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Factors That Increase Substance Abuse

The health department in Whatcom County, Washington, lists 17 identifiable risk factors that increase the likelihood a person will abuse drugs and alcohol. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration agrees and separates these factors into the categories of community, family, peers and school domains.

  1. Family

    • Your family's history with substance abuse increases your risk for addiction. The attitude that your parents have toward drugs and alcohol will also affect how you feel about substance abuse. When parents take an active interest in their child's schoolwork, attire and curfews, risk for addiction lowers. Another family factor is in the way conflicts are handled. If you experienced conflict resolution and an open discussion about substances, your chance for substance abuse will be lower.

    School

    • As a student, your commitment to school and academic performance correlate to your risk for substance abuse. If you do well in school, your odds against abusing improve. A school environment risk factor for substance abuse includes antisocial behavior, especially at an early age.

    Peers

    • Friends attitudes and experience with substance abuse will affect your chance of developing an addiction. When friends begin using at an early age, your risk increases. If friends exhibit rebellious behavior and you are included, this anti-authority thinking will also increase your chances. Frequent exposure to friends who do not have a favorable attitude toward substance abuse will decrease your risk.

    Community

    • When drugs and alcohol are readily available, your chances for substance abuse increase. If you are unsettled and do not stay in a community long enough to feel involved, your risk will increase. When you settle into a community, but that area is in extreme deprivation, your odds for substance abuse also go up. Typically in those neighborhoods, law enforcement is occupied with other pressing matters. When this is the case and legal ramifications are reduced, your risk goes up.

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