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What factors could contribute to drug addiction?

On Behalf of | Feb 19, 2020 | Criminal Defense |

Anyone from any walk of life could end up in a situation in which he or she tries drugs. In some cases, the incident could be isolated and not lead to any lasting effects on a person’s life. However, other individuals may be more susceptible to facing an addiction, and if you or a loved one is one of those people, developing an addiction could follow you for a long time and lead to many difficulties in your life.

Unfortunately, drug addiction can lead to health problems, relationship issues and even trouble with the law. Even if you do not have the addiction yourself, you may have substantial concerns for a loved one who does, especially if he or she recently landed in trouble with law enforcement and is currently facing criminal charges.

What contributes to addiction?

You may ask yourself over and over how your loved one ended up in this situation. Of course, many factors can contribute to addictive behaviors and developing addictive habits. Some of those factors include the following:

  • Family history: If individuals come from a family in which a history of addiction exists, it could shape how that person makes decisions about using drugs and could contribute to the development of an addiction.
  • Genetics: Genetics can also play a role in whether a person develops an addiction because each person’s body reacts to and processes substances differently.
  • Mental conditions: Mental conditions, especially co-occurring mental conditions, could play a role in developing an addiction, particularly if a person attempts to self-medicate through drugs or alcohol.
  • Peer pressure: Though most people learn about peer pressure from a young age, it can still be difficult to say no in certain situations, and a harmful social interaction could lead to substance abuse then to addiction.
  • Substance use at a young age: If individuals started using drugs or alcohol at a young age, they are more likely to develop an addiction to substances. The substances can have significant effects on their still-developing brains at young ages.

You may want to help your loved one as much as you can, and by understanding that the situation may not be entirely his or her fault, you may have a strong sense of sympathy. You certainly do not want an addiction to ruin your loved one’s life, so you may want to gain information on how to help him or her find the right courses of action to combat the drug charges. Pointing him or her in the direction of a New Jersey attorney may be wise.

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