What is Addiction?
Addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disease; identified as such because drugs change the structure of the brain and how it functions.
-NIH, National Institute on Drug Abuse
Chronic illnesses are long-lasting conditions that can be controlled but not cured. Relapse is common and similar across these illnesses and serves as an indicator for renewed intervention. Relapse is not a sign of weakness or lack of effort. It is during relapse episodes when individuals need support and acceptance, as opposed to blame and disappointment often expressed from friends, loved ones, and treating providers.
Similar to other chronic diseases such as type II diabetes, cancel, and cardiovascular disease, addition treatment requires medical care, healthy lifestyle change, and strong family/community supports.
Who Develops Addiction?
There are many risk factors that increase the chances of an individual’s drug use progressing to addiction. NO SINGLE FACTOR can determine if a person will develop an Alcohol or Substance Use Disorder.
3 Most Common Risk Factors:
Biology
Environment
Development
Biology
Genetics account for about half of a person’s risk for developing an addiction
Environment
Examples of environmental factors that place individuals at risk for addiction include:
Family (exposure to drug/alcohol use in the home)
Friends (individuals with friends who abuse drugs/alcohol have increased curiosity, exposure & access)
Socioeconomic Status
Peer Pressure
Childhood Trauma
Early Exposure to Drugs & Alcohol
Development
The earlier drug use begins, the greater risk there is for addiction, as the human brain does not fully develop until an individual is between the ages of 21-25 years old