6 Reasons Florida Residents Abuse Drugs

With all of the information about the dangers of drug addiction and the risk factors involved, why would anyone take the chance? That question has many complicated answers, which Florida drug and alcohol treatment seeks to uncover and then repair.

Environmental factors cannot be discounted. Neither can peer pressure, as it affects the brain in teens and adults. Certain medical conditions can also be responsible for addiction or a predisposition to it. It is not just irresponsible behavior that leads to addiction.

Here are six of the many reasons Florida residents abuse drugs.

#1: Peer Pressure Can Wear Down Otherwise Strong People

Some people are especially prone to giving in to peer pressure, and almost anyone can succumb to it under the right circumstances.

A study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH) says teens are much more likely to engage in risky behavior when other teens are around. That is because giving in to peer pressure activates the reward center in a teen’s brain. When teens want to impress their friends, giving in to peer pressure triggers a feel-good sensation. Study.com says the effects of peer pressure can last well into adulthood.

#2: Drugs are Readily Available and Some are Inexpensive

Whether it is an addict looking for a fix or someone who wants to experiment, drugs are frequently easy to find in Florida. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, National Drug Intelligence Center, Central Florida has some of the most drug-saturated counties in the state:

• Brevard
• Volusia
• Hillsborough
• Orange
• Seminole
• Polk
• Osceola
• Pinellas

Prescription painkillers and street drugs, such as flakka, are easy to find and many of them, such as heroin and meth, are cheap.

#3: Legally Prescribed Painkillers Can Trigger an Addiction

Addiction can begin innocently and in the unlikeliest of places, namely, a doctor’s office. Many prescription painkillers such as opioids are highly addictive substances. They are not just addictive when they are misused, they can also lead to addiction when the patient uses them exactly as prescribed.

Sketchy pain clinics are known culprits that hand out prescription painkillers to nearly anyone with an ache. However, reputable doctors also prescribe powerful drugs that NIH says are highly addictive. If a person takes too much medication or if the doctor prescribes a longer therapy of painkillers than the patient needs, addiction can happen.

#4: There Is a Family History of Addiction

According to Mayo Clinic, addiction problems seem to run in families. If mom or dad has a drug or alcohol problem, the kids tend to struggle with the same issues.

There is a lot of research into the genetics factor in addiction. A 2005 study explains that children of alcoholics, for example, may have a genetic vulnerability that increases their likelihood of alcohol addiction. They may also have a higher risk of drug abuse and addiction.

#5: Loneliness and a Lack of Supervision Can Encourage Bad Choices

Especially in young people, a lack of supervision may be an important factor in addiction. Without an actively involved parent, a teen may succumb more easily to peer pressure. Youths may also have more access to the wrong crowd in general and drugs in particular.

Adults are not immune to the same problems, especially if they had little or no supervision as children. Mayo Clinic says that a lack of a parental and sibling bond and other environmental factors, including where you work, can increase the chances of addiction.

#6: The Addict Has an Underlying, Undiagnosed Condition

Many addicts suffer from more than their addiction, even if they do not know it. An underlying or co-occurring disorder, such as a mental health issue, can predispose a person to addiction or cause the person to latch onto a substance that makes him or her feel better. Addicted persons may not understand why they feel relief, but the sensation is one that they want to duplicate.

Some of the many possible co-occurring disorders include:

• ADHD
• PTSD
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Eating/food disorders

Self-medicating, according to Psychology Today, can alleviate anxiety, fear, pain, and other “distressing affective states.”  Florida alcohol and drug rehab can uncover self-medicating tendencies and get to the heart of what causes it.

Drug and alcohol abuse leads to addiction, but it is never really that simple. Adults who have been drug-free their whole life can fall prey to addiction via a legal prescription. A teen with a parent or another close relative who suffers from addiction is more likely to follow the same path.

The causes are legion, but the solution is simpler in the care of a trained, knowledgeable, caring staff. If you or any of your loved ones are suffering from addiction, contact us today and learn about our custom-tailored treatment programs.