Finding an actual cause of substance abuse is not always easy. Causes of substance abuse are often merely reasons a person turns to using drugs or alcohol. As we explore this topic, keep that distinction in mind. This is necessary because not everyone who has a predisposition for addiction actually turns to abusing substances. The proverbial addictive personality may make the likelihood greater but it isn’t a sure thing. Let’s take a deeper look.

Addictive Personality

Some people are born with what is considered an addictive personality. These people are often risk-takers who seek more and more excitement in their lives. They may start abusing substances because they like the thrill of getting high or because they enjoy the thrill of indulging in illegal substances. Addiction takes hold, and they end up not being able to stop. People with addictive personalities are often the types that show similar traits across all areas of life. These include risk-taking, impulse control issues, the inability to set appropriate boundaries or self-regulate, or a feeling of never being satisfied. When someone with an addictive personality also has a genetic predisposition for addiction or mental health issues, the causes of substance abuse can be more difficult to pinpoint.

Genetic Causes of Substance Abuse

If a child grows up in a household where one or both parents has a substance abuse issue, this can be one of the causes of substance abuse. Children tend to learn how to deal with life from parents. Substance abuse seems natural and it may be difficult to see any other way of dealing with life stress. These children rarely learn things like self-control, proper coping strategies, or other ways of dealing with the hardships in life and may fall back on what they are familiar with seeing.

Mental Health Issues

Self-medication is often one of the causes of substance abuse. When a person is dealing with depression, social anxiety, or other symptoms of mental illness, they know their minds aren’t working like the minds of people around them. They may be scared to reach out and ask for help, believing they will be ridiculed. To try to elevate their mood, calm nerves in order to socialize, or block out unwanted dreams, thoughts, or voices, drugs or alcohol seem like a good idea. Little do these individuals understand that substance abuse often makes the original mental health issues worse over time. Now, when they sober up or come down from the high, they are facing the original problems, sometimes amplified, and the consequences of addiction.

Peer Pressure

It may be difficult to understand for people who have strong, confident personalities, but teenagers and young adults are very susceptible to peer pressure. What starts out as a way to fit in with the crowd can quickly turn into a drug abuse issue in these individuals if they have some of the other factors that lead to addiction. The individual may start out with a drink or two and like that they feel happier and more self-confident. Those around him encourage the behavior, and he feels like he fits in. Someone may then offer her something they say will make her feel even better. They assure her that “everyone is doing it” and she tries it. Eventually, addiction has taken over.

Find Help At Bayview Recovery

The causes of substance abuse in each individual case can help us determine the best course of treatment for you or your loved one. When you reach out to Bayview Recovery, we will conduct a thorough background and evaluation to help find that base cause. Once discovered, learning more productive methods of handling that cause will help you maintain momentum on your road to recovery. Call 855.478.3650 today.