How Does Addiction Start Essay

How addiction starts

Addiction is when a person has taken a substance and has finally felt “normal”, while substance abuse is very similar, it is very different. It is when people take substances, abuse them, and can stop whenever they want. That is the difference, a person who abuses substances can be an addict but it doesn’t always mean that they are. Addiction is when a circuit in the brain has been affected and they need to take substances to produce dopamine while people who abuse substances don’t. Now people who are addicted or just abuse substances can start early on and here are some factors that influence whether they do or don’t. The main one you've probably heard of is peer pressure, but there are many other ways including: Availability,

Now those factors affect both substance abuse and addiction, let's look at some factors that only affect addiction. There's host factors that people have inherited, they include: Depression, anxiety, risk takers, people with poor impulse control, people with low stress tolerance, and people who have difficulty learning. Then there are environmental factors, these might include: a cultural acceptance of the social use of substances, the availability, the degree of criminality with the use of substances in the community. Lastly there are agent factors. Agent factors relate to the addictiveness of the substance that is being taken. All of this can cause addiction but they are not the only reason why addiction starts. Addiction is a very complicated disease that is still being studied. The best way to not get addicted to things is to learn about addiction, learn about your family history with addiction, and stay away from substances that can cause addiction, especially if you

Peer pressure is a huge thing in our society and many people will succumb to trying alcohol or substances due to peer pressure and wanting to fit in and seem cool. Others will get into addiction without peer pressure, they will find their own way there through availability, and abuse. In a study that followed women who have been interpersonally assaulted, many women who have had no history with substance abuse turned to substances. Then there is availability. Having it available and not knowing the danger of the addictive items increases the risk of use and not knowing what addiction is increases the rate of being addicted. Families can be one of the biggest factors in people turning to drugs or alcohol for comfort. It has been shown that parents who drink alcohol are four times more likely to have children who become alcohol dependent in their future, and the same can be said about substances. In a study of 559 people, it showed a direct relationship between the condition of family and substance abuse. Most addicts either have weaker ties with their family or come from unhealthy, incomplete, hostile