Addiction – whether to alcohol, nicotine, or illegal substances – is a serious (but not rare) chronic psychiatric disease. The negative consequences of this disease are far-reaching – besides the addicted person themselves, it affects both their immediate surroundings and society as a whole. Last time, you could read about the way addictive substances affect the human body and what exactly we mean when we speak of addiction. Now, I will try to explain what role factors like genetics, personality, or society play in the development of addiction.
Heredity and Environment
If addiction is a disease, is it possible to inherit genetic predispositions to it? Scientists have been dealing with this question for decades. One of the first proofs of the hereditary attributes of addiction was, for example, a study from 1967 in which they managed to breed groups of rats with tendencies toward addiction and rats resistant to addiction through selective breeding. With humans, of course, similar experiments cannot be conducted; however, science manages with the help of twin studies (twins are a very valuable source of information in psychology, since their shared genes and (non-)shared environment make it possible to examine the influence of heredity and environment on an individual).
Countless twin studies have demonstrated that although genetic predispositions influence the development of addiction, it is not always a given that an individual will develop these problems during their life. It is assumed that genes influence the onset of substance addictions by 40 to 60%. We do not yet know the specific genes responsible for the inheritance of addiction – however, due to the effects of drugs on the human brain, it is hypothesized that they could be related to dopamine receptors and enzymes. Hypotheses regarding genetically determined differences in drug metabolism, sensitivity to the substance's effect on the organism, and the hereditary (in)ability to cope with stressful situations are also being investigated. From the favorite debate 'heredity vs. environment', no definitive winner emerges even in the case of addiction. If we can blame heredity for approximately one half, it means that the environment will be responsible for the remaining half. Health or disease are always the result of the interaction of our genes and the environment in which we move and which we shape. Just as it is known that unhealthy diet and lack of exercise increase the risk of heart disease, we can identify some risk factors for the development of addiction.
The Family is the Foundation
We know that danger begins before birth – the consumption of alcohol or other drugs during pregnancy can, in addition to various health complications, lead to a higher risk of developing addiction. In childhood and during adolescence, a huge number of factors come into play that multiply the risk of addiction – and a great many of them are related to the family situation. Scientists found that in children whose parents use addictive substances, the risk that they themselves will start using drugs is twice as high as in the case of children of 'healthy' parents. A more recent study comparing family factors in groups of alcoholics, drug addicts, and people who do not suffer from addiction confirmed this. Participants struggling with alcohol or other substance addiction compared to the 'healthy' group also more frequently reported the following:
– Separation from parents. Compared to healthy participants, they were more often separated from one or both parents during childhood. In early childhood, this can mean a danger of later development of psychological problems.
– Trauma, stress. 46% of addicted individuals (compared to just a quarter of healthy participants) stated that they experienced trauma or stressful situations during adolescence – e.g., abuse, domestic violence, neglect, war events. Family members of addicted participants also committed criminal acts more frequently. Traumas experienced in childhood negatively affect overall health – they inhibit development and cause psychological and physical problems that can have lifelong consequences.
– Dysfunctional relationships. Addicted participants more frequently pointed to adverse relationships with parents (especially with the father) during childhood and adolescence. Negativity, aggression, lack of interest, or a total lack of relationship (absence of the parent) came from the parents. This also includes communication between the parents themselves – the distribution of power and involvement in decision-making was more frequently unequal in favor of one parent among the parents of addicted individuals. Other events that statistically significantly contribute to the risk of developing addiction include divorce or the death of one parent – compared to the healthy group, the addicted group experienced these traumas at a younger age. Addicted participants also admitted less supervision and support from parents compared to the healthy group.
Danger from Within
There is no single trait or group of characteristics that predetermines a person to drug addiction. Certain personality traits, however, can be classified among factors that facilitate the development of addiction. These include, for example, a high level of neuroticism (proneness to negative emotions to lability) or low tolerance for frustration and pain. The term dual diagnosis is used when a person has two diagnosed psychological illnesses. People often fight other problems alongside drug addiction – according to statistics, up to 37% of alcoholics and 53% of drug addicts cope with at least one other mental illness. These are most commonly anxiety disorders (e.g., generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder), depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, or borderline or antisocial personality disorders. A higher rate of drug problems is also found among patients with schizophrenia compared to the healthy population.
This connection is caused by the fact that people often reach for drugs when seeking relief from psychological difficulties. Alcohol and co. are popular aids in self-medication, an effort to achieve relief from poor states or undiagnosed mental illness through drugs. Symptoms may seemingly recede under the influence of the substance, we may even feel better, but our problem will not be solved by this – on the contrary, we worsen our overall condition through drugs. In the long run, the negative consequences substantially outweigh the benefits. Drugs can significantly worsen the symptoms of an already existing mental illness. For example, a combination of drugs and medication for depression or anxiety can reduce the effectiveness of psychiatric medication and, in worse cases, even lead to death. This is by far not the only reason why drugs are so closely related to our mental health. Substance abuse can also be one of the factors that increase the risk of mental illness. Some studies claim, for example, that in people with an increased proneness to schizophrenia, cannabis use can act as a trigger for the illness.
And What About It?
In what ways can addiction be treated and prevented? If you are interested in the topic, we will be glad to see you in the next part of our article.
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