Drug addiction, by definition of the Mayo Clinic, is a physical dependence on a street drug or medication. Once addicted, it is difficult to control your cravings and desire for the drug of choice. Not everyone has addictive tendencies, and it is hard to predict if you will fall prey to drug addiction. However, certain risk factors may determine just how susceptible you are.
Family History
Drug addiction is more common in some families than in others. This may be due to your genes, according to the Mayo Clinic. If a direct blood relative, such as a parent or sibling, is addicted to drugs, you are at a greater risk for addiction yourself.
Social Pressures
This is perhaps one the largest factors among teens. Also referred to as peer pressure, taking drugs or drinking alcohol is a way for kids to fit in among their peers, a way to feel accepted and wanted. However, what may start out as a way of making friends can end in a drug addiction that ruins relationships in the long run.
Feelings of Sadness
For some, drugs or alcohol provide a way to ease the pain of being alone or feeling as if they are alone. In some cases, people are suffering from legitimate disorders, such as depression or anxiety. The symptoms these disorders produce are difficult to deal with, especially when not properly diagnosed and treated. Illegal drugs provide an easy way to deal with the symptoms, while creating a web of addiction that's not so easy to escape from.
No Parenting
Children whose parents are not actively involved in their lives, or whose parents do not supervise what they are doing, are at a greater risk for becoming addicted to drugs. This leaves children and teens free to spend time looking for attention elsewhere, albeit with people who may be offering them a good time with illegal street drugs or alcohol.
Personalities
Certain personality traits, according to Drug Addiction Support, are considered to increase one's risk factors for developing an addiction to drugs. Those with conditions such as attention deficit disorder (ADD) or depression, for instance, are considered to be at higher risk than those not suffering from such conditions. Children with a low self-esteem or little confidence are also at greater risk, simply because they may use drugs to make them feel better about themselves.
