Drug and alcohol addiction and abuse. Recognition. Prevention. Treatment
20/20 Parenting. Recognizing and mitigating early vulnerabilities and risk factors.
About Addiction
[ Page 2 of 9 | print friendly version ]Into the Abyss
A theory as to why some youth are more susceptible to developing addictions than others
Why Do People Develop Addictions?
According to the disease model…
Within the disease model, addiction is viewed as a disease with genetic factors (White, 1998). If a family relative had an alcohol problem then there is a strong likelihood that someone in the family tree will develop some type of addiction. Therefore individuals with addictions have a “genetic predisposition” toward abusing mood-altering substances. In this model, the question of “why” someone has an addiction is not so important because individuals with addictions have a disease just like diabetes or any other type of ailment. Instead, the question is “what” are they going to do about it is more relevant. Under a disease model, the answer often relates to attending 12 step meetings and completing work within an Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous program.
According to the social learning model…
Some people are not satisfied with the explanation provided within a disease model and believe that addiction is part of a socially-learned behaviour (Marlatt, 1985). Therefore individuals use drugs, alcohol, or other mood-altering substances as a way to cope. The abuse of drugs becomes a coping strategy for low self-esteem, feelings of not fitting in with a social group, depression, anxiety, boredom/restlessness, abandonment, trauma, as part of a pattern of self-sabotage or self-destruction, as a distraction from not having meaning/purpose in life, for purposes of excitement/adventure, and the list is endless.
Why Do People Cross The Line From Substance Abuse To Addictions?
Whether individuals use a disease model, social learning model, or some combination of both perspectives the question of why some people can abuse drugs without becoming addicted still remains. Many people experiment during their teenage years with mood-altering substances and simply “outgrow this phase” while others form addictions. Furthermore, if a family has a “genetic predisposition” to addiction then why do some siblings develop addictions while others can remain social drinkers or simply give up the use of mood-altering substances altogether?
Perhaps the answer to these questions can be found within the addiction cycle.
