What Causes Addiction to a Person?

What causes addiction in people?

Drugs and alcohol can be highly addictive, but other factors may also contribute to its development. These include genes you were born with, your environment, how often and for how long you use drugs, their effects on brain and body, as well as any social support networks present.

Addiction is a chronic, often progressive brain disorder. It involves changes to how millions of nerve cells communicate with one another via neurotransmitters; when messages travel between these cells they attach to receptors in the brain that respond to drugs. Once this process becomes disrupted, addiction sets in and people become dependent on taking drugs just to feel normal again.

Abusing drugs leads to overloaded reward circuits in the brain, leading to craving more and more of them to achieve desired effects. This explains why those who become addicted often struggle to stop even when aware of potential negative repercussions from their choices.

Addiction can manifest physically or emotionally, depending on the drug being used. Withdrawal symptoms, such as shaking, sweating, nausea or vomiting; anxiety and depression are other potential manifestations of addiction.

What is the Best Treatment for My Addiction?

A comprehensive program is most beneficial in treating all underlying factors that could contribute to addiction. Your doctor can assist in deciding what’s best suited to your individual case.

Genetics and Environment

Genetics account for around 50% of your risk for developing addiction; however, other factors like family history of addiction or exposure to addictive substances, social pressure, and poor coping skills may increase this likelihood.

Personal Traits

People with high levels of neuroticism are more likely to become addicted to drugs than those without. This is because those with this personality trait perceive small irritations as stressful, leading them to seek out substances as a way to release stress and negative feelings.

They often lead a precarious life, which contributes to their need for drugs to relieve stress.

What are the most common treatments for addiction?

Addiction treatments come in many forms, but all aim to help you or someone you know stop using and prevent relapse. Common treatments include medical detox, counseling and family therapy.

Multidimensional family therapy (MDFT) is a treatment option for teens and young adults struggling with substance use issues. This therapy can help identify family influences on substance use as well as enhance overall family functioning.