The Dangers Of Addictions And Drug Use

The concept that drugs abuse and being more likely to inherit the likelyhood of being addicted has always intrigued me. It intrigues me because it makes sense. Why is it that people pick up smoking cigarettes after the first time? Or people of Native American descent are more likely than most ethnic groups to be alcoholics? There is the whole concept of nature v. Nurture. Our surrounding pre-determine our likelylihood of becoming addicted based on if one of our parents drank. But what if it's more than that? What if what we are inheriting is not the behavior immersed around us, although that does play a factor, but the genetics behind the initial addiction?

To begin with, studies have found that inherited genes are responsible for a considerably large part of the probability that someone will become addicted to any kind of substance or behavior. Addiction is strongly influenced by genetic factors in the later stages of addiction, such as problem use and dependence of an addictive substance. Some genetic factors can make an individual more likely to become addicted to only one specific drug. On the other hand, some genes can make an individual more likely to become addicted in general. Some individuals might be genetically inclined to risk-taking behavior such as receiving large jolts of dopamine through what they consider to be the “excitement” of drug use. These individuals could be subject to keep returning to the illicit and harmful drugs that they find enjoyable despite what they know of the harmful effects. These genetic influences could make them more likely to become addicted to alcohol, cocaine, tobacco, gambling, or any number of substances or activities. Addiction has an inherited component and it

Genetic factors have been directly linked to the risk of an individual’s vulnerability to addiction (APA, 2008). In addition, other risk factors that play a

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) describes addiction as a, “chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences” (“Understanding Drug Use and Addiction,” 2016). Long-term use can effect and change a person’s ability to learn, judge, and make decisions. Stress, memory issues, and behavior problems are also common side effects of extended drug use. There is not one single factor that can determine if a person will become addicted drugs. However, certain risk factors have been identified as predicting higher probabilities of addiction because of a person’s biology, environment, and development. Adolescents who abuse

Genes and environment both prove to be important when determining who will be susceptible to becoming addicted to substances and who will not (Durand, Barlow, 2016, 388-389). Using drugs is based on environmental factors but becoming dependent on drugs will occur if a person is genetically vulnerable. There is no specific gene that can be held responsible for this phenomenon, but rather a group of genes that put one at risk for substance use disorder broadly. Susceptibility to addiction to one substance in particular does not occur. Psychological factors must also be considered when discussing what causes substance abuse disorder. Positive reinforcement (making one feel good) and negative reinforcement (making one feel less bad) are two primary reasons for continuing drug use.

While genetics play a role in an addiction, they are only half of the equation. Environmental factors like relationships, work and stress can increase the chances of someone becoming an alcoholic. When these environmental factors are combined with alcoholism genetics, the results can be terrible. Someone who has a predisposition for an addiction is more likely to become an addict if they are in an environment where substance

What are some of the contributing factors? Some scientists believe that certain individuals are at greater risk of drug dependence because of psychological factors, including difficulty controlling impulses, lack of values in drug use, low self-esteem, peer pressure, and depression. Risk-taking also increases between childhood and adolescence as a result of changes around the time of puberty in the brain’s socio-emotional system leading to increased reward-seeking, especially in the presence of peers. (3) Younger people also believe that they will not lose control if they use drugs. Genetics can also contribute to the increased likelihood that an individual will abuse drugs.

According to the American Psychological Association, which states that about half of a person’s tendency toward drug addiction can be blamed on genetic factors. The genes might not make the person experiment with drugs, but when the person does begin to dabble, the use could quickly spin out of control due to these underlying genetic factors. The home in which a person grows up has a great deal of influence over drug use and abuse. A study in the Archives of General Psychiatry bears out this theory quite well, as researchers looked at drug and alcohol use in genetic twins who had been raised in different homes. Those who grew up in homes that were disrupted by divorce and mental illness, and those who grew up in homes where drugs and alcohol were at play, were more likely to become abusers when they grew up. It’s possible that living in homes like this causes such intense stress that using drugs seems like a reasonable solution, but it’s also possible that growing up in a home like this normalizes drug abuse. As the child grows and sees parents abusing substances, that child learns to also abuse substances. The effects of genetics and environment can often be hard to separate, and many statistics cited in the media fail to take this into account. Children of substance use parents are likely to inherit many of the genes that would make them predisposed to

The genes that people are born with—in combination with environmental influences—account for about half of their addiction vulnerability. Additionally, gender, ethnicity, and the presence of other mental disorders may influence risk for drug abuse and addiction.

Medical researchers found out that “most diseases including addiction are complex, and variations in many different genes contribute to person’s overall level of risk or protection.” Article also further discuss that the National Institute on Drug Abuse research has led to findings that the person’s environment affect drug use. Lastly it mentioned that the structure of DNA can be remodeled due to environmental exposures or choices people make. That means that for example when a person uses cocaine, it can mark their DNA, increasing the production of proteins common in addiction. I believe that both specific environmental factors and genetics factors affect the risk of developing addiction. I think social environment is significant factor that contribute to whether an individual chooses to use substances. Some genes can’t be expressed without environmental

There is a plethora of addictions in which one can become addicted to. There are also no perquisites for anyone to become addicted to anything. When dealing with addictions regarding adolescents or anyone, it is important that the addiction is addressed and dealt with early before it becomes an even bigger problem (Siegel, 2014). It has documented in numerous sources that out of all of the age groups, the most likely to form a negative addiction is adolescents (Siegel, 2014). Adolescents seem to be influenced the easiest and are the most likely to form bad habits. It has also been noted, that many adolescents die prematurely due to things that are preventable and treatable (Feldman, 2014). Research has shown that people who formed addictions such as alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana, formed these negative habits during their adolescent years (Feldman, 2014). It is important that we ensure that we educate our youth and make them aware of the long term consequences of them engaging in their negative addictive behaviors. Being that addictions are preventable and avoidable, we need to ensure that we take the appropriate measures to prevent addictions from occurring and also educating our youth on the effects of engaging in addicting

It has been discovered that most people who struggle with drug addiction began experimenting with drugs in their teens. Teenage drug abuse is one of the largest problems in society today and the problem grows and larger every year. Drugs are a pervasive force in our culture today. To expect kids not to be influenced by the culture of their time is as unrealistic as believing in the tooth fairy (Bauman 140). Teens may feel pressured by their friends to try drugs, they may have easy access to drugs, they may use drugs to rebel against their family or society, or they may take an illegal drug because they are curious about it or the pleasure that it gives them.

I grew up with my closest childhood friend named Ram who became addicted to drugs while studying in the last year of high school. Being with him, I knew what caused him to be addicted and the effects of addiction that he struggled with. Despite his intelligence, he was very kind and friendly. He spent most of his time with me and many other friends. We had studied together from childhood, but as we grew up, we got in different circles of friends. He joined in the company of bad friends. I told him not to be close with them, but he did not listen to me. The time passed, and due to peer pressure, he slowly got involved in taking small doses of drugs like marijuana, cocaine and L.S.D. He was telling me how he felt after taking drugs. One week, two weeks and the months went on. He was then addicted to them. I went his house and scolded him, but he did not listen. In short, the effect of drug addiction was on his health problems, academic status and economic status.

When someone says, “You get that laugh or that smile from your father or your mother.” You don’t always believe them, but in some studies today it is said that if your parents or anyone in your family has a history of a drug addiction those traits in their genes have a decent chance of being passed down to the children causing problems for them later in life. According to the Drugs and Addiction article in the 2009 Addiction Journal, “Family, twin and adoption studies suggest that the heritability of substance use disorders is moderate to

Drug addiction is one of society 's biggest problems and it is rampant among teenagers and young adults and one of the most abused drugs is marijuana. Cannabis sativa or marijuana usually grows throughout tropical and temperate climates and then plant 's stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds are then dried. What attracts to most users is the mind altering effect these parts produce which is addictive to some extent. It is usually smoked as cigarette, or in a pipe. It is also smoked in blunts, in which cigars will be emptied of tobacco and refill with marijuana or sometimes it is combined with another drug. It can also be brewed as tea or mixed in food. Hashis is a more concentrated, resinous form which is sticky black liquid, hash oil. The