Risk factors for drug and alcohol addiction

There are certain risk factors that make some people more prone to addiction than others. Elements such as a history of family addiction, age or a high level of stress make people more susceptible to major drug or alcohol problems.

There is no one reason why people become addicts. However, science is making great inroads in understanding some of the reasons that certain people are prone to the type of addictive actions that eventually lead them into a rehab center. Genetic, environmental factors and mental health conditions are just a few of the risk factors that lead some people into a spiral of addiction that forces them to end up in drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

Genetics: People who have a family member with a drug or alcohol problem are at a high risk for addictive behavior themselves. The results of one study suggested that children or siblings of drug and alcohol abusers were two to four times more likely to have a drug or alcohol addiction than someone with a history of addiction in their immediate family. The types of unhappy childhood environments that come from families with addiction is one factor, but so are issues with the "wiring of the brain" that appear to be handed down from generation to generation.

Age: People who begin abusing drugs or alcohol at a younger age are more likely to have a serious problem that will necessitate going to a drug rehab program. Also, because adolescents are also going through major changes with their bodies and their brains, drug treatment can be complicated and in some cases more difficult than with an adult.

Types of drugs used: Researchers say that drugs that are injected into the veins such as heroin are incredibly addictive because they trigger an "instant" high by getting directly into the blood stream. This is opposed to drugs that are smoked or ingested, which have to work their way through the nervous system before giving the user a high. Because of this, drugs that provide instant gratification can be more difficult to treat while the patient is in drug rehab, including having more violent withdrawal symptoms.

Nelson Conway is a freelance writer living in Pasadena, Calif. His work has been published by magazines and major online news sites.

http://www.everydayhealth.com/addiction/drug-addiction-and-alcoholism-risk-factors.aspx