Social Life Contributes to Addictions
March 12, 2008
Many studies have shown that there are strong relationships between an individual’s social environment and whether they end up suffering from alcoholism or some type of drug addiction at some point in their lives. While many factors contribute to alcohol and drug abuse, social relationships exist as one of the important ones to look at. Bonds between friends, parents and children, spouses, and other family members can lead to an addiction in a person who was already susceptible due to other risk factors.
Alcohol and drug addiction are physical conditions. Abuse of these substances actually creates changes in one’s brain chemistry and body that make it very difficult to stop using them. However, the addict’s personal relationships sometimes helped them get into a situation of beginning to use the drug or alcohol in the first place.
A lot of research has been done on the fact that alcohol and drug addictions tend to run in families. One reason for this is genetic. There are actually certain genes that make it more likely for a person to be controlled by an addictive substance. The other reason why alcoholism and drug abuse is common among members of the same family has more to do with psychology and sociology. Children of parents who suffered from addiction when they were growing up are especially susceptible to developing an addiction. Their parent set an example for them when they were young, which puts them at greater risk of doing the same thing.
Another way that one’s social life contributes to alcohol and drug addiction is through peer pressure. This is especially prevalent in the teenage years, but it can happen at any age. People are, by nature, influenced by the behaviors of those around them. They want to fit in with the group. When other members of a peer group begin to experiment with drugs and alcohol, it’s easy for individuals to follow along—even if they’re reluctant to do so. This can easily lead to future drug abuse and alcoholism.
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