| Causes of
Addiction, Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency |
 |
Whether a person is genetically or bio-chemically
predisposed to addiction or alcoholism is a controversy that has been debated for years
within the scientific community. One school of thought advocates the Disease Concept,
which embraces the notion that addiction is an inherited disease, and that the individual
is permanently ill at a genetic level, even with those experiencing long periods of
sobriety.
Another philosophy argues that addiction is a dual problem consisting of a
physical and mental dependency on chemicals, compounded by a pre-existing mental disorder
(i.e. clinical depression, bipolar disorder, or some other mental illness), and that the
mental disorder needs to be treated first as the primary cause of the addiction.
This treatment philosophy is commonly referred to as Dual
Diagnosis. A third philosophy subscribes to the idea that chemical dependency leads to
"chemical imbalances" in the neurological system, which would be a substance
induced imbalance.
The fact remains that there is scientific research to support all of these
concepts, but that none of these theories are absolute.
The concept of drug addiction/dependence is being refined in light of new
research on blood concentrations, receptor sites, brain chemistry and withdrawal
syndromes. All mind-altering drugs, including alcohol, marijuana, heroin, other opiates,
methamphetamine and cocaine, can produce addiction or dependence, develop intolerance, and
induce a withdrawal syndrome after cessation of chronic use.
Putting all this together, persons dependent on drugs or alcohol may have
any or all of the following problems at the time they enter treatment:
- Induced chemical imbalance
- Genetic chemical imbalance
- Social and psychological problems
- Inhibited life and/or coping skills
On the assumption that one or more of these factors may be
present, it is easy to see why different treatments work for some persons but not others.
In summary, it is now believed that severe chemical imbalances exist in persons who
continuously relapse despite treatment and that the origins of those chemical imbalances
may be chemically induced, genetic, or social and psychological. |
