The number of individuals addicted to drugs continues to rise every day. Nearly 31 million people suffer from a substance use disorder, according to WHO, the World Health Organization. The causes of addiction vary from person to person. Yet there is a group of people who are at a higher risk of developing an addiction than their peers. These people are those with a family history of substance abuse. It is understandable that our environment ultimately shapes us and can contribute to our addictive tendencies. But what about our genetic configuration. Is addiction hereditary such that it puts other people at a higher risk of developing the condition more than their counterparts? Oceanfront Recovery can help you learn more and find the right treatment programs.
Is Addiction Hereditary?
If a member of your family struggles with or has struggled with addiction, what are the chances that one of their offspring will also? A study established that children of individuals struggling with addiction are eight times more likely to develop an addiction themselves. A plausible explanation for this was the genetic composition of these children. Children of drug addicts possibly grew up in an environment that was stressful to them. Stress induces epigenetic changes in our bodies.
Epigenetic changes refer to the regulation of gene expressions that do not necessarily alter the sequence of our DNA. In simple terms, it is the addition of information to our genes without altering any pre-existing information on the genes. A stressful environment can induce such genetic changes in a child. Stress affects different systems in our bodies, including the brain’s reward system. Such changes to the brain’s circuit can trigger the development of an addiction. Is addiction hereditary then? To some extent, this is true. If your genes undergo epigenetic changes, you might develop addictive tendencies easily.
Cross Addiction
If you have a family history of addiction, you are at a higher risk of developing an addiction to any drug. Your family may have a history of addiction to alcohol. But later on, you end up developing an addiction to opioids or even marijuana. This is because all addictions affect the same part of the brain. Studying your family history can help you figure out if you are susceptible to addictions.
Addiction Treatment at Oceanfront Recovery
Oceanfront Recovery understands that addiction is a complex issue. That is why the center incorporates different treatment plans to cater to unique cases. Recovery at the center is not all about medications. Several therapies are available to help and ease the recovery process for the addicts.
Some of the programs available are:
- Men’s rehab program: Men are more likely than women to suffer from substance abuse and develop an addiction. The rehab helps men to learn about themselves and understand why they developed the addiction. Therapies are available to help them recover.
- Sober living homes: Overcoming addiction requires you to be in an environment that is conducive for healing. Sober living homes provide shelter to recoverees for them to focus solely on sobering up.
- Dual diagnosis treatment program: The program helps to diagnose and treat any other mental illness brought about by the addiction. This is in addition to treating your addiction to the drug in question.
Reach Out to Oceanfront Recovery Today
The question “Is addiction hereditary or not?” still needs a bit of research from the experts. But the current studies point to a trend where people are more prone to addiction because of their genetic composition. Luckily, you can still get treatment and recover even if you have the genes for addiction. If you or your loved one is battling addiction, call Oceanfront Recovery via 877.279.1777. Our addiction treatment staff is ready to help you reverse the situation for the better.
