When people struggle with addiction, it can be difficult to understand the cause. Things like therapy and professional outpatient rehab might talk a lot about overcoming addiction, but what is the root cause of addiction? Understanding your root cause or that of a family member is an essential piece of understanding what led to addiction and how to avoid it again in the future.
What is the Root Cause of Addiction?
There are many root causes of addiction, not just one.
Genetics
Studies have found that your genetic profile can be a significant factor in whether or not you develop an addiction. This means that certain genes can make you predisposed to addictive behaviors and addiction to specific substances.
Consider this: The American Psychological Association and other scientific research has found that:
- Cocaine addiction is linked to modified HIST1H2BD genes
- Alcoholism is linked to lower or higher levels of ALDH1 and ALDH2, GABRA2, and CHRM2L genes
- How your body responds to stress and the risk of addiction is linked to the MAOA and SLC6A4 genes.
Your genes account for sixty percent of your risk of addiction and fifty-four percent of your ability to quit if you are addicted.
Even if you don’t have modifications to the specific genes listed above, you can have fewer D2 or dopamine receptors than the average person, and if you have fewer receptors, you are more likely to become addicted.
So, what is the root cause of addiction in this case? For some people, the root cause might legitimately be their genetic profile, but it is certainly not the only cause or only contributing factor.
Environment
Your environment is another risk factor, one that could be the root cause of addiction, depending on circumstances. Studies have found that the more an individual is exposed to specific environmental factors growing up, the more likely they are to develop an addiction.
this can include things like:
- Living in a home with substance abuse
- Living in an environment with domestic violence
- Being abused as a child
- Being neglected as a child
- Living in poverty
- Living in a dangerous neighborhood or city
So, what is the root cause of addiction here? For some people who grew up in a dangerous environment full of neglect or substance abuse, their root cause may not be genetic, but it could be environmental.
Trauma
On a related note, trauma can put someone at a higher risk of developing addiction. For many people, trauma is the root cause of addiction, as addiction is a person’s attempt to meet their needs.
Someone who has undiagnosed mental health disorders or was exposed to several traumatic events over the span of their lifetime might not realize the detriment that this has caused to daily function and instead turn to self-medication with things like drugs and alcohol.
Health
Sometimes, there are other root causes that have to do with your physical or mental health. Medications prescribed for a health condition could lead to changes to the brain that increase the risk of addiction. Similarly, physical injuries like traumatic brain injuries can lead to changes in the brain that also increase your risk of addiction.
Your existing mental health can be a precursor such that if you have something like major depressive disorder, it could lead to the secondary development of addiction.
No matter the root cause of addiction, you can find professional treatment that helps you understand your contributing factors and how to avoid things like relapse down the line.
Getting Help with Addiction
If you are struggling with addiction, Sequoia Detox Centers can help. We offer a range of services at all levels of care including:
- Detox
- Residential care
- PHP
- IOP
- Outpatient care
- Aftercare
Given the high rates of overlap between addiction and mental health disorders, you can find dual diagnosis services, too. At our facility, our dual diagnosis service provides treatment for co-occurring addiction and mental health disorders. Given that there is a relationship between the two and one can be the root cause of addiction, this type of personalized treatment can offer significant relief to clients.
What is the root cause of addiction? There are many, including genetics, mental health disorders, and brain health. However, no matter the root cause of addiction, you can find treatment today.
Contact our team today to learn more by emailing help@sequoiadetoxcenters.com or calling 1-866-824-0709.