When it comes to the development of a substance abuse disorder, there are always several factors at play. Not everyone who experiments with drugs and alcohol will become addicted most individuals can safely drink and recreationally use drugs without developing a physical or psychological dependency. However, those with a genetic predisposition to substance abuse, those with underlying and untreated mental health conditions, and those who are faced with a wide range of environmental risk factors might develop a serious and diagnosable addiction over time.
Children of Addicted Men and Women
One of the most significant risk factors when it comes to developing a substance abuse disorder is genetics. It is often said that “addiction is a family disease.” Essentially, this means those who have family members who struggle with drug addiction are more likely to develop an addictive disorder themselves.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse recently published a study on addiction and genetics that suggests as much as half of a person’s risk of becoming addicted to a chemical substance of any kind depends solely on his or her genetics. If your father has a genetic mutation that makes him more susceptible to substance abuse, for example, there is a very good chance that this mutation will be passed down to you, making you more susceptible as well. In layman’s terms – children of drug users are more prone to addiction. Significantly more prone.
Drug Addiction Recovery for Parents
In some cases, the children of drug-addicted parents will avoid chemical substances altogether because of this. They will witness the negative impact that substance abuse has on their parents, and decide to completely avoid chemical substances of any kind. Of course, many children of drug-addicted parents do end up taking the risk, only to find themselves in a less-than-satisfactory situation somewhere down the line. When it comes to the susceptibility someone has to develop a drug addiction, it boils down to a combination of genetics and environment – nature and nurture, so to speak.
That is to say that there is more at play than mere genetics. If a child has drug-addicted parents but he or she is surrounded by a healthy support network of teachers and other role models, for example, the likelihood that he or she develops a substance abuse disorder somewhere down the line decreases significantly. If a child has drug-addicted parents and is forced to serve the role of caretaker, on the other hand, there is a far greater chance that he or she will begin to abuse chemical substances later on in life. The development of substance abuse is unique to every individual – the most important thing is seeking professional help if you have been suffering at the hands of a substance abuse disorder for any length of time.
Garden State Treatment Center – Comprehensive Addiction Treatment
Garden State Treatment Center provides men and women of all ages with the addiction treatment they need to overcome substance abuse and dependency once and for all. Our state-of-the-art New Jersey treatment facility focuses on client comfort, and our program of clinical care is both comprehensive and extremely individualized. When it comes to effectively treating substance abuse, all contributing factors must be taken into careful account.
We provide each of our clients with in-depth clinical and medical assessments upon their admission to our program. If we find that family history played a role in the development of the addiction we will focus more intensely on healing the family unit as a whole. For more information on our recovery program or on the family-related services and resources we provide, reach out to us at any point in time. We look forward to speaking with you soon and answering any additional questions you may have.