Risk & Complications of Addiction


While the exact cause of addictive behavior is not known, there are a number of risk factors that increase a person's chance of developing an addiction. Some of these include:

  • Genetics
  • Social factors such as a work environment where drug or alcohol is more accepted leads to higher cases of addictions
  • Peer pressure
  • Stress and lifestyle habits / Poor coping strategies
  • Early use of drugs and alcohol is more likely to progress into a full-blown addiction over time
  • Traumatic life experiences such as childhood abuse, negligent parents, divorce, job loss, death of a loved one are often associated with the development and recurrence of addictive behaviors.

Frequently asked questions
References
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  2. B. Capps, W. Hall, A. Carter, Addiction, In: Editor-in-Chief: Ruth Chadwick, Editor(s)-in-Chief, Encyclopedia of Applied Ethics (Second Edition), Academic Press, San Diego, 2012, Pages 22-30, ISBN 9780123739322, 10.1016/B978-0-12-373932-2.00125-3. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123739322001253)
  3. Mark P. McGovern, Haiyi Xie, Sam R. Segal, Lauren Siembab, Robert E. Drake, Addiction treatment services and co-occurring disorders: Prevalence estimates, treatment practices, and barriers, Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, Volume 31, Issue 3, October 2006, Pages 267-275, ISSN 0740-5472, 10.1016/j.jsat.2006.05.003. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0740547206001437)
  4. Ilana B. Glass, Diploma in addiction behaviour: update, Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Volume 25, Issue 1, February 1990, Pages 39-42, ISSN 0376-8716, 10.1016/0376-8716(90)90138-5. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0376871690901385)