The debate surrounding nature versus nurture is ongoing, especially for individuals suffering from drug addiction. Are you a product of your genetics or are you a product of your environment?
For individuals suffering from drug addiction, environmental factors play a tremendous role in influencing the individual to engage in destructive drug habits. Genetics can also play a role in your chances of addiction, especially if you have family history of drug abuse. However, most causes of addiction derive from disconnection from God, others and ourselves. These are factors that strongly influence and enhance an individual’s thoughts and behaviors toward drugs.
What factors in your environment make you susceptible to drug addiction? Becoming aware of environmental stressors can encourage you to make positive changes to lead a sober life.
What is Drug Addiction?
Drug addiction is a disease that progressively rots the individual’s mind, body and soul and causes impaired judgement and behavior. People who use drugs over prolonged periods of time become mentally and physically dependent on the drug and this causes a multitude of chronic health problems.
Individuals use drugs to feel good, to cope with traumatic events, or to release the pain felt by everyday stressors. Their compulsive behaviors and dependence on drugs make it increasingly difficult to overcome their addiction alone.
But how do people initially become addicted to drugs? Critical factors in your environment determine your chances of drug addiction.
Environmental Factors that Affect Your Chances of Drug Addiction
Understanding the key environmental factors and how they influence your chances of drug addiction can help you seek the treatment that you deserve.
Home life. You can’t choose your family but you can choose how you respond in moments of adversity. If you have very little familial support at home, it can become easy to fall into the trap of addiction. If parents are not invested in your life concerning school, peers, and your mental state, it can become easy to engage in destructive behaviors as a way of coping. Parents who show little interest in your life may also be suffering from addiction or a psychological disorder. This can influence your choices of reproducing their behaviors as you grow up. In contrast, if parents are too overbearing and hold extremely high expectations, you may use drugs as a way of escaping the stress.
Relationships are tough and require effort every day. If you are experiencing a divorce, a loss of interest in your partner, or feelings of loneliness, these can all be strong influences that affect your chances of drug addiction.
Peers. Your social group has a tremendous influence on your life. The pressures felt by peers to fit in can become very overwhelming and may cause you to go along with harmful behaviors. If you have friends who engage in drug use, your chances of drug addiction increases. The pressures felt by your friends can make you believe that it is okay to try new things, even if they can harm you.
In settings dominated by peers such as school and social gatherings, going against the grain can make you feel like an outcast. You may find that doing drugs makes you feel accepted and loved by your social group. It is difficult to say no to your peers and find new friends, but choosing activities you enjoy that do not involve drugs can open doors for new social opportunities and more meaningful experiences with positive people.
Work. The pressures from work can feel extremely overbearing sometimes. Whether you work long hours, cannot find stable employment, or do not enjoy your job responsibilities, work can consume your life and make you feel trapped. There are many environmental stressors involved in trying to make a decent living and taking care of your family.
Although work can be daunting sometimes, evaluating your options and incorporating things you enjoy can help you to avoid getting trapped in drug addiction to escape from the demands of your job.
Psychological disorder. If you are diagnosed with anxiety, PTSD, depression, or other psychological disorders, it may increase your risk of drug addiction if not treated. Psychological disorders also develop due to an array of environmental stressors. Whether you have difficulty completing everyday responsibilities, holding meaningful relationships, dealing with a painful experience, or are experiencing intense feelings of hopelessness, symptoms of psychological disorders can lead to using drugs as a way of coping.
How A Deep Faith Can Save You
Your environment does not dictate who you are or what you can become. Making positive changes can be the difference between lifelong dependence and a healthy life. Letting faith into your life will restore your resilience to overcome any environmental stressors. Becoming a part of the church community will allow you to be in an environment filled with supportive people that empower you to lead a sober life.
God is forgiving and wants you to become a fully healthy person again. Choosing a treatment center that emphasizes a Christian based approach will help you to channel the stress accumulated from your environment and offers you an opportunity to reconstruct your own environment in a positive way. With a research-based approach and a wide range of program options, you will learn how to take the negative environmental factors in your life and transform them into positive experiences.
Covenant Hills Treatment Center offers a faith-based approach to helping anyone recover from their addiction. Our professionally trained staff include ordained pastors, dietitians, doctors and counselors to provide you with the spiritual support you need to fully recover from addiction. The shared humanity you will feel along with an in-depth recovery program will empower you to become the whole-bodied and spiritual human being you are meant to be.
Do you need help, or is a loved one struggling with addiction? Please call us today at (800) 662-2873 for a free assessment. This is a confidential call. One simple call can change your life.
Covenant Hills Treatment is a faith-based addiction treatment facility in Orange County, California and San Antonio, Texas. Covenant Hills emphasizes a whole person approach to care and clients work with pastors, therapists, and counselors who are professionally trained in the Christian-based treatment program. Staff help individuals connect to a larger community of God and support the process of finding purpose again in one’s life beyond this co-occurring diagnosis.
