Why is it some people become addicted to drugs or alcohol and others don’t? The answer may be linked to the causes and risk factors of addiction. Regardless of how it happens, an addiction rehab program can assist in your recovery.
What Is Addiction?
Addiction also referred to as a substance use disorder (SUD). It is a complex brain disease that can affect anyone. In 2019, an estimated 20 million people in the US aged 12 or older had a SUD. Those impacted were men and women from different races, ethnicity, economic, and social status.
Common Causes of Addiction
Scientists are still trying to fully understand the causes of addiction. Top factors that heavily influence the disease include:
- Prolonged substance use or abuse: Changes in the brain’s chemical systems and circuits make you think you cannot survive without the substance.
- Psychological dependence: Changes in the dopamine system cause the brain to become dependent on the substance of choice and the euphoric reward it provides.
- Physical dependence: People physically dependent on alcohol or drugs often experience physical withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea that discourage them from quitting.
Three Top Factors of Addiction
A range of factors, including early use, type of substance, and method of use, can influence a person’s risk of SUD. Nevertheless, studies identified the following as three leading factors of addiction.
1. Genetics
Traits passed on by family members through genes play a significant role in the potential for future substance abuse. Scientific evidence suggests that people whose relatives have or had a drinking or drug problem have an increased risk of developing a SUD. If nicotine, drugs, or alcohol abuse runs in your family, the chemical reaction these substances have on your brain is likely different from someone without a genetic link.
2. Environment
Environmental factors include lack of parental supervision in your childhood and teenage years and peer pressure. These factors raise the risk of experimentation with alcohol or drugs. Young people who suffered neglect, childhood trauma such as abuse, or are seeking acceptance from their peers may engage in substance abuse as a way to cope. The presence of drugs or alcohol within the home also allows easy access and experimentation by children, teens, and young adults.
3. Mental Health
Underlying mental health disorders make it more likely for someone to grow addicted to the prescription medication they are taking for those conditions. They may drink alcohol and upgrade to illicit drugs, such as heroin or cocaine, to self-medicate or cope with the underlying condition. If this happens, the individual is described as having co-occurring disorders or dual diagnosis. Common co-occurring disorders include anxiety disorder, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Dual diagnosis treatment in an inpatient or residential program may be required for recovery.
Treating Addiction at San Antonio Recovery Center
Early intervention can help prevent SUD. However, factors such as guilt and shame usually delay treatment. There is still time to recover, whether in our women’s drug rehab program or men’s drug rehab program. Treatment is done in a safe, structured, and non-judgmental environment while you’re enrolled in one of these programs:
- Detox program
- Inpatient program
- Residential program
- Intensive outpatient program
- 90-day rehab program
You can benefit from a range of therapies and aftercare program services such as cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy, trauma therapy, individual counseling, 12 step meetings, and sober living. During therapy, our therapist will help you understand how your family history, environment, traumatic experiences, or a diagnosed mental health condition influences addiction.
Regardless of the factors and causes of addiction, one thing is certain: it devastates the lives of the individual affected and their family members. The professional treatment specialists at San Antonio Recovery Center are eager to assist in your healing and recovery journey starting today. Call 866.957.7885, or contact us online to speak with an admissions counselor.
