How Does Addiction Start?
- Alexandra Bautista
- Nov 5, 2018
- 3 min read
How Does Addiction Start?
For many, addiction can feel like a slippery slope that leaves sufferers wondering “How did I get here?” For some, the journey begins with having a few drinks at a party as a means of socialization or taking pills from mom and dad’s medicine cabinet. For others still, there can be underlying mental health challenges at play, or pressured influence from addict family members or friends. The first step that leads to addiction is different for all, but the end result is always the same: a downward spiral that eventually leads to disappointment, hurt and loss, until recovery.
Risk Factors
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the factors that contribute to why some may become addicted while others abstain is due to a mix of biology, environment and development. This broad categorization can span from the genes one is born with, to ethnicity, unemployment status, childhood home, peer pressure, abuse, socioeconomic status, even the age at which experimentation begins and more. There are also several signs to be aware of that may predict drug abuse later in life. For example, behavior such as aggression, lack of self-control or difficult temperament can put children at risk later on in life. Outside of the classroom, poor social skills, academic failure, or association with peers who abuse drugs can also be influential. In other words, possible factors include: everything.
Nature vs Nurture
The analysis of addiction, as with many areas of study, begets the question of nature versus nurture. It has long been questioned if the weight of addiction should be attributed to personal willpower or biological responsibility. This confusion is because addiction is a strange creature with many heads; there are so many factors that could be at play that it’s difficult to pinpoint a specific reason or definitive cause. In learning about the start, concepts such as gateway drugs often come into question. Studies have shown that alcohol is typically the first substance people experiment with, and that more than the type of substance taken, the number of different substances and age at first consumption are typically better indicators of future drug and alcohol abuse. Thankfully, preventative measures can be taken with good effect, particularly through influence by parents, educators and community leaders that form strong bonds. While addiction is a disease, the distinction is it is 100% preventable.
I’m Here: What Now?
The truth is addiction will always be a difficult monster to manage. Thankfully, due to our acute exploration into drugs and their effects on the brain, and the subsequent studies that followed, recovery has been rendered more effective than ever. Addiction is considered very treatable, and recovery quite attainable. For example, there are over 14,500 specialized substance abuse treatment programs that offer a wide variety of care options. Likewise, NIDA-funded research has shown that prevention programs are effective at preventing or reducing drug use and addiction. What’s most important to remember is, as the untraceable and likely butchered quote goes, “It doesn’t matter how you start, it matters how you end up”.
Safe Haven Recovery is a boutique Florida Drug & Alcohol Treatment Center located in Miami, FL. We specialize in Suboxone Maintenance & Detox, along with, Couples Addiction Treatment. Call us today at 866-447-4650.
About the Author
Alexandra Bautista is a content intern at Last Call Marketing, which devotes their efforts to Digital Marketing, SEO and Social Engagement in healthcare and tourism. Ms. Bautista is a senior at The University of Central Florida majoring in psychology and entertainment management.
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