Rieleros Deaguas Calientes

What Causes Drug Addiction?

Posted by | Science & Medicine | Posted on February 15th, 2011

One of the first questions out of the mouths of family members and loved ones to an addict is ‘why?’ It is such an easy question to ask, but not so easy to answer. Many addicts aren’t even aware of the reason that they started using. This could be a result of many, many years passing since the initial use, because they blocked that memory out, or because they were already high on another substance when they reached for the one that ultimately took hold.

There are many reasons that a person turns to drugs and while this article will address a few of those, it is important to understand, that no matter the reason, this is a disease and the person undergoing Texas drug rehab will require love and support if he or she is to succeed.

Pummeling Pain – A big reason for many people who turn to drugs is pain. This can come in two forms. The first is physical pain. Imagine the last time you were hurt – an ankle sprain, a tweaked back, or a broken bone – and then imagine that pain becoming chronic (being felt each and every day). A person who falls victim to chronic pain is at a higher risk of drug addiction simply because the pain can become too much to bear without the help. Nevertheless, there is help for these patients. They can find the relief they need and freedom from the drug with help.

The pain can also be mental or emotional. This can be the result of losing someone, a result of feeling inadequate, or a result of a tumultuous upbringing, among other things. The high that alcohol, cocaine, or heroin can offer will often be enough to quell the hurt at first. However, the body can develop tolerance to drugs, which means more is needed in order to reach the same high. This is why rehab programs, such as cocaine rehabilitation, are so important. They address the underlying hurt, while freeing the person from the addiction.

Genetics – This also, unfortunately, plays a big part in who becomes an addict. If two young friends fall victim to peer pressure and try a drug for the first time, the one with a parent or grandparent who once went through rehab is more likely to form an addiction to it. This is both a result of the genetic makeup and also the upbringing. A parent who uses drugs in front of a child is more likely to have a child that uses in the future. It can feel safer and more normal to a person who grew up around it. This is why family members will often fall into the same long term meth rehab programs.

Personality and Environment – If addiction is going to happen, there first has to be exposure. The more outgoing the person is and the more exposure to dangerous environments he or she has, the more likely that the person will try the drug, which will ultimately become the problem. This is not to say that shy individuals cannot become addicts. It does, however, explain why people in show business or in a constant limelight will often succumb to these issues. If it is always there and you are always around it, you are far more likely to give it a try. This type of person will also have trouble staying clean because personal connections can lead back to those same environments all over again. This is why there are programs like heroin relapse prevention. Getting clean is only a fraction of the battle. It is staying sober that is the big battle.