Substance abuse is a term used to describe dependency on an addictive chemical substance such as cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine. Narconon suggests that these chemicals become the focus of addictive behaviors due to their impact and influence on the brain's reward system. Methamphetamine for example, can initiate physical and psychological cravings in the reward center after only one use.
Addictive tendencies may be inherited by family members who also struggled with substance abuse. Environmental elements may also play a role.
Genetic Predisposition & Inherited Personality Factors
Studies have shown that more that 40 percent of the twins share a substance abuse problem. Further, individuals that were adopted at birth with biological parents who were substance abusers were five times more likely to become addicts despite being raised in a non-drug addicted home environment.
Neuropsychopharmacology suggests that it is hard to define whether or not substance abuse is predetermined without question based on specific alleles or whether familial discord and possible psychological disturbances are the actual causes. Individuals who eventually go on to abuse substances may also be influenced by learned familial stress and coping methods.
Environmental Factors
Peer pressure, financial burden, availability of drugs, familial discord and similar environmental factors may come into play with substance abuse disorders. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health-Canada posits that individuals who experience prejudice, discrimination and marginalization due to cultural, racial and gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, age and other external factors may internalize feelings of trauma and social isolation by turning to the emotional numbing aspects of chemical substance use.
Psychological Disturbance
Psychological disturbance is a likely culprit in substance abuse. Individuals with poor coping skills, mental illness, post-traumatic stress and painful memories often look to the way chemical substances trigger the brain's reward system and numb persistent thoughts. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health-Canada suggests that internalized feelings, the right environmental factors, genetic predisposition and personality factors can all add up to self-medicating behaviors associated with substance abuse.
