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Drug & Alcohol Theory

Dr. Henry Kranzler of the Alcohol Research Center and Dr. Ting-kai Li of the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), state that drug and alcohol use disorders are often grouped into two categories -- abuse and dependence -- however debate still remains as to whether these terms should present separate phenomenon or if dependence is simply a more severe form of abuse.

  1. Genetics

    • Studies on twins published in the "American Journal of Medical Genetics" in 2000, the "Journal of Abnormal Psychology" in 2002 and the "Archives of General Psychiatry" in 2003 suggest that both alcoholism and drug abuse have links to genetic factors. This and other research has demonstrated statistically significant correlations for both disorders. Moreover, identical twins display a greater likelihood of substance dependence than their fraternal counterparts.

    Stress

    • A 2007 study of 7,000 Europeans showed that anxiety disorders can play a role in creating alcohol and drug dependence disorders. Separate research that same year revealed a correlation between stress imagery and alcohol cravings. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has also been linked to drug dependence, according to two 2001 studies published in "Trauma and Stress" and "Psychiatric Services" though no causal link has been proven.

    Addiction

    • Substance abuse has been shown to activate reward centers in the brain. However, abuse can evolve into dependence as the body's chemical balance changes through a process known as "hedonic allostasis" which, according to 2005 research published in the "European Journal of Pharmacology," depresses the reward centers' activity and promotes a need for alcohol and drug stimulation to stave off withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety.

    Age

    • Those who binge drink as adolescents have an increased chance of transitioning that behavior into alcoholism as adults. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 12 percent of 8th graders and 30 percent of 12th graders said they consumed five or more drinks in a row in the preceding two weeks. Youngsters who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to become alcoholics than those who do so at legal age.

    Society

    • NIAAA paper by Dawn Thatcher and Duncan Clark asserts that social factors can contribute to alcohol and drug abuse. Peer pressure and social activity can influence drinking behavior and narcotic usage. Even more influential can be the home environment. Parental permissiveness, inattention or abuse can promote drinking and drug use.

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