The root causes of addiction are becoming more and more understood as time goes on. No longer is addiction seen as some moral failing or choice. Instead, it is understood to be a chronic disease that has many causes that are often out of an individual’s control. This includes many environmental factors of addiction that are often out of their control.
The Root Causes of Addiction
There are many root causes of addiction. Perhaps two of the most discussed causes of addiction are genetic and environmental factors. According to the peer-reviewed journal Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, “Both genetic and environmental variables contribute to the initiation of use of addictive agents and to the transition from use to addiction. Addictions are moderately to highly heritable. Family, adoption, and twin studies reveal that an individual’s risk tends to be proportional to the degree of genetic relationship to an addicted relative.”
While the previous information discussed genetics, it should be noted that it was about “environmental variables.” This is because the environmental causes of addiction are also essential to consider.
What is the Role of Environmental Factors in Addiction?
There are many environmental factors of addiction. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “Substance use disorders are widely recognized as one of the most pressing global public health problems, and recent research indicates that environmental factors, including access and exposure to substances of abuse, neighborhood disadvantage and disorder, and environmental barriers to treatment, influence substance use behaviors.” Also, “Racial and socioeconomic inequities in the factors that create risky substance use environments may engender disparities in rates of substance use disorders and treatment outcomes.”
It should be noted that adverse environments are not the only cause of addiction; just because an individual lives in an environment that has a higher likelihood of addiction does not mean that they will become addicted to alcohol or substances. This is also true of low-income environments.
Environmental Factors of Addiction: Low-Income Environments
When an area is in a position to be considered low-income, many factors can negatively affect the individuals who live there. These factors include less access to healthy community resources and information, less access to healthy foods, and less access to quality healthcare.
Additionally, these areas tend to have a higher rate of drug activity and concentration of liquor stores. The increase of these factors can also lead to an increase in addiction. It can also lead to an increase in homelessness. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “21 percent of individuals experiencing homelessness reported having a serious mental illness, and 16 percent reported having a substance use disorder.”
Low-income environments have also been shown to cause issues within the home, like a greater likelihood of parental addiction, which can often influence their children. According to SAMHSA, “Previous research has shown that children of parents with an SUD were found to be of lower socioeconomic status and had more difficulties in academic, social, and family functioning when compared with children of parents who do not have an SUD.” Also, “Children who are exposed to a parent with SUDs are more likely to develop SUD symptoms themselves.” Another factor that is also specifically affecting teens is navigating the social media landscape.
Environmental Factors of Addiction: Teens and Peer-Pressured and Digital Environments
Contrary to what some may believe, social media and other online platforms are contributing to the environmental factors of addiction. More and more people are becoming negatively influenced by what they see online. Some of these negative influences can lead to the denial or downplay of substance-related harms, increasing the risk of addiction.
This can be especially true with teens. According to Pediatrics, “Digital media provide increased opportunities for both marketing and social transmission of risky products and behavior… Adolescents and young adults are uniquely vulnerable to the effects of social media in particular and digital communication in general: they are at once early adopters, nearly ubiquitous users, and highly susceptible to peer influences.”
Many teens feel “peer-pressured” by what they see by both their peers and “influencers” doing online. Unfortunately, much of this behavior is toxic and involves alcohol and other illicit substances. Without healthy information to counter the negative behaviors seen online, many teens become more susceptible to alcohol and substance use and, thus, potential alcohol and substance addiction.
Everyone Can Recover at The Phoenix Recovery Center
Here at The Phoenix Recovery Center, we understand that there are many causes of addiction, including one’s environment. However, we also know that it doesn’t matter where one comes from; anyone can recover from addiction.
When one’s environment becomes unhealthy, it becomes time to find a place that is. That place can be right here at The Phoenix Recovery Center, where one can feel safe and secure and soon find successful recovery.
It is now widely understood that one’s environment can cause a greater potential for addiction. This includes low-income environments, discriminated environments, and environments with little access to proper addiction and mental health care. It is also widely known that teens can experience peer pressure daily and now have to navigate a social media landscape that can lead to poor self-esteem and potential addiction. If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with issues of addiction and/or mental illness, we can help you get on the positive path toward long-term recovery. For more information about the environmental causes of addiction, please reach out to The Phoenix Recovery Center today at (801) 438-3185.
