In DRUG REHABILITATION / Tags: addict, addiction, child, develop, drug, likely, more, much, themselves /
Question by Laurie B: How much more likely is the child of a drug addict to develop an addiction themselves?
Doing some research for a Psych paper and I need to know how much greater risk the child of an addict is to develop an addiction.
I need a source or reference.
Thank you
Best answer:
Answer by ♥MDH♥
You are aware of the Nature vs Nurture. Scientists have known for years that traits such as eye color and hair color are determined by specific genes encoded in each human cell. The Nature Theory takes things a step further to say that more abstract traits such as intelligence, personality, aggression, and sexual orientation are also encoded in an individual’s DNA.
The search for “behavioral” genes is the source of constant debate. Many fear that genetic arguments might be used to excuse criminal acts or justify divorce.
The most debated issue pertaining to the nature theory is the exsistence of a “gay gene,” pointing to a genetic component to sexual orientation.
An April, 1998 article in LIFE Magazine, “Were You Born That Way” by George Howe Colt, claimed that “new studies show it’s mostly in your genes.”
If genetics didn’t play a part, then fraternal twins, reared under the same conditions, would be alike, regardless of differences in their genes. But, while studies show they do more closely resemble each other than do non-twin brothers and sisters, they also show these same striking similarities when reared apart – as in similar studies done with identical twins.
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I don’t have a specific reference that i can point to on this one as far as paper work is concerned but i can tell you this,i was a drug addict for twenty years of my life and i know for a fact that people learn by watching others just as much as they might be more likely to use drugs because of genetics,for example if the child constantly looks at the mother or father with a beer in their hand and they see that the mother or father medicate themselves by using beer or drugs to escape how they feel the child will start to put together the fact that maybe this is the way i should deal with my problems as well.The child might even start to look around the house for the drug or what ever the parent is using and try it themselves just to see what the “BIG DEAL” is all about,after all if mommy and daddy use it well it must be ok so why shouldn’t i do the same,the drug problem with the child will only increase if they go down this path because they are still likely to be involved in a situation where there is constant fighting,yelling and all sorts of trouble maybe even violence between mom and dad which traumatizes children to the point where they just want to escape any way they can and which way do you think they will escape,they will do exactly what mom and dad have done by doing what they have seen done and this will go on and on until the cycle is broken by either a parent who cares enough about their child to pull them out of one of these situations,a family member who will step up and take the child and raise them the right way with hugs not drugs,or the child just becomes so discusted with the way they have had to live their life that they completely turn their back on they way their parents have lived their lives and they decide to live their own life by dealing with their problems like they should without using a drink or turning to drugs…I hoped this helped you out in some way…