Dual Diagnosis Articles

What causes drug abuse and drug addiction?

There is no one correct answer to this question. This depends on the nature of the drug being abused, the person taking the drug and the circumstances under which it is taken.

Research has come up with several explanations such as there may be genes that predispose certain people to drug addiction. This explanation has led the American Medical Association to state that drug addiction is a disease and appears to be the most credible. Social circumstances like peer pressure, emotional distress and low self-esteem certainly can all lead individuals to drug abuse. Easy of access to drugs could be another factor. Understanding what the person's motivation for drug abuse is will provide a therapist with a great place to start when developing a drug addiction treatment plan. This drug treatment plan should be custom tailored to the needs of the individual to provide the best substance abuse treatment outcome.

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