The abuse or dependence on alcohol or drugs is a serious mental illness that negatively affects a person's life. Substance abuse can destroy relationships, make it impossible for someone to have a steady job and cause people to suffer from other mental health and physical problems. Once drug use starts to affect your job or school performance, relationships and financial stability, you have a problem that needs professional attention.
Family History
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry reports that teens who come from families with a history of substance abuse are at risk for abusing drugs or alcohol. This does not mean that if your father was an alcoholic, you're destined to be an alcoholic. It means that once you go down that path of drinking regularly, your chances of becoming an alcoholic are higher than someone who does not have a family history. You can take steps to prevent it from happening, or you can make decisions that allow it to occur.
Mental Health Problems
Some people who have mental health issues such as depression or anxiety turn to alcohol and drugs to cope with their feelings. They might not realize that they have a mental illness and just want the feelings of fear, sadness, irritability and hopelessness to go away. People who don't know how to cope with stress, anxiety and sadness healthfully are more at risk for using alcohol and drugs to numb their feelings. However, drug use tends to bring more problems into the person's life, which increases the person's symptoms of depression and anxiety. When someone enters therapy, it can be hard to tell if the mental illness or substance abuse came first. Many times people develop depression because of substance use.
Traumatic Experiences
According to Helpguide.org, people who have experienced trauma are more at risk for using substances. If the person was sexually abused, was robbed at gunpoint or experienced a plane crash, he might develop a substance abuse problem. Usually, the person turns to drugs and alcohol to numb his feelings just like someone does with depression or anxiety, and the use increases and magnifies over time leading to substance abuse and dependence.
Low Self-Esteem
Teens and adults with low self-esteem and self-confidence tend to use drugs and alcohol more than people who are confident. An adult might start drinking to feel comfortable at office parties, dinner parties and weddings. A teen might start using drugs to feel more comfortable in social situations as well. A teen with low self-esteem is more likely to use drugs and alcohol at a party than a teen who feels confident interacting with her peers.
