The Causes of Substance Abuse

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Substance abuse is an issue that has disseminated in the society and is often regarded as the relic of a thoughtless materialism. A false belief regarding addicted individuals seems to be ingrained in the minds of the majority of the population (Sadava, 1987). This belief is very often accompanied by appalling mental images of addicts and a highly judgmental attitude (Sadava, 1987). As a result, the causes of addiction are still wrapped in obscurity. This paper aims to outline the most basic reasons that lead to substance abuse and dependency, from the early developmental stage until late adolescence.

First of all, when a child-bearing woman is using drugs, the substances are being transferred to the foetus through the umbilical cord (Bashmore, Ketchum, Staisch, Barrett, & Zimmermann, 1981). As a consequence, the foetus experiences the same physical symptoms as its mother, such as blood intoxication and spasms (Bashmore et al, 1981; Kreek, Nielsen, Butelmann, & LaForge, 2005). Substance abuse during pregnancy can cause spontaneous abortion, heart defects and low birth weight (Bashmore et al., 1981), as well as behavioral problems and addiction proneness for the offspring (Bashmore et al., 1981; Jêdrzejczak, 2005). More specifically, substance abuse during pregnancy can elicit a series of chemical reactions in the developing brain of the foetus (Kreek et al., 2005). As a result, in the future life of the offspring, an environmental or a psychological stimulus may be enough to lead to substance abuse (Kreek et al., 2005).

The experiences an individual has during his or her childhood are considered equally important prognosticators for using drugs. Witnessing a parent or a caretaker abusing substances is considered as an ...

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...r and public policy. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall.

Sihvola, E., Rose, R. J., Dick, D. M., Pulkkinen, L., Marttunen, M., & Kaprio, J. (2008). Early onset depressive disorders predict the use of addictive substances in adolescence: A prospective study of adolescent Finnish twins. Addiction, 103(12), 2045-2053. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02363.x

Spooner, C. (1999). Causes and correlates of adolescent drug abuse and implications for treatment. Drug and Alcohol Review, 18(4), 453-475. doi:10.1080/09595239996329

van Dalen, A. (2001). Juvenile violence and addiction: Tangled roots in childhood trauma. Journal of Social Work Practice in The Addictions, 1(1), 25-40. doi:10.1300/J160v01n01_04

Zimić, J., & Jukić, V. (2012). Familial risk factors favoring drug addiction onset. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 44(2), 173-185. doi:10.1080/02791072.2012.685408

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