Get Clean – Call us today!

Is Addiction Genetic?

In my 40 plus years of working with suffering addicts and alcoholics, I have definitely seen a genetic component to the disease of addiction.

Over the years, a great deal of medical research has been done around the genetics of addiction. We now know that certain genes greatly increase the chances of someone becoming addicted. In addition, there are environmental factors that increase these odds when combined with the genetics. Bottom line, individuals with both genetics and environmental factors have a greater than 70% chance of becoming addicted.

By Charles Robinson, Executive Life Coach & Lead Therapist

Family is a factor

Also, it appears that the more family members who suffer or have suffered from the disease increases the chances that future generations will be affected. For example, if your mother and father have drug and alcohol addiction and their parents did as well, the chances are extremely high that you will develop the disease if you use these substances.

What is somewhat unique about this disease is that it needs to be activated by consumption of a substance. If you never consume it, you cannot become addicted to it.

 

Some traits of those addicted

There also appears to be certain traits and characteristics of those predisposed to the disease. Most who become addicted have early memories of feeling restless, irritable, discontented, anxious and depressed. What’s more, in families where addiction is prevalent, we often find that these traits may go back many generations.

 

Substance as solution

To medicate these feelings, these individuals often consumed drugs or alcohol. The substance was the solution. And, once the mental obsession and physical need for the substance is established, there is little hope of being able to stop without help.

Something puzzling is that some people become addicted with no family history of addiction or any prior feelings of restlessness and irritability. In these cases, individuals “use” themselves into addiction.

A good example is the elderly patient who goes in for hip surgery, is given opioids for pain and three months later cannot stop. This seems to indicate that virtually anyone can become addicted to opioids, hence, the type of substance and the potency also can be factors.

 

Effective help is still the key

We have learned a great deal about addiction, particularly in the past 10 years. Yet there is much more to learn. This simple fact remains – without effective help, people in active drug or alcohol addiction have very little hope or chance of overcoming their disease.

Recent Posts

How Long Does Fentanyl Stay In the Body?

Ever since you accidentally took fentanyl when it was mixed into a pill at a party, you have been hooked. Even though your friend didn’t survive the experience, taking fentanyl that night fueled your budding addiction. The depression you had been managing for years...

Types of Alcoholism

You were never good at school. The only reason you found yourself going was to keep your dad off your back, as he spent most of his days inebriated while your mother took care of everything else. He was on disability from being hurt in the factory, a life you felt you...

How Long Do Poppers Stay In Your System

There are so many substances on the streets today, and you have done your due diligence to try to stay up to date on them. Your son is a good kid, but you are always aware of what he is doing and who he hangs out with. As a parent, you want to keep him safe from harm,...

Fentanyl Withdrawals

It’s been 12 hours since you have been able to get a dose of fentanyl, and your body is letting you know. Sweat beads on your forehead as another wave of nausea sinks in. The stomach cramps are unbearable, and you can’t seem to leave the bathroom. How are you supposed...

Fentanyl Side Effects

Yet another story about the opioid epidemic airs on a local Tampa news channel. It shares startling statistics: four people per day die of opioid overdose in Tampa, and Tampa has a 50% higher overdose rate than the rest of the nation. A mother sobs on the television...