Substance abuse can lead to a variety of diseases and conditions. These include both physical illness as well as mental illness.
Addiction to drugs can cause a lot of serious problems for the user that can cause irreparable damage to the body and mind. When one takes into consideration the amount of toxins the body has to clean out because of substance abuse, it then becomes evident that the body will eventually give up.
The risk factors of drug abuse are varied.
One of the most important factors is family genetics. Studies have shown that people who are alcoholic or addicted to smoking have a much higher chance of having family members with the same condition. So, if you have relatives who are or were addicted to drugs or alcohol, then you have a high chance of also becoming addicted.
Gender is another risk factor for addiction.
It has been shown that males are twice as likely to become addicts as women are. Having a mental illness such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or schizophrenia can also be a risk factor for substance abuse.
Peer pressure plays a major role in substance abuse as well, especially among teenagers and young adults. A need to be accepted or be part of a group can lead to an individual trying out drugs with the group and this can lead to addiction. In addition to the above, the age at which a person begins abusing drugs or alcohol also plays a major part in whether or not they are at risk of becoming addicted.
Studies show that a person who began drinking alcohol or using drugs at a very young age has a higher chance of becoming addicted than a person who began using later on in life.
The nature of the substance being abused can increase the risk factor of addiction. Drugs such as cocaine, crack and heroin have a higher addiction level than other substances such as alcohol. Some people may only need to try some of these drugs only once and they can instantly become addicted.
The risk factors of becoming addicted to substances such as drugs and alcohol depend on a number of factors. These factors are taken into consideration when the addict goes to rehab for drug detox and recovery.
This will ultimately help to make the treatment more successful.