Addiction doesn’t develop out of nowhere. There are many different factors that lead to the disease’s onset. By exploring the top five causes of addiction, you’ll better understand what you can do to overcome it.

1. Genetic Predisposition to Addiction

It’s hard to explain why some people develop an addiction immediately while others don’t. However, many people have a genetic predisposition to the disease.

Consequently, when these individuals use substances like drugs or alcohol, their brain forms dependence quickly. Often, this is why addiction runs in families. Overall, if someone in your family struggles with the disease, you might have a higher risk of addiction development.

2. Mental Illness

Another major addiction risk is mental health symptoms. There is an undeniable connection between mental illness and addiction. Therefore, struggling with a mental health condition like schizophrenia or anxiety increases the likelihood of substance abuse.

3. A History of Trauma

Suffering from trauma also increases your chances of developing an addiction. This is especially true if you struggled with trauma but didn’t receive any kind of therapy or support afterwards. Trauma comes in many varieties, and can include witnessing a violent crime, living through a natural disaster, or suffering from domestic or sexual abuse. PTSD, or post traumatic stress disorder, is especially common among those who return from military service overseas.

4. Exposure to Substance Abuse at an Early Age

The earlier in life an individual abuses addictive substances, the more likely they are to develop a problem. While the brain is developing, it’s more susceptible to dangerous substances and their effects. This is why it’s so important to avoid drug and alcohol abuse while going through adolescence. Exposing teens and young people to illicit substances early often leads to undiagnosed addictions later in life.

5. Inability to Handle Stress in a Healthy Way

One of the more surprising causes of addiction is stress. Overall, everyone deals with stress, but not everyone has the skills to cope with it. If you aren’t able to deal with stress effectively, you’re likely to turn to substance abuse. This is why addiction treatment programs place emphasis on developing healthy stress management methods.

Treating the Causes of Addiction at Steps to Recovery

The best addiction treatment programs don’t just treat symptoms. Instead, they also focus on addressing the causes of substance abuse. At Steps to Recovery, various methods can address everything from poor stress management to mental health. Some of the treatments we use include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Life skills training
• Dual diagnosis care
• Family therapy
• 12 step programs
• Group therapy

These causes of addiction showcase the differences between patients. At Steps to Recovery in Levittown, Pennsylvania, custom treatment plans address these. Call 267.719.8528 and start fighting back against addiction today.