The start of all forms of addictions, alcoholism and chemical dependency can be explained in various ways. In most cases, prolonged use of alcohol and dependence on drugs are classic examples psychiatric disorders, and they have signs of heritability. Psychological, sociocultural, genetic and environmental factors are crucial influencers of the same. Noteworthy, early life stressors among younger people often contribute to drug use and alcoholism later in life. Environmental and genetic factors often play a significant part in explaining these kinds of problems. Unlike chemicals, alcohol use is recommended up to a certain limit to promote the well-being of individuals as well as their social relationships. However, a significant proportion of people cannot stay within the required threshold of use, which often results in a devastating consequence for such people, friends, families, and the entire society. The origin of addictions, alcoholism and chemical dependency is a crucial issue, and there are numerous theories in place to explain the problem.
Genetic Predisposition
Genetic predisposition notes that there are genes associated with addiction. Every human being has a genetic predisposition for addictions since there is evolutionary merit to it. For example, when a person eats a given food of preference, he or she does so repeatedly and develops pleasure for it, and that individual will keep on looking for it in future. In brief, the addiction potential is hardwired into our brain ( Heyman, 2013). In this sense, it is true that one can develop an addiction to drugs or alcohol, but the chances are higher if one comes from a family with alcohol and drugs abuse. Notably, everyone has the potential to be an addict: Addiction occurs in people’s brain by default regardless of any exposure. Therefore, the nerve of the brain would then develop pathways that would desire the use of a given substance repeatedly. Moreover, there are higher chances for those from addict families to be addicts.
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Environmental Issues
Environmental factors can be any issues that are external-caused by the surrounding. Nature, nurture, and trauma can form part of the ecological influencers responsible for the development of addiction ( Enoch, 2012). One example is that a stressful environment can induce stress, which in turn affects the behavior of people. Also, norms set out in a given society help in creating moral standards, which then contribute to the labeling of people as deviants, in this case, addicts. From this standpoint, it is apparent that addiction is a creation of influencers external to the inflicted individual. Another crucial aspect is to do with exposure. A person who interacts with individuals who abuse drugs and alcohol is more likely to engage in the behavior. Others may get influence from various media representations, and as well as parental boost. However, the latter causative agent is attributed more to the genetic stimulus.
Psychological Theories
Psychology as a science deals with understanding human behaviors. In most cases, it covers the essence of improving the lives of people and adaptive behaviors. Therefore, those behaviors which limit the functioning of people and lessen the satisfaction of life are known as maladaptive behaviors. One of the proponents of psychological theories is that one may engage in addiction due to abnormality, a case called psychopathology ( Voges et al., 2013). The situation depends on the mental ineptness of a person to get involved in the use of drugs and alcohol. Second, it depends on learning the use of drugs in response to the surrounding. If the environment fosters its use, then one may consider using drugs and alcohol as well. Third, thoughts and feelings are responsible for creating the urge to use drugs and other chemical substances. In turn, it determines the behavior of a person to an extent one’s thoughts and feelings are dysfunctional and unrealistic.
Sociocultural Theories
The social and cultural aspects of a given society have a significant influence on the behavior of a person. Therefore, standards in the community, when negative, are more likely to promote bad behaviors among the affected persons. In most instances, such community expectations may be subtle, yet the effect is enormous ( Room, 2014). For example, groups of youths in the U.S. may consider intoxication as humorous and tolerate such behavior.
While watching movies, characters who use alcohol and other drugs may appear humorous and entertaining, a culture, which may promote the use of drugs among the audience. Also, one can be arrested several times for drunk driving before something serious happens, such as getting severely punished or getting involved in major accidents. Thus, the systems support alcoholism. Second, the culture of poverty may make it possible for addiction to flourish. People living in impoverished areas are likely to use alcohol excessively and abuse drugs. Mostly, abuse is due to stressful situations, and people will try to use all methods possible to thwart life stresses.
Research on Origins of Addiction, Alcoholism, and Chemical Dependency
There is a significant number of researchcovering the issues of addictions, alcoholism, and chemical dependency. In a study, Sussman, S., and Sussman (2011) found out that addiction is a process that occurs in people and that one does not develop overnight. Their investigation consisted of a meta-analysis of various past studies and concluded on numerous aspects of defining addiction including temporary satiation, which points out psychological elements. In another study, Hammer et al. (2012) carried out survey research involving 63 people in Minnesota to find out how people view addiction based on formal theories in use. The result indicated that many people attributed it to the biological aspects, to mean that genetic predisposition was a significant contributor to abuse among the subjects. On the whole, various studies point out the importance of these theories in one way or another.
In an experimental investigation, the circadian rhythm gene period 1 (PER1) was examined among 273 individuals aged 18 years and above and the result indicated these individuals had a high likelihood of alcohol consumption depending on the level of family adversity ( Enoch, 2012) . Based on the results and procedures of this investigation, one can conclude that experiments can best explain the use of chemical dependency in some people. Thus, experimental investigations resent the best school of thought dependable to illustrate the use of chemicals in some people. Notably, it fuses two aspects into one, and that is gene and environment.
I feel that there is a missing link or lack of the same as far as the association between biological and social aspects of the origin of addiction, alcoholism, and chemical dependency is concerned. Further research should tackle it and come out with proposals so that people caring for the inflicted individuals can easily find a solution to help the affected persons.
Conclusion
Each theory has a logical explanation for tackling the issue of addiction, alcoholism, and chemical dependency. The genetic predisposition explores the inheritance aspect and family ties, sociocultural theories deal with society and their social and cultural norms, while environmental influencers insist on factors, which are not part of the individual, but those that one interacts with while living. Psychological theories explain the maladaptive behaviors adopted by people due to other factors. It covers the societal norms and deviations from such standards by addicts.
References
Enoch, M. A. (2012). The influence of gene-environment interactions on the development of alcoholism and drug dependence. Current psychiatry reports , 14 (2), 150-158.
Hammer, R. R., Dingel, M. J., Ostergren, J. E., Nowakowski, K. E., & Koenig, B. A. (2012). The experience of addiction as told by the addicted: incorporating biological understandings into self-story. Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry , 36 (4), 712-734.
Heyman, G. M. (2013). Addiction and choice: theory and new data. Frontiers in psychiatry , 4 , 31.
Room, R. (2014). The cultural framing of addiction. In Expanding Addiction: Critical Essays (pp. 55-62). Routledge.
Sussman, S., & Sussman, A. N. (2011). Considering the definition of addiction.
Voges, J., Müller, U., Bogerts, B., Münte, T., & Heinze, H. J. (2013). Deep brain stimulation surgery for alcohol addiction. World neurosurgery , 80 (3-4), S28-e21.
