Addiction Medicine: Closing the Gap between Science and Practice

28.2

29.2

29.7

35.3

44.9

47.6

Inability to Resist Peer Pressure

Easy Availability

Lack of Willpower/Self-Control

Emotional Disorders/Mental Illness

Stress/Anxiety

Predisposition/Genetics/

Family History

P E R C E N T

Figure 2.B

Perceived Causes of Addiction

Involving Alcohol

Source: CASA Columbia National Addiction Belief and Attitude

Survey (NABAS), 2008.

Note 1: Respondents could choose two or three answers.

Note 2: Other research finds that genetics account for 48% to 66%

of the risk that someone who drinks alcohol will develop an addiction

involving alcohol.

26.9

27.5

36.7

36.9

40.8

Lack of Willpower/Self-Control

Predisposition/Genetics/

Family History

Easy Availability

Stress/Anxiety

Emotional Disorders/Mental Illness

P E R C E N T

Figure 2.C

Perceived Causes of Addiction

Involving Controlled Prescription Drugs

Source: CASA Columbia National Addiction Belief and Attitude Survey

(NABAS), 2008.

Note 1: Respondents could choose two or three answers.

Note 2: Other research finds that genetics account for up to 78% of the risk for

the development of addiction involving prescription and other drugs.

(29.7 percent); “easy availability of alcohol
among youth” (29.2 percent); and “inability
to resist peer pressure” (28.2 percent).^210
(Figure 2.B)

Other Drugs. Although genetic factors
account for up to 78 percent of the risk for
developing addiction involving illegal or
controlled prescription drugs (depending on
the type of drug studied and the severity of
the addiction),^211 only 27.5 percent of
NABAS respondents cited “a predisposition
to addiction, due to genetics or family
history” as a primary cause of addiction
involving prescription drugs. The most
commonly cited factor that may cause people
to become addicted to prescription drugs was
“emotional disorders or mental illness, such
as depression or anxiety” (40.8 percent).^212
Co-occurring mental health disorders do
appear to play a significant role in the risk that
drug use will progress to addiction.^213 Other
primary causes that were mentioned by
respondents to the NABAS include “stress or
anxiety about work, family or other
problems” (36.9 percent); “easy availability
of prescription medications among youth”
(36.7 percent); and a “lack of willpower or
self-control” (26.9 percent).^214 (Figure 2.C)

Thirty percent cited “a predisposition to
addiction, due to genetics or family history”
as a primary cause of addiction involving
illegal drugs. The most commonly cited
factor that may cause people to become
addicted to illegal drugs was an “inability to
resist peer pressure” (41.9 percent). Other
factors that were mentioned as a primary
cause of addiction involving illicit drugs
include “easy availability of illegal drugs
among youth” (35.1 percent); “emotional
disorders or mental illness, such as depression or
anxiety” (34.8 percent); “stress or anxiety about
work, family or other problems” (29.9 percent);
and a “lack of willpower or self-control” (28.7
percent).^215 (Figure 2.D)