Alcohol and Drugs – Not the Real Culprit in Addiction

Addiction is more about the genetics and psyche of the person rather than the substance. For example, we hear so many horrifying stories about addiction and the effects thereafter every day. We come through so many testimonies of real time addicts over the internet while browsing. But most of us want to be adventurous with drugs and alcohol and feel that high at least once in a lifetime. Be it officially or unofficially. Official/unofficial part is significant here, as it throws enough light upon the desire to use despite the consequences.

Alcohol/substance is not the worst part of an addiction. Instead, it is the approach, genetics, psyche, and attitude of the person towards these forbidden illegal drugs and the reluctance to come to terms with reality. Let’s examine each of the factors in detail below:

Addiction and Biology
From times immemorial, people have been exhibiting complex behaviours. Attempting to shift the natural state of consciousness is one among them. The first mention of barley beverage dates back to 4th millennium BC (found on the rock carvings of the cavemen). During 16th and 17th centuries most doctors across European continent had preferred to treat various physical ailments with Opium. Depending widely upon passage of time and the social response thereupon, use and abuse of mood-altering chemicals had witnessed significant evolution till date. Availability and affordability of such drugs has been the critical vector in spiralling addictive patterns among human beings.

According to the biological point of view, humans are pre-disposed to addictive behaviors. And according to the experts, there is no way to undo the pathways once addiction kickstarts in human beings. Its like the common metaphor referring a cucumber turn into a pickle. Biology treats addiction as a disease rather than a condition. People with mental illnesses and people hailing from a family of addicts are more prone to becoming addicts themselves. They are bound to be blown away by the effects of mood-altering chemicals during the first take itself. The reason may be because of the effect of drugs of abuse on the circuits of the brain that are referred to as rewarding cells that further cements the foundations of addiction.

Addiction and Genetics
Genetics has a huge role to play in addictive behaviours.” It runs in the families”. Say experts. Genetics determines the response of alcohol/substance on a person’s mind. The reaction of penicillin on different kinds of persons is the best example in the context. People who have a family history of addiction are more prone to addictive behaviour. The addiction in this context is not limited to substance or alcohol alone. It may range from addiction of coffee to TV, video games, computer to Porn. Most of the genetically vulnerable people acknowledge this fact well before their teens. This could be because of the uncontrollable urges of their family members or self-discovery through observation.

Though, some people restrain themselves from using substance after knowing about their genetic pre-disposition, few of them assume that it is only during their teens that they need to be on guard and adulthood indulgence does not do any harm. This is a big misinterpretation though. People with genetically abnormal physical and mental functioning have often been the worst victims of alcohol/drug abuse. These are the people observed to make regular visits to the ER rooms after a severe fallout. By the time the fog about their age regulations lifts, they would already have buried themselves in depression.

Addiction and Psychology
The concept of basis of addiction is still being controversial. The new disease model of psychology argues that addiction is not a conventional disease. Instead, it is a disease of choice. It is described as the disorder of the brain to make proper decisions and inability to control one’s urges. i.e. lack of control.

Upon using a substance there may be a significant increase in dopamine that releases in the mid part of the brain. Dopamine is a substance responsible for the sense of pleasure. The abuse of substances increases the threshold of pleasure senses. The neurochemicals which identify these pleasures push the person to drug-seeking behaviours. Not all the persons who try drugs become addicts but the ones with poor control systems and compulsive behaviours are acutely prone. As the pleasure components of the brain keep shifting to seek higher thresholds, the persons start using higher doses of drugs to attain the same stimuli. This is what results in an addictive and compulsive behaviour among the addicts.

Addiction and attitude
Attitude is one strong determinant of alcohol/substance abuse in a person. Individuals can omit alcohol addiction and drugs from their life through complete abstinence. Turning cold turkey is not much of a deal given the compulsive need to walk back the aisle and resume a normal life. After all attitude is everything when it comes to the choice of sobriety to addiction.

One may choose to continue addiction even after acknowledging their own addictive patterns and the negative consequences it may cause. The reasons of validations for such choices may range from maintaining groups to looking chic to escape and stress relief. But the fact that abstinence is completely possible and there is power and hope in persistence and making conscious choices comes a long way in regaining life and health.