What Are The Five Factors That Are Contributing to Substance Abuse?

Introduction

It’s no secret that substance use is a complex challenge to overcome. Developing an addiction isn’t a character flaw nor is it a sign of weakness, and it takes more than willpower to overcome the problem. It is completely normal to feel uncertain about whether you’re ready to start recovery - but remember, with the proper help and support, you can do it. In order to recover, it is important to know where your addiction stems from. Keeping that in mind, we have compiled a list of five factors contributing to substance abuse. 

Genetics

While some believe that the roots of addiction may lie deep within at the cellular level, there are many variables to consider. This is why siblings often follow very different paths, some leading to addiction and some not. That being said, genetics does play a role by making one more likely to develop an addiction. In fact, people with a family history of substance abuse are more likely to get addicted themselves. 

According to the American Psychological Association, genes play an important role in addiction - genetic factors contribute to about half of a person's tendency to become addicted. Our genes have been linked to:

• a quicker reaction to substances
• a decreased ability to feel any negative effects of using drugs
• an increased euphoria
• developing an addictive personality - a quick adaptation and involvement with repetitive behaviours

Mental illness

Mental illness is one of the most common causes of substance abuse. Anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are all mental illnesses that can lead to drug and alcohol dependence. In addition to these disorders, there are many other mental health issues that can contribute to substance abuse: schizophrenia; panic attacks; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD); Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); Major Depressive Episodes or Bipolar Affective Disorder. This is called a co-occurring disorder, which means that both mental health problems and substance abuse are present in the same individual at the same time.

Trauma

Trauma has been a major factor in the development of substance abuse. Whether it's physical or emotional, trauma can be the result of a single incident or ongoing stress. It may also have been caused by abuse, neglect or natural disasters.

The effects of trauma are long-lasting and often difficult to overcome due to deep psychological roots. To cope, turning to substances becomes the easiest available option.

Researchers at the University of Texas discovered that trauma can cause actual changes in the brain. They studied teens who had been abused and traumatised as children and found “disruptions in certain neural networks associated with increased chances of substance use disorders, depression or both.” Their findings were published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology. Other such factors that play into this are: 

• divorce
• frequent arguments at home 
• bullying at school 
• history of mental illness in the family 

Environment

There are environmental factors involved here - be they physical ones like poverty or emotional ones like your childhood experiences. A study published in the journal Addictive Behaviors found that “opiate users were 2.7 times more likely to have a history of childhood sexual and/or physical abuse than non-opiate users.” The primary correlation is that people who are raised in an environment where people who use, are more likely to develop an addiction.

Peer pressure

If a person has friends or loved ones who are addicted, it makes them statistically more vulnerable to start using, as well. Peer pressure is a significant factor in beginning any kind of substance use - be it alcohol, tobacco or drugs among teens and adults. While some studies correlate the fact that individuals who are more likely to use, are more likely to choose drug users as friends, others show that the simple desire to keep up appearances with friends contributes to starting drug use; as well as preventing users from quitting.

Conclusion

If you or someone you love has a substance abuse problem, it's important to know what contributes to it, so that it can be treated accordingly. It can be hard to break the cycle of addiction, but with the right kind of professional help from psychiatrists and therapists, recovery is possible.