Anyone can develop an addiction. No matter your income or education level, your race or religion, what pressures you face, or how much or little support you have, you can suffer from addiction.
However, some people may be more vulnerable to drug or alcohol addiction depending on several risk factors. Understanding risk factors can help you protect yourself and your family members from developing a substance use disorder.
People Who are Most Vulnerable to Addiction
Drugs and alcohol are powerful substances that can lead to addiction in anyone, but three groups of people, in particular, are at higher risk than the general population for developing an addiction.
- Children of people who have addiction
A child raised within an environment where a family member has a drug or alcohol use disorder is more likely to develop one themselves. This can happen for several reasons. First, if the child’s mother used substances while pregnant, the child might be born addicted to those same substances and be prone to addiction later in life. Second, households in which addiction is present can expose children to trauma that will increase their risk for addiction as adults. And finally, the genetic component of addiction will be at play for biological children of addicted parents.
- People who start using substances as teens
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services notes that one of the most at-risk groups for addiction are those who begin using substances as teenagers. Teens are vulnerable because their brains are not fully developed, which makes it harder for them to exercise impulse control and risk assessment. According to the University of Utah’s Genetic Science Learning Center, teens who start drinking by age 13 have a 43% chance of becoming alcoholics, while those who start drinking at 21 have only a 10% chance.
- People with mental health disorders
A person with a mental health disorder may be more likely to start on the path of drug and alcohol abuse. For example, if a person has depression or anxiety, they may use substances to help them deal with those symptoms. Self-medicating like this can lead to the development of addiction–and a worsening of the mental health disorder. Untreated PTSD can encourage the use of alcohol as a way to limit the thoughts and feelings you do not want to experience.
Other Factors That Contribute to Addiction Onset
Consider a few more factors that contribute to the development of addiction:
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- Stress: Those who work in high-stress jobs, are in highly stressful educational programs, or who have a stressful home environment are at a high risk for using substances if they don’t have healthier ways to deal with that stress.
- Pain: Chronic pain can lead to opioid addiction for those who take prescription painkillers.
- Traumatic brain injury: People who suffer injury to the brain may be more at risk for developing addiction.
- Lack of support: People who are isolated and lonely, who don’t have access to good healthcare or treatment options, or who don’t have a good support system at home are also more at risk for addiction.
It’s critical to understand that, even if you are in one of these vulnerable groups, you don’t have to develop addiction, and if you do, you can recover.
Set Up a Consultation to Discuss Your Risk Factors
Let the team at Iron Bridge Recovery Center help you. We know how to provide you with the right environment to encourage long-term healing and recovery.
Set up a consultation with our compassionate and trusted therapists today. Contact us now for the help you need.
