Substance Use Disorder: What Does the Research Say?

When you hear a medical professional talk about “substance use disorder,” they are essentially using another term for addiction. The two are not necessarily interchangeable, but they both refer to someone using a substance and no longer having full or even partial control over their actions. Once an individual no longer has control over their substance of choice, their life can go into a tailspin if they’re not careful.

Help for individuals with substance use disorder is readily available at inpatient and outpatient treatment facilities. The afflicted person must be willing to seek help, though, and sometimes, they need to hit rock bottom in order to get to that point. 

You should also know that there has been a great deal of research on substance use disorder that has taken place. We’ll talk about some of what that research says right now. 

A Genetic Component Exists

First, you should know research indicates there are genetic reasons that sometimes go into substance abuse. In other words, if you have several individuals in your family who struggle with substance abuse or addiction, the chances are higher that you will go through this as well.

Genetics Do Not Necessarily Dictate Substance Abuse Issues

However, even though genetics play a part in whether or not you will have issues with substance abuse, just because your father and grandfather were both alcoholics, for instance, does not necessarily mean you will become one. You can always break the cycle, especially if you’re aware of the problem and you use that knowledge to influence your choices.

You can make a conscious choice to never become a drinker if you know it has been a problem in your family. Your willpower can be greater than any genetic predisposition that you may have. 

You might also moderate your drinking or use of other recreational substances very carefully if you know you have others in the family who have struggled with this issue. If you only have a drink or two on special occasions, that might be a way you can still indulge without crossing the line.  

Willpower and Environment Play a Part

Research also indicates that you can become an addict or a substance abuser even if there’s no history of such behavior in your family. Often, if that happens, other factors come into play. 

For example, maybe you start hanging out with a crowd of friends who like partying and using various potentially addictive substances. If so, peer pressure can be just as strong of an impetus to start using and abusing drugs or alcohol as any genetic proclivity. 

In short, willpower, your environment, and your genetics may all go into whether you will or won’t struggle with substance addiction or abuse. You should not submit to alcoholism or drug addiction just because it runs in the family. 

There are no foregone conclusions about one’s behavior. You can always deviate from a harmful trend, and you can’t blame your genetics if you develop a problem with substance use.