top of page

Why do some people become addicted to drugs, while others do not?

As with other diseases and disorders, the likelihood of developing an addiction differs from person to person, and no single factor determines whether a person will become addicted to drugs. In general, the more risk factors a person has, the greater the chance that taking drugs will lead to drug use and addiction. Protective factors, on the other hand, reduce a person's risk. Risk and protective factors may be either environmental or biological.

Risk FactorsProtective FactorsAggressive behavior in childhood13,14Good self-control15Lack of parental supervision14,16Parental monitoring and support16-18Poor social skills13,17,18Positive relationships17,19Drug experimentation14,20,21Good grades17,22Availability of drugs at school21,23School anti-drug policies17Community poverty24,25Neighborhood resources26📷

What biological factors increase risk of addiction?

Biological factors that can affect a person's risk of addiction include their genes, stage of development, and even gender or ethnicity. Scientists estimate that genes, including the effects environmental factors have on a person's gene expression, called epigenetics, account for between 40 and 60 percent of a person's risk of addiction.27 Also, teens and people with mental disorders are at greater risk of drug use and addiction than others.28

Comments


bottom of page