No One Ever Makes the Choice of Addiction

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No One Ever Makes the Choice of Addiction

Addiction is a very controversial topic. There are also a lot of myths about addiction. Many people believe addiction is the result of a lack of willpower. They also believe that addiction is something that the individual chose. However, it is important to note that no one ever makes the choice of addiction.

Researchers believe that addiction often occurs because the substance stimulates the parts of the brain that control reward, mood, and concentration. This stimulation causes a person to experience intense pleasure. There are also many other factors that make a person more susceptible to developing an addiction. Below is a list of common addiction risk factors.

Genetics or Family History

Addiction has a tendency to run in families. People who have a close relative with an addiction are much more likely to develop one themselves. Researchers not only believe that people have a genetic predisposition to addiction, but family members have a tendency to share environmental factors which make some people think that they made a choice of addiction.

Peer Pressure

Many people desire to fit in with their peers. This desire to fit in can cause a person to experiment with addictive substances. Many people only want to try the substance once just to see how it feels. However, they often end up becoming addicted to it, although they did not make the choice of addiction.  When many people hear the term “peer pressure,” they think about a problem that only affects teenagers. However, even adults can feel pressured to do things that they do not want to do just to fit in with their peers.

Mental Disorders

People who have a mental disorder, such as ADHD or depression, are more likely to develop an addiction. Researchers are not sure exactly why individuals who have a mental condition are more likely to become an addict. However, they do believe that many people with a mental disorder try to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol even though they are not making the choice of addiction. The addicting substances can make the condition a lot worse.

Stress Doesn’t Lead to a Choice of Addiction

Life can be incredibly stressful at times. Many people believe that using an addicting substance can help them feel better. For example, many people have a couple of drinks after having a bad day at work. They may get into the habit of drinking every day or binge drinking, which can lead to addiction.

Inpatient Rehab Can Help People Get Over an Addiction to Drugs or Alcohol

Addiction can be difficult to treat. However, if a person has an addiction, then his or her best bet is going to inpatient rehab. One of the reasons inpatient rehab is so successful is because it focuses on the factors that caused a person to become an addict. It also teaches people how they can focus their attention on other things so that they can stay sober. Inpatient addiction treatment removes the user from the stresses of everyday life and takes them out of the environment where they consume their substance of abuse.

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