An addict is an individual who is dependent on a particular action or substance, such as alcohol or other drugs. Addicts are present in most societies in the world and are often treated with disdain. Research has come to show that addiction is in fact a disease, and should be treated as such.
Addiction has been attributed to a number of factors such as genetic predisposition and an individual’s ability to cope with their environment.
As of yet, research has not shown that a single gene is responsible for addiction, but rather it is a combination of different genes that create the predisposition.
However, it is clear, for example, that a child of an addict will be at a greater genetic risk of developing an addiction in their lifetime than a child of a non-addict.
This explains how there are many people who are recreational drug users, or only consume alcohol on rare occasions, the reverse is also applicable.
The genetics are what play a part in the decision to consume the substance a second time. If the substance is strong enough, or the act of consuming it is repeated enough times, an addiction will develop.
Though a number of genes are responsible for addiction, not everyone with these genes will develop an addiction, and not all addicts have these genes.
A combination of both these factors put an individual at a higher risk of developing a need for a substance or action in his or her lifetime.
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