One of the common questions relating to addiction is whether it is hereditary or genetic to a person. In this article, we will attempt to answer all queries relating to the hereditary nature of addiction.
According to the American Psychological Association, a person can be predisposed to substance abuse. They stated that about half of a person’s susceptibility to addiction can be linked to genetic predispositions. However, this does not mean that a person is destined to be an addict.
Factors that contribute to addiction
All authoritative organisations such as NIH, APA and AMA classify addiction as a mental disorder. It is a condition where a person is pushed towards reliance on a substance or habit.
Let us try to understand what can be the factors behind a person relying on an addiction. There are only five mental disorders, which can be linked to hereditary factors. These include ADHD, schizophrenia, autism, bipolar disorder and depression. The problem is that these diseases are often linked to reliance on substances.
A lot of times these disorders are left untreated and they culminate into substance abuse. The NIH has also reported that men are more likely to be dependent on a substance but women are also in the danger of relapsing. There are also other biological factors, which include personality traits making certain people more susceptible to addiction. These include nonconformity, impulsive tendencies and impairment of metabolic and psychological processes.
We also have to look at certain environmental factors, which can lead to addiction. If a child is being grown up in a place where any person abuses a substance, it can lead to experimentation. The peers and friends of a person are also contributing factors to a person’s addiction. A person may not be genetically predisposed to a substance, but their desire to fit might propel them towards a substance.
Research has also concluded that people who experience traumatic events are more likely to be addicts. Trauma is often left untreated and can lead to creation of a dysfunctional personality and attitude. Therefore, the likelihood that a person might self-medicate in order to fit into the environment and deal with situations goes up.
Let us look at the conclusion. A person might have some predisposition but that does not determine their fate. There are several factors under our control, which limit the chance of addiction. To learn more, get in touch with our experts at Taylor Recovery.