Addiction

The past decade has brought a different way of looking at addiction. It is now understood that it is a progressive, chronic disorder that can sometimes lead to death. The proclivity for addiction is not necessarily only environmental, nor is it only genetic. In many cases it may be a mixture of the two predisposing factors.

Addiction acts upon the individual as a compulsive behavior which is difficult or outright impossible to resist. The behavior patterns are often self-destructive and powerfully impact upon family and friends. Addicts are often clearly aware of their critical problem and generally have a strong impetus to stop engaging in the characteristic behavior but very often find it an insurmountable challenge.

Addiction is usually characterized by the constant seeking of ever greater amounts of the particular addictive substance or behavior. However, is not limited only to substances such as pharmaceuticals, narcotics, alcohol and tobacco, as it can also manifest itself in sexual promiscuity, excessive gambling and other behaviors.

Attempts of the addict to halt the indulgence in the substance or behavior are often met by agonizing symptoms of withdrawal. The affliction seems to know no boundaries and can impact anyone regardless of religion, age, race or sex. Addicts cannot be regularly be identified by sight as their affliction does not regularly manifest itself in physiological changes.

Almost $300 billion per year is spent in the U.S. medical and social systems to confront the issues presented by the widespread problem of addiction in this country. These costs far exceed treatment charges, but must include related factors such as crime, truancy, lost work time and productivity, property damage, and psychological and physical injury to others, as well as injuries and illnesses of the addict.

There are ways to somewhat attenuate addiction but there is no definitive cure. Even after undergoing the finest level of treatments, addicts are likely to relapse after undergoing emotional or environmental stresses. The addict must be monitored against the possibility of sudden relapse for the rest of their lives, yet it is possible for that person to live a productive and balanced life free from the indulgence in the addiction with a comprehensive course of treatment and self-care.

The debate of the effects of Nature vs. Nurture in whether persons develop to be addicts goes back many years. The latest research seems to point to the reality that both genetic and environmental effects seem to have a powerful bearing on the development of the affliction by the individual.

A large number of clinical studies have been undertaken to conclusively determine that genetics does have an undeniable impact on whether an offspring develops into an addict. Some of these studies have focused on determining the addiction parameters found in adopted or twin siblings and have confirmed the genetic link.

Genetics don't tell the whole story, as environmental factors also have to be taken into consideration whenever examining the root causes of the affliction. The milieu which surrounds the person, especially during the psychological formative years, can either increase the likelihood of developing addiction, or help develop the particular skill set of resilience which allows the individual to resist the temptation to start using addictive substances or engaging in addictive behavior patterns.

The study of the environmental risk factors has determined that there is an overlapping web of influences which can determine the likelihood for a person's future addictive behavior. One section centers around the family's history of addiction, the presence of addictive behavior while the individual is growing up, and the level of parenting skills exercised. Another section focuses on the demographic aspects, such as economic status, crime rate, quality of education, geography and similar factors.

A child who is reared in a household where they are exposed to addictive behavior from parents or siblings, or has been raised in a laissez-faire or abusive home environment, develops a significantly higher risk of becoming an addict. Similarly, if the child is raised in a poor, urban neighborhood with a faulty educational system and an elevated crime rate, the prospect of addiction increases exponentially.

This is not to say that all children who are raised in these familial or demographic environments will automatically become addicts in their future lives. There are various resiliency factors that some of these children develop which allow them to steer clear of addictive behavior for the rest of their lives. It seems that some people are able to develop these strengths as a tool for survival, and others are not. The ones who fail are the ones most likely to live out their lives as addicts.

Common sense and self-esteem play a very significant if not outright overwhelming role in developing resilience against future addictive behavior. The U.S. educational system has implemented some measures to instill self-esteem and develop common sense in children; however the most significant environment for the edification of the resiliency skills is in the home.

What has sometimes been termed "Tough Love" seems to be the most significant strategy parents can implement in order to minimize the offspring's future addictive behavior. Children who are raised in a loving environment where strict but fair limits and boundaries are enforced are less likely to become addicts, as their resiliency strengths are well developed in such a domestic environment.

A critical factor is the age of the individual when they first engage in substance or behavioral self-abuse. If the first indulgence can be delayed, then the less likely it is that a full-blown addiction will be the result.

No person can modify their own genetic inheritance, whether it is a predispostion to cardiovascular conditions, tumours or addictive behaviour, it is impossible to excise that aspect from our DNA. However, environmental factors can be controlled. Educational programs and domestic influences that nurture resiliency skills and delay the first sampling of a particular addictive substance or behaviour pattern have been proven to have a powerful effect on discouraging future addiction. It is important that these steps be taken for the sake of future generations.