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Drug and Alcohol Information- The Risk of Addiction -The Four Elements in the Risk of AddictionThe risk of developing a dependency on drugs and alcohol is related to four factors:
Studies of identical twins who were separated at birth, and raised apart, are one way of evaluating the importance of genetic factors in alcoholism. Large studies from several different countries have shown that identical twins have very similar personality traits including their potential for alcoholism. If a pair of identical twins had alcoholic parents and one twin was raised in an alcoholic family while the other was raised in a non-alcoholic family, both twins usually developed alcoholism. If the twins came from non-addicted parents, and were raised in by alcoholic and non-alcoholic families, both twins usually did not develop alcoholism. These studies suggest that genetic factors, on the average, contribute 40% to the likelihood that a person will develop alcoholism. Our Childhood Experiences When we grow up in dysfunctional families, we are exposed to conflict and fighting. We experience disrupted relationships and emotional and physical abuse or neglect. When we are exposed to these traumatic events, as children, we feel frightened and angry, and may, in the perception of childhood, somehow feel we are at fault. We grow up with an uneasiness, lacking the sense of secure connection and trust that develop in more stable homes. These disruptive childhood experiences have taught us that the world is unsafe. We carry with us a constant sense of anxiety. Often, we become more aware of it when it goes away after our first drink or drug use. We suddenly experience a sense of comfort that we may not have known before. No wonder we may think, "I like this stuff, I want more." Our Current Peer Group and Life Situation Peer groups strongly influence us as we go through the experimental years of adolescence. Teenage years are a time to explore new behaviors. We switch from one fad to another, along with others of our age, struggling to define who we are by trying new things that make us different. If we live in an atmosphere where all our friends drink and use excessively, it is more likely we will see these behaviors as normal. If our emotional environment is one where heavy drinking and using is not common, we may develop a style that avoids excessive use. Adolescence is a time to learn about the world through experimentation. But when we experiment, we are bound to make mistakes. This process of trying on adult activities and learning to conduct ourselves safely inevitably exposes us to risks. Parents hope that mistakes children make do not have life-threatening consequences. Hopefully, we learn from our mistakes, not only in adolescence, but throughout our lives. More Information The Addictive Potential of Drugs The Spectrum of Drug and Alcohol Disorders Liver Disease HIV / AIDS |
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Home | How Online Treatment Works | Drug and Alcohol Informaton | Adolescent Treatment Website FAQs | About Us | Contact Us | Current News | Substance Abuse Professionals | Site Map Call us toll free: 1-877-75-SOBER (1-877-757-6237) | International : +1-408-885-8336   © 2005 eGetgoing, Inc. | Policies, Privacy & Health Information Practices | Last Updated: 11/20/2008  |
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