Addiction is a complicated disease and many misconceptions and mysteries surround it.
The University of Utah genetics website defines addiction as a "chronic disease characterized by changes in the brain which result in a compulsive desire to use a drug." Of course, not all addictions are equally harmful and addictions can appear in varied degrees of severity.
- "Hard addictions" like alcohol, narcotics and barbiturates are labeled as such because of how quickly the drug can alter the behavior of the user.
- "Soft addictions" include gambling, smoking, and excessive spending because the consequences of such addictions take longer to appear.
TIME magazine's website explains the chemical processes that cause addictions.
- We feel good when neurons in the reward pathway release a "neurotransmitter" called dopamine into various areas of the brain.
- Neurons in the reward pathway send electrical signals. These signals are passed between other neurons across a tiny gap called the synapse.
- Dopamine is transmitted across the synapse from one neuron to another, causing a feeling of pleasure. (Other processes occur to prevent over-stimulation of receptor nerve and take away excess dopamine)
- Addictive substances increase the amount of dopamine jumping from neuron to neuron across the synapse. This increases the amount of pleasure felt.
- Addiction occurs when substances disrupt the normal brain circuits that keep the activity balanced.
People do not become instantly addicted to a substance, however; a line must be crossed. Why do people become addicts? Why are some people more likely to battle addictions?
While anyone can end up addicted to a substance, scientists have found that genetics plays a significant role in the development of addictions (though they have never found a specific "addiction gene").
Addiction can trace back to two main causes: genetic predisposition and coping skills. A study by Carol A. Prescott, Ph.D., and Kenneth S. Kendler, M.D. found that both genetic and environmental factors contributed to alcoholism in male twins. Roughly 3,500 twins born between 1940 and 1974 were included in the study.
While genetics plays a large role, there is no specific addiction gene and family history does not mean that a person will definitely become an addict. Anyone can develop an addiction; certain people are just more likely to battle with it, as is the case with many other diseases like cancer or depression. In any case, I think it's important to understand something like this, especially since it's not often discussed (like depression or suicide).
I've always been curious if being addicted to something was genetic. I guess it's not really "genetic" but you can be predisposed to it. It was also interesting how you found the source that separated addictions into hard and soft addictions. I had never known that there were two different types of addiction.
This was a great blog post! I have a friend who has a history of alcoholism in her family, and she has always been nervous to drink because she thinks the addiction is something she could be prone to. While I think addictions are somewhat genetic, it definitely can also be caused by your environment, what sorts of friends you have, and your family life. I think it is very important for people to understand that an addiction is a disease. It is not a choice.
I am aware that people are genetically predisposed to addiction, and that coping skills play a big role in a person's actions in such situations. But my concern comes from when people use "addiction is a disease" as an excuse. Ultimately, a person is in control of his or her own actions. I loved this blog, and it definitely makes me want to look into the topic of addiction more. I'd like to see what kinds of people are more prone to addiction, and what qualifies as addiction. Great post, and there's definitely more to pursue with this topic.
Christine, I would agree that people are in control of their actions when they choose to use an addicting substance but sometimes those substances could be something like coffee or video games.
The American Society of Addiction Medicine has also recently classified addiction as brain disorder, not a behavioral issue after a four-year process involving more than 80 experts. This, however, continues to be debated.
My view is that countless things can be abused and cause addictions and I think it's mostly a mental issue that causes people to cross the line from using something often to actual addiction.