3 Environmental Risk Factors That Lead to Addiction

There has been a multiple-year debate on how a bad environment can cause addiction. Anyone can fall victim to substance abuse, so the environment will always be one of many factors. To lessen your chances of getting caught in a bad place, try to avoid these three scenarios.

1. Partying

Some of the most notable signs of drug addiction occur at parties. At both the bar and in a club, the alcohol flows freely and excessive drinking behavior is tolerated well beyond the normal means. Everyone talks about the drunk who gets into fights at the bar, but no one talks about the quiet guy who downs as weeks’ worth of liquor while watching the game. When the employees start to know you by your running tab, things can quickly get complicated for any individual.

For people who like to club, the environment is even more free than being in a bar. This is where many people got their first introduction to popular drugs. Although there is a strict enforcement policy on its usage, actually stopping it is a challenge. If you party at a club where the rules are relaxed, then the experience could change your life forever.

2. Injuries

Injuries are not often thought about when people talk about addiction. Imagine having pain so intense that a doctor has to prescribe you specific medication. It’s strong enough to knock out an elephant, but worth the trouble since it relieves you of pain. Once your prescription runs out, the pain is bearable, but you miss the euphoria that the medicine gave you.

Short and long-term injuries are full of situations like this where the victim falls prey to a strong medicine. The medicine isn’t illegal, and the dosage is always controlled by the doctor. Pain is a powerful motivator, and there are millions that have reached a physical threshold. Drugs that are abused aren’t always of the illegal variety. Pay attention to your doctor or the instructions on an over-the-counter drug when it talks about addictive qualities or maximum limits.

3. Poverty

Poverty creates a situation where you lack many of the essential things in life. A home, food, water, and insurance. Any combination of these things can lead to an environment where drugs seem like a fun ‘get out of jail’ free card. Some people mention this when talking about alcohol or other recreational drugs. They get to use it as an escape from their reality and assume a bit of happiness for minimal cost. The problem with this approach is that using drugs to escape your poverty creates a bad chain of events. It means that the only way to escape your reality is by pretending that it doesn’t exist. As you go deeper into this fantasy, coming back down creates a deep depression. This is how addiction starts, and there will be no warning sign when it kicks into full gear.

Find Your Peace

Even if you avoid a risky environment, the true test is being honest about your own flaws. Addiction strikes in moments of weakness whether it is your personal or professional life. Stay strong, and don’t let these moments dictate who you really are.