in addition, that children of people suffering from addiction are 25% more likely to also develop addiction compared to children of non-addicted parents. Researchers are actively looking for an addiction gene, but family tendencies toward addiction seem more likely to be the result of environmental factors such as exposure and normalization of drug use.
The nurturing argument is also relevant to addiction. While genetic predisposition is possible, although not conclusively determined, the environment in which we grow up and in which we continue to thrive has a major impact on mental and physical well-being and, therefore, is a major cause of addiction. So far we have discussed several genetic, environmental and social influences that may contribute to the causes of addiction, but we cannot ignore the role that the brain and body play in the disease of addiction. Every time you eat, have sex, or participate in any activity that contributes to survival, your brain is flooded with dopamine.
Addiction is a chronic and complex brain condition, influenced by genes and environment, characterized by substance use or compulsive actions that continue despite harmful consequences. The home environment has a major impact on a person's risk of drug abuse and addiction. Teens are at greater risk if they live in chaotic homes where there is little parental or adult supervision. This type of home environment can be the result of parents or older family members suffering from a mental disorder, engaging in criminal behavior, or abusing drugs or alcohol.
On the other hand, a nurturing home environment, as well as clear rules of conduct in the home, can be protective factors that reduce the potential for drug abuse. Research has clearly shown that the availability of medicines in a person's home, school, or community is one of the key risk factors for a person developing drug-related problems. For example, prescription drug abuse, which has been on the rise in recent years, comes at the same time as a sharp increase in prescriptions. This increased availability, combined with a lack of understanding of the dangers of prescription drug misuse, affects the risk of addiction.
Heredity is a major risk factor for addiction. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, up to half of the risk of addiction to alcohol, nicotine or other drugs is based on genetics. If you have family members who have suffered from addiction, you are more likely to have it too. Addiction can happen to anyone of any background, social status, race, or gender.
However, it is scientifically proven that many people have higher risk factors for substance abuse and addiction than others. There are certain factors that increase a person's risk of developing a drug or alcohol addiction. Genetics, family history, mental health and the environment are some of the risk factors for susceptibility to addictions. Addiction is a complex chronic disease that affects the brain and occurs due to many different underlying causes.1 Scientific research around the world continues to identify several risk factors, such as genetics and the environment, that contribute to the development of an addiction.
However, the causes of addiction are not yet fully understood, 15. Genes, combined with other factors, are estimated to contribute between 40 and 60% of the risk of drug addiction. A person's unique biology, genes, age, gender, and other factors influence their risk of experimenting with drugs and becoming addicted. While environmental factors can put children at risk of addiction, protective factors can minimize the risk of addiction. Which approach is best for you depends on many factors and is best decided in collaboration with your doctor or therapist.
Risk factors that contribute to addiction are biological or environmental, or many different combinations of both types of factors. As with other diseases and disorders, the likelihood of developing an addiction differs from person to person, and no single factor determines whether a person will become addicted to drugs. Regardless of your education or moral code, many factors can increase your risk of becoming addicted to alcohol and other drugs. Both the cause of addiction and the development of mental health disorders can be affected by factors such as genetics, history of trauma, and the environment.
In general, the more risk factors a person has, the greater the likelihood that drug use will lead to drug use and addiction. Scientists estimate that genes, including the effects that environmental factors have on a person's gene expression, called epigenetics, account for 40 to 60 percent of a person's addiction risk. . .
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