While it is true that the roots of addiction may lie in your genetics, there is also a strong correlation between environment and addiction. The more conducive the environment is to drug and alcohol abuse, the greater your addiction risk. This is a fundamental concept in addiction treatment. TruHealing Centers in Maryland factor in your environment when assessing your addiction and any mental health disorders.
There are a variety of environmental conditions that can lead to addiction. They may include abuse, divorce, stress at work, a childhood trauma, or a history of substance in the family. Unfortunately, you may not be aware that your surroundings have contributed to your addiction. It is only during therapy that you recognize the connection between environment and addiction.
A History of Substance Abuse in the Family
When assessing your addiction, one of the first areas that treatment specialists explore is a history of substance abuse in the family. They may ask you if you currently have any relatives or have ever been addicted to drugs or alcohol. They may look at any history of a relative getting from a substance abuse treatment program. If so, they can determine if your environment contributed to your addiction.
One of the biggest challenges in evaluating the impact of family addiction is that it could be a recurring character trait or deeply embedded in your genetics. For example, if you were separated from your parents at birth, would you still be at risk of abusing drugs or alcohol? Even so, what may be clear is that you were exposed to addiction at an early age and lived with it throughout your childhood.
Physical, Sexual, or Emotional Abuse
Living with an abusive relative over a long period can lead to various mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, or borderline personality disorder. A person who is subjected to a volatile environment may not be equipped to handle the situation. This is especially true during childhood or adolescence. However, instead of getting professional help for their condition, they often turn to drugs or alcohol to self-medicate.
While some people have an addiction at a young age, others may not develop a problem with drinking or taking drugs until they are adults. This is because the effects of the environment may not manifest until several years later. So, even if you managed to survive your childhood without substance abuse, you may still be an addiction risk.
Living in a Stressful Environment
The mind can only hand so much stress. A person who experiences a stressful environment day after day may eventually ‘lose it.’ You may be experiencing high levels of stress at home, work, or school. While a little stress is harmless – even healthy at times – a lot of stress can lead to behavioral disorders such as addiction.
You are a higher addiction risk if you cannot deal with stress but cannot get away from your environment. If you do not change your environment or seek counseling for a stress-related disorder, you may turn to drugs or alcohol as a way of relaxing or letting off steam. However, if you develop a dependency on drugs or alcohol, you may need professional help from a drug addiction treatment program.
Addiction Treatment Is Available
If you are currently addicted to drugs or alcohol due to your environment, help is available for your condition. Addiction treatment centers offer a variety of addiction treatment therapies such as:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Individual therapy
- Family therapy
- Group therapy
Learn More About Addiction Risk at TruHealing Centers
If you would like to learn more about addiction risk, contact TruHealing Centers at [Direct]. We offer comprehensive treatment for a variety of addictions. Let us help you get on the road to recovery today.