The Heritability of Substance Abuse: Environment and Genetics

In this paper, I discussed the relationship of a family’s environment and genetics its effects if one or more member in the family abuse substances. Unfortunately, studies have shown that these factors are critical in predicting if a child from that family will abuse substances as they get older. Moreover, this project has helped me understand how important parents and families have on a child’s development and I have presented some solutions that can boost familial relationships. 

Yaya Camara

Writing for Social Sciences

Professor Harris

3 May 2020

                        The Heritability of Substance Abuse: Environment and Genetics

Abstract:

This paper will be discussing the likelihood of adolescents who have experienced substance abuse as a child through a family member, and the likelihood for that adolescent to mimic their behaviors. Many reputable sources have concluded that the most influential factors in determining if an adolescent will abuse substances is if the environment they were in as a child wasn’t ideal for their proper development. Additionally, the next influential factor is the adolescent’s genetic predisposition to stress and anxiety. These factors coincide together by initiating the drive to experiment with these substances and will prolong the cycle of abuse for years to come.

Introduction:

People worldwide each have their own unique experiences with drugs and alcohol. Some were exposed at a young age, whereas others experiment with the substances in their adolescent, or teenage years. These substances can range from cigarettes and alcohol, which are common globally to harsher substances like heroin and rohypnol, which are illegal in many countries. Drug use becomes a problem for the individual when the substances start to impede on their everyday life.

Substance Use Disorder is the “recurrent use of alcohol or drugs that causes problems such as having little to no control of the substance; failing to meet obligations at work, home, or school; having poor health; and spending an increased amount of time getting, using, or recovering from the effects of using the substance” (Lipari, 2017).

According to the World Health Organization, 31 million people worldwide suffer with a drug use disorder and 3.3 million alcoholics die each year due to their consumption (WHO, 2019). Looking at this number, one can question why so many people fall victim to this disease. Is it a personal choice or is it a choice influenced by the actions of their peers? Although these reasons have some validity, the factors that researchers believe play the most influential role in predicting if an adolescent will abuse substances is through the person’s childhood environment and genetic predisposition.

These two factors play such a significant role on the child; by the time the child is seven years old, their minds have molded to reflect the beliefs and actions of the people most close to them (Healthline, 2017). An example of this is seen with families who advocates their race as superior to other races; through time the child will internalize this belief and will begin to express them. This is the same case; if a child sees their parent or other family members use drugs or alcohol, they are more than likely to try those substances once they get older because of the parent’s influence. This chance becomes greater if the environment the child has grown up in was not the most sufficient for their emotional and mental development. Parents who use substances, although they try their best to support their child, are not the most suitable for a child to be around because they are constantly exposed to harmful substances. As a result, due to the parent’s disorder, the child’s surroundings do not promote proper growth, which is critical when dealing with emotions. Therefore, the child is more prone to use drugs to feel more at peace. Subsequently, a family’s history of substance abuse has an increased likelihood that younger members will also develop a dependency because of their environment and genetic predisposition.

What is the Risk?

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2018), “19.7 million American adults (aged twelve and older) battled a substance use disorder in 2017.” Although the reason in why millions of Americans battle with this disease is unclear, a large portion of substance abusers share a common similarity, which is the environment they have experienced as a child.

Merikangas et. al. decided to investigate this observation. Merikangas et. al.  conducted an experiment following 299 individuals who had one or more family members that battle with substance abuse, and concluded “If one or more members of a family struggle with substance abuse, then an individual from that same family is eight times as likely to also develop a dependence on drugs or alcohol (Merikangas, 1998). This is in comparison with individuals who do not have one or more family members abusing substances. Furthermore, this highlights the seriousness of this issue. The researchers have concluded that if a teenager has a background of substance abuse from their family, it is much likely that they will abuse substances as well proving that this problem will not end unless there is a collective effort to combat this issue.

Familial Influence

Basic roles of family dynamics show the influence parents have over their children. Brook and Whiteman’s main argument was to convey the bond parents and their children have with each other. The authors argued that if they have a strong bond, then the child is likely to follow their parent’s actions because they are seen as role models. Thus, the child is likely to follow the beliefs and mindsets of their parents (Brook, 1992). As that child becomes an adolescent, they imitate the actions and beliefs of their parents by using the biases that they were rooted in to shape their choices in friends, lifestyle, and habits. One can conclude that a parent’s influence plays an important factor in shaping their child because their relationships between their parents will influence the child’s relationship with themselves and others.

Many researchers question the link between families with one or more members abusing substances and the likelihood that their children will abuse drugs in their adolescent and adult life. According to Lander et. al, eight million children are living with one or more parents with a Substance Use Disorder, or SUD (2013). Regarding to Lipari and Van Horn’s definition of substance use disorder mentioned in the introduction, the parent(s) will have a difficult time raising their child through the adversity that they are going through. As a result, parents have to raise their children in an environment which isn’t ideal for their development; especially regarding dealing with their emotions and navigating them efficiently. Thus, that child has an increased risk in developing “anxiety disorders, phobias and other defiant disorders.” (Stolar, 2018). These disorders can result in the child self-medicating themselves for a sense of tranquility. Thus, a family’s environment plays a critical role on a child’s development toward becoming an adult. If the child’s needs aren’t met because of the parent’s addiction, researchers have found that the cycle of abuse will continue for another generation.

Moreover, some authors have concluded that the likeliness of the younger member abusing substances can be due to their genetic disposition. Genetic disposition means, “an increased likelihood of developing a particular disease based on a person’s genetic makeup” Genetic Predisposition, 2018). Thus, it can be inferred that if a parent develops a SUD as a result of an anxiety related issue, their child is at risk for inheriting that genetic disorder due to the genetics of the parent, and the child’s surroundings. This inference isn’t abstract from the conclusions of Chassin et. al. According to Chassin et. al., “Familial alcoholism increases risk because it leads to a higher impulse and neuroticism and lowered agreeableness” (Chassin, 2004). Although, these authors findings relate specifically to alcohol abuse, this shows how a family’s genetics play a huge role in detecting if another family member will abuse substances. In conclusion, due to a family’s genetic predisposition, a child has a greater risk in abusing drugs or alcohol because of their likelihood of not coping to the environment they are in.

Conclusion:

To conclude, drugs and alcohol are problems that many people battle with. There are a variety of reasons why people start using substances, however studies have shown that the environment as well as a person’s genetics contribute greatly to an adolescent abusing a substance. The adolescent at a young age was exposed to harmful substances and the effects it produced afterwards. Furthermore, the problem intensifies if the person who the child resonates with, for instance parent or other family member, abuse drugs or alcohol. The bond between the two will strongly form around the substance, leaving little room for the child to develop emotionally and mentally. Thus, making the chances for the child to abuse substances more likely as they grow older. This results in generations of families abusing substances, and sadly contributing to more deaths from substances worldwide. However, they are solutions that can help combat this issue. Cities all around world can start launching family strengthening programs. These programs will provide a space for both the parents and child to develop a warmer relationship regardless if substance use is a factor or not. Having a stronger family unit, provides a teenager a safe space to express their emotions in a healthy way. Teaching this skill to families worldwide will drastically improve their family’s dynamic, making teenagers feel comfortable to resort to their parents when problems occur.  Additionally, these programs can help families who are afflicted with substance abuse a safe space to relate with other families who face similar struggles. Many people who are addicted to alcohol or drugs tend to feel alone. As a result, with these programs, these families will realize that they are not alone as they once thought and can work on solutions with other families to help improve their situations together.

 

 

Works Cited:

 

Brook, S. Judith, Whiteman, Martin. (1992). African-American and Puerto Rican drug use:                        personality, familial, and other environmental risk factors. Genetic, Social and General                    Psychology Monographs, Nov. 92, Vol. 118, 419. Routledge.

Chassin, Laurie, King, M. Kevin, Flora B. David. (2004). Trajectories of Alcohol and Drug Use and           Dependence From Adolescence to Adulthood. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Vol. 113, No.           4, 483-498.

Fraga, Juli. (2017, December 21). Do the First 7 Years of Life Really Mean Everything? Retrieved            from https://www.healthline.com/health/parenting/first-seven-years-of-childhood

Lander L, Howsare J, Byrne M. The impact of substance use disorders on families and children:           from theory to practice. Soc Work Public Health. 2013;28(3-4):194‐205.                                                doi:10.1080/19371918.2013.759005

Lipari, R.N. and Van Horn, S.L. Children living with parents who have a substance use disorder.          The CBHSQ Report: August 24, 2017. Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality,                Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, MD.

Management of Substance Abuse: Facts and figures. (2019, December 3). Retrieved from                    https://www.who.int/substance_abuse/facts/en/

Merikangas, R. Kathleen, Stevens, E. Denise, Stolar, Marilyn. (1998). Familial Transmission of               Substance Use Disorders. Arch Gen Psychiatry, Vol 55, 973–979.                                                            https://doi:10.1001/archpsyc.55.11.973

Multifactorial Disorders and Genetic Predispositions. (2018). Retrieved from                                            https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/mhccmajorsbio/chapter/complex-multifactorial disorders