One of the biggest questions we have when first facing a drinking or drug addiction problem is "Why am I this way?" Family and friends may also wonder what went wrong.
In reality, it is most likely no-one's fault; the only clear answer is that there is no agreement on one lone reason behind the cause of addiction to alcohol and other drugs. Neither is there a simple "Nature vs. Nurture" debate - the addiction and recovery process seems to be far more complex, encompassing nearly every aspect of our lives. Most likely, it is a combination of the theories proposed by scientists and those who have lived and worked in recovery.
Nature:
According to research in the past decade, there is a good deal of evidence that genetics play a part in how we react to drugs like alcohol. This includes how enjoyable it will be and how sedating it is. These findings have allowed many to recognize family patterns of alcoholism without blame, and come out of generations of denial.
Nurture:Further research shows that increased quantity and frequency of alcohol use, as well as other drugs, actually changes the way the brain responds, eventually creating a physiological need for the substance. This "re-mapping" of the brain may cause the sensation known as craving, which contributes to relapse. This is a biological explanation of the habit or compulsion phenomenon - far less moral an issue than willpower.
Mental Health:
In addition to other biological factors, many inherited and acquired mental health disorders often co-exist with substance abuse. According to NAMI, approximately half of patients with severe mental disorders also struggle with substance abuse, while over half of drug abusers have been diagnosed with at least one major mental illness. Many see the use of substances as a form of self-medication - to ease the highs of bipolar mania, lift depression, relieve anxiety, or ride through PTSD.
Does It Matter?
People want to know the source of their addictions for many reasons, but most often because of the social stigma that has surrounded alcoholism and addiction for so long. Treatment for alcoholism has only been brought out of asylums in the past fifty years, and many still picture the skid-row bum as someone with a "problem". For our neighbor, son, doctor, or pastor to acknowledge the need for help - let alone for us to ask for help ourselves - we may need that extra reminder that it is not our fault, only our responsibility to make changes.
