Drug addiction, as we all know, is a condition that arises as a result of frequent use of drugs. Drug-seeking behaviour, slow reaction times, random relapses and a range of mental illnesses are all well-known consequences of drug abuse. Drugs can range from substances such as caffeine to nicotine or illegal drugs such as heroin or cocaine. Some argue drug addiction is the result of genetics, but others say it is due to environmental factors and the influence of parents, peers and role models.
The distinction of the role of genetics in predispositions to drugs such as alcohol has become increasingly blurred as more and more studies are being conducted. Studies have clearly shown that a child exposed to alcohol in their home environment is 3 to 4 times more likely to experience problems later on in life in relation to alcohol abuse. It has also been made evident that the younger a person takes their first drink, the likelihood of these problems occurring dramatically increases. In saying this, it must be said that although genetics play a role in the inclination to abuse alcohol or other drugs, other factors (as mentioned above) certainly influence development of the disease and the behaviours displayed by a person with these risks.
There are three major aspects that contribute to a person’s life in the way of successfully managing addiction or determining propensity to fall into the spiral of addiction. One of these three contributing factors is lifestyle and social choices. If a person never takes a drink, obviously they will not have to face the physical addiction of the illness. If someone has had no exposure to alcohol by choice or by no will of their own, the addiction is pre-emptively prevented. On the opposite end of the spectrum, in homes where drinking holds a significant place in the lifestyle held, it can be much harder to deter addiction.
Children who are raised in an environment of binge drinking, drunkenness or other irresponsible alcohol and drug use in either familial or social surroundings, are more likely to consume alcohol or drugs than those in environments with an absence of these substances. Of course, there are always exceptions but an atmosphere of insufficient alcohol education and a readily available stock of alcohol is apparent, the trends tend to sway in the direction of alcohol abuse more than other environment without these factors.
People are also at a higher risk of succumbing into addiction if there is a family history of alcoholism or drug abuse evident. In cases of alcoholic parents, the development of alcoholism is 3-400% higher than in families without this record, and 200% higher if alcoholism was present in the previous generation. Clearly hereditary influences cannot be controlled, but it is strongly believed among some that if parents can provide good lifestyle choices and a healthy atmosphere, atrocities such as drug addiction can be avoided.
What do you think? Do you believe a healthy lifestyle can change the genetic path of drug addiction? Are there any circumstances you believe that nature rules over nurture in relation to this issue? For example: a baby born to a drug-addicted mother who subsequently is born with a taste for drugs.
References:
http://www.healthinlife.com/how-much-sleep-is-enough/
http://substanceabuse.suite101.com/article.cfm/why_am_i_addicted_
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_addiction
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Drug addiction is well, a very controversial topic. It depends what kind of environment you grow up in to reflect on how drug addiction can occur. Drug addicts find it hard to cease usage without painful withdrawal symptoms.
ReplyDeleteThere are definitely circumstances that nurture rules over nature. For example, if a person grows up in an environment where alcohol is not abused, like some Italian families have a glass of wine at the dinner table. Studies have shown that these children since they have grown up with alcohol in their households have not abused the privileges, later in life.
However nature, is biological and if a mother is addicted to drugs whilst in the midst of pregnancy, the child can definitely grow up with an addiction to drugs due to it being constantly put in there system before birth and subsequently born with the taste of drugs.
So I cannot choose between nature and nurture being the cause to drug addiction because it really can be either.
Genevieve
What do you think?
ReplyDeleteIt is my opinion that the factors mentions could easily have been brought about by nurture. Are there and good case studies of children born to alcoholic parents but raised by sober parents that would prove that alcoholism is not caused by nurture?
Do you believe a healthy lifestyle can change the genetic path of drug addiction?
Absolutely. Open your red books and look at the section on aversion therapy; one of the reasons we feel compelled to drink is because it benefits us as a species. The other reasons all relate to social behaviour. A child raised without the learned behaviour of addiction would only have one reason to drink, and may be turned away from alcohol or drugs by the sickening feeling the article in the red book talks about.
Are there any circumstances you believe that nature rules over nurture in relation to this issue? For example: a baby born to a drug-addicted mother who subsequently is born with a taste for drugs.
The example is quite correct, if a pregnant mother uses drugs the baby will be altered by them. If the baby is deprived of drugs, it will go into the various stages of withdrawal before finally being cured, just like a fully grown addict. Nature cannot overrule Nurture, that has been proved.
I believe that the lifestyle of a person affects their addiction to drugs, that is, the Nurture side of the debate. As stated above, children exposed to alcohol at home are 3 to 4 times more likely to develop drug addiction. As I see it, there are two ways a child could be driven to drug addiction due to their home environment. Firstly, if their parents expose them early on to the uses of drugs; or older siblings introduce the ‘good’ side of drugs. This relaxed view on the use of drugs can lead a person to think they are normal and healthy.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, if a person is completely protected from the use of drugs, living in a sheltered lifestyle, when they come across drugs in their later years, they will be extremely vulnerable. Without the knowledge of the effects and consequences of drugs, parents could drive their children to using drugs frequently if they have not been educated on the subject. They could then succumb to other factors such as peer pressure.
The argument for Nature is that a hereditary trace of drug addiction. However, if it runs in the family, wouldn’t that mean that the child’s lifestyle would revolve around unhealthy living? To justify or prove that drug addiction is a pure result of Nature, studies would have to be taken on children who had a genetic trace of drug addiction and then were adopted to another family. Even then, the addiction could then be contributed to by the person’s disrupted childhood.
Therefore, I believe it is difficult to prove that Nature has a strong part in drug addiction, and that Nurture is a much more likely cause.
Anna, 10M
I think whether some becomes addicted to drugs or not is mainly because of how someone is nurtured as a child. However, nature can have a significant role as well. For example, if one of the child’s parents had an addiction they could most likely inherit the addictive personality. Yet, an addiction and breaking an addiction has a lot to do with someone’s individual determination and will power, this is a trait which is more or less not inherited. On the other hand, if someone’s parents has an addiction to smoking they will most likely be surrounded by it for majority of their childhood. This can result in the child also obtaining an addiction when they are older because they have been surrounded by smoke for so long. On the other hand, they can be completely put off the idea of smoking because they think it is a disgusting habit and see the negative effects of the drug.
ReplyDeleteLiving a healthy lifestyle not exposed to drugs will inevitably help change the course of drug addiction. This is because drugs will not be present in one’s life and as a result they will not be any possible way to be addicted.
I think the only time nature takes a part in drug addiction is that someone may be born with an addictive personality and as a result they will be more easily addicted to drugs compared to another person.
Maddie R 10P
If a child is brought up within a loving home where alcohol is not overly present it has been proven that they are less likely to get addicted to it. However, children can rebel because their parents and deliberately drink because they know it is not valued. However, I believe it is still a result of nurture. The way a child is brought up definitely influences what their values are and therefore how they feel about drugs and alcohol. The child’s values then create their personality and who their social network revolves around. Their social surroundings will definitely have a greater impact on whether they choose to accept or reject drugs.
ReplyDeleteNature can rule over nurture by genetically inheriting an addiction to drugs. This may be impossible or extremely rare but it is an option. If a child has been born already with an addiction to a certain drug, how will they know it exists until they have tried the drug itself? Therefore a healthy lifestyle can definitely change the genetic path of drug addiction. If they are brought up against drugs, maybe from viewing a parent on drugs and how their life has turned out so badly, they will hold a strong view against drugs. This will then lead them to never try the drug that potentially ruined their parent’s life.
Being seen as ‘cool’ and popular is becoming extremely important to the youth of today. Drugs and alcohol are increasingly becoming popular among teens and almost common. Therefore there is peer pressure towards students to do drugs and be seen as ‘cool’. This will increase the rate of teens doing drugs and is clearly an example of nurture. Although genetics can play a small role in drug addiction, I strongly believe that the way someone is brought up and their social surroundings play a much larger part to whether someone accepts or rejects drugs.
Danika
What do you think? Do you believe a healthy lifestyle can change the genetic path of drug addiction? Are there any circumstances you believe that nature rules over nurture in relation to this issue? For example: a baby born to a drug-addicted mother who subsequently is born with a taste for drugs.
ReplyDeleteI believe that a healthy lifestyle can create a good pathway for someone with a drug addiction, though I do not believe it will build a change in the genetic makeup of that person. Their lifestyle choice may affect those around them by making them believe that people can overcome horrible ordeals such as drug addictions.
I do not believe that there are many circumstances where nature rules over nurture, however, I believe that nurture can sometimes overrule nature. Cases where nurture overrules nature are present in the example of rehabilitation. People are surrounded by others experiencing the same thing so they can provide support and courage at times of difficulty. The environment is also supposed to be very soothing for the patients. Counsellors and psychologists can help in the process. Having positive people around them can aid in the recover from addictions.
It is biological if a baby is born with an addiction passed on from its mother. I know of one who was born with a cocaine addiction. It cried constantly as a sign of withdrawal.
Therefore I do not believe that the issue of drug addiction is either a cause of nature of nurture.
MADDY M 10N
Drug Addiction...
ReplyDeleteI believe that drug and alcohol addiction is mainly based on a person’s surroundings, such as friends and family. If a child is born with a drug addicted mother, the chances that he will become addicted do drugs would rise, because he is taught at a young age that this kind of behaviour is acceptable. Similar to if a person has friends who are ok with binge drinking, they will soon believe that this behaviour is ok, and may soon take on these similar characteristics.
I agree with Genevieve. If a person is brought up in a family that does not abuse alcohol, but uses it wisely and in small amounts, then they are unlike to abuse it as an adult. If a person is completely protected by things such as drugs and alcohol, they will not know how to cope with it as an adult, and may make the wrong choices.
A great idea to stop the addiction to alcohol and drugs is by educating our children at a young age as to why these behaviours are unacceptable.
Katie G =)
There are two sides to the story of drug addiction. Statistics have been given that those children who are exposed to drugs or alcohol as a child, or who have parents with an addiction are more likely to develop addiction themselves. But if a child has watched their parent come in and out of hospital, be in trouble with the law, constant lashes and episodes of mood swings and violence, wouldn’t you expect the child to look down on their parents, and try anything to prevent becoming what they did.
ReplyDeleteA healthy lifestyle can most certainly change the genetic path of drug addiction. Being brought up in a family who has the ability to provide you with nutritious food and plenty of clothing and needs etc. will have an impact in how the offspring chooses to rebel. Some people relate drug addiction to a rebel force, either rebelling against one’s self, their parents, the rules they are required to follow or just to fit in with peers. Drug addiction is most certainly more influenced by nurture than nature, because without the knowledge of drugs how is one supposed to know about them in the first place? Those people who believe drug is in the genetics are saying that there is no individuality between ones parents and the offspring. As pop culture becomes more evident in everyday society, the need to take drugs and use alcohol is rapidly increasing. Drugs and alcohol may not be as common as it is now, well it most certainly wasn’t and this has an impact on the easy availability to people in the 21st century. As alcohol and drugs are increasingly becoming more common in everyday society, is this more the fact of nurture of nature? Or just simply the fact that we have availability to it, and it’s the ‘cool thing to do’.
The only circumstance where nature indeed rules over nurture is having generations of parents who are addicted to alcohol and drugs. Having easy access and a child and not knowing any different to the negative effects of these drugs may influence the child that drug taking has no harm, and if your role models are doing it, then you should be too. When pregnant with a child and taking drugs does it affect what the child is accustomed to or not? The child has a portion of the mother’s intake meal and do drugs and alcohol follow this path, giving the child a taste of this too? Only biological testing will be able to give an answer for this, as it is very hard to determine considering the backgrounds and different environments of each individual.
Corrina
Alchohol and drugs have always een prevolent in society, but it depends equally on how somebody it brought up, and their genetics, as to whether or not they'll have addictive tendancies.
ReplyDeleteMany people with alcholholic or drug addicted parents end up as addicts themselves, purely as a result of genetics. If people's families have a history of adiction, it is very likely that the child will have a predisposition towards it, even before they're born. That shows how nature plays a part in addiction.
However, this argument in particular is more likely a result of nurture. if kids are brought up in houses where alchohol and drugs are present from an early age, chances are they'll get addicted to it themselves, simply because it's there, and the parents probably don't give the kids the impression of it being bad or illegal, even from a young age. Even if their parents are very anti- alchohol, if it's brought about aggressively then the kids may want to rebel and get into alchohol and drugs. It all depends on how it's brought across.
Nature or Nurture? well, it's hard to form a rock-solid opinion, but in this sense it's probably both, owing both to genetics, and the environment in which a person is brought up.
Fraser 10N
Drug addiction, as genevieve has previously said, is acontroversial topic. It depends on the upbringing of a child and their attitudes towards drugs and alcohol which determines how they will end up. It is often ery difficult for a drug addict to give up the addiction and an addiction can not simply be turned off, it requires discipline to slowly get ofver the addiction
ReplyDeleteA healthy lifestyle of one person can stop the genetic path of addiction. If a child has grown up in a household surrounded by drugs and alcohol it is more likely they will become addicted. Furthermore, if the family has been addicted to drugs for generations it is even more likely that they will. However, if the child decides to stop the addiction in the family they would then just need to give it up and provide a clean household for their children. If this happens it is very likely the addiction will be stopped in tha family.
I believe drug addiction is mostly nurture. However, if a mother is an addict and smokes or drinks whilst they are carrying a baby it can result in the child becoming an addict. This would then be classified as nature but i believe that this is the only case of nature in the topic.
Amanda
Drug addictions
ReplyDeleteChildren who grow up around binge drinking or otherwise irresponsible alcohol or other drug use, whether in the familial or social environment are more likely to consume alcohol or other drugs than those in drug and alcohol free environments. If your parents are/were alcoholic, the chances of you developing alcoholism are 3-400% higher than in non alcoholic families, and 200% higher if alcoholism was present in the previous generation. A person who never takes their first drink will not have to deal with the physical addiction of the disease. If a person is not exposed to alcohol then how can an addiction begin? It can’t.
I believe that childhood influences, exposure to alcohol/drugs and family behavior or experiences promote alcohol and drug addictions
Alyssa10J
What do you think? Do you believe a healthy lifestyle can change the genetic path of drug addiction? Are there any circumstances you believe that nature rules over nurture in relation to this issue? For example: a baby born to a drug-addicted mother who subsequently is born with a taste for drugs.
ReplyDeleteI believe that a healthy lifestyle can’t change the genetic path of drug addiction, this is because it is due to the nurture side more than the nature side. When children grow up to be drug addicts, it is usually because of the school they go to or the friends they have. Sometimes the family as well. However when children are little, they usually say something like they would never smoke or do drugs, but when they are older they get caught up in the idea and get sucked into the dramas of drug addiction. I believe that if parents are alcoholics or drug addicts, then the child usually ends up being against the us of drugs and alcohol because they see what has happened to their parents and they see how much it upsets them. I believe that if a baby is born to a drug-addicted mother, and if it becomes a drug addict itself, it is usually more due to the case of the school and the community more than the case of the biological addiction being passed down.
Chloe madge 10J