Peer pressure is an important factor in starting to use and abuse drugs, especially for young people. Difficult family situations or a lack of a bond with your parents or siblings can increase the risk of addiction, as can a lack of parental supervision. 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 even if it has not been conclusively determined, the environment in which we grow up and in which we continue to thrive has a huge 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. The most common roots of addiction are chronic stress, history of trauma, mental illness, and family history of addiction. Understanding how this can lead to chronic substance abuse and addiction will help lower your risk of becoming an addict. Next, we'll look at addiction and its roots, and discuss practical ways you can reduce your risk of developing a drug or alcohol addiction.
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 addiction. However, the causes of addiction are not yet fully understood, 15. Treatment approaches tailored to each patient's drug use patterns and any concurrent medical, mental, and social problems can lead to continued recovery. The initial decision to use drugs is voluntary for most people, but repeated drug use can cause brain changes that challenge an addicted person's self-control and interfere with their ability to resist intense drug cravings.
Prescription drugs are the leading cause of drug addiction, with more than 15 million Americans suffering from prescription drug addiction at any given time. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these drugs are the leading cause of drug-related overdoses, killing 44 people every day. Fortunately, researchers know more than ever about how drugs affect the brain and have found treatments that can help people recover from drug addiction and lead productive lives. Drug addiction is a chronic, compulsive disorder of the mind that leads an individual to routinely use a substance in an effort to achieve a desired result from it, often the characteristic high.
It is also likely to lead to dependence, which occurs when changes in brain function cause the brain to function more “normally” when drugs or alcohol are present than when they are not. .
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