There are five core triggers of drug and substance abuse – genetics, family history, environment, occupation, and social factors. A primary focus on familial and social factors tilts around genetic makeup, family history, peer pressure, and sense of belonging. You might be wondering why someone you know is struggling with an addiction problem, yet they seem okay on the surface. These factors do not begin to cover half of the trouble that drug addicts face every day. Addiction is not a disease, just a habit. Here is how family and other social factors can trigger abuse and addiction.
Family
• Genetics
Siblings can exhibit different drug abuse and addiction tendencies. There are endless variables in the individual formation of everyone’s DNA, explaining why some siblings are more or less prone to abusing drugs. It all means that drug abuse and addiction lay beyond your cellular level. In the real sense, genetic factors contribute to close to half of an individual’s tendency to abuse drugs and become an addict. Such reactive genes have been highly associated with rapid drugs reaction and a reasonably increased ability to withstand the adverse effects of various substances. While you may not have entirely planned for a drug abuse problem, leave alone addiction, you quickly develop an addictive personality. As you begin getting familiar with euphoria, you forget how fast you began showing repetitive traits. These genetic factors automatically run-down future generations.
• Family History
Genetics is a crucial part when tracking an individual’s family history. Nonetheless, when considering behavioral patterns caused by drug abuse and addiction, the trace runs beyond genetics to issues like being raised in dysfunctional families. Such environments usually lead to frequent conflict and aggression, which in turn opens the way for mental illness. Another vital family history risk is mental issues like anxiety and depression. When poorly handled, these psychological complications result in a dual diagnosis scenario. The parent experiences a hard time balancing raising a normal baby and abusing drugs. Inadvertently, the drugs usually win this battle because they are overly addictive. Another risk is being raised by a parent who is actively battling a drug abuse problem. It all becomes a concern when the situation turns into an addiction that can automatically pass down to children. These risks mean that anyone with a history of drug abuse issues is more likely to experience drug and substances problems.
Social Factors
• Peer Pressure
Peer pressure can influence everything about you. Peers usually come up with or conform to a set of cultures promoting certain beliefs which give them the desire to fit in. Peer pressure is not entirely wrong, as if you have a group of four athletic friends, you might feel the silent pressure to be just like them to fit. Without knowing, people find themselves engaging in activities they never thought they would even consider doing in the first place. The trick is in the excellent selection of your company. The more you keep a company of respectful, honest, and future-oriented people, your mindset and behavior patterns will gradually switch to match the attitude. On the other hand, if you keep the company of frequent drug users, you may be surprised to find out that you are getting addicted faster than them.
• The Sense of Belonging
Everyone wants to belong; it is just human nature. It is man’s nature to find pleasure in knowing that they belong to a more extensive community in life, something worth than themselves. The sense of belonging to a higher social group in life is more like peer pressure. However, unlike peer pressure that mostly occurs among teens and adolescents because they are in the discovery stage, the sense of community can relate to groups of homeless people abusing drugs together. It all circles back to the fact that social influence is the root cause of drug and substance abuse across the board. People close to us can determine our drug abuse resistance and substance addiction. If it is not your family, perhaps your closest friend or partner could make you want to belong; these are the people we are stuck with.
Call to Action
Now you are well aware of the causes, and now you are up for the treatment. Stay positive and flexible; be open to any detoxification ideas as long as they are viable. Remember, when you feel overwhelmed, know that help is only one call away. We are available 24/7 just for you; call us at now 123-456-7890.