While there is no one reason why a person becomes a substance abuser, there are several risk factors that may help to predict who is at risk for substance abuse. It is important to remember that just because someone displays one or two risk factors doesn’t mean she is going to become an alcoholic or drug user. It’s just helpful to know some of the more common factors involved in substance abuse to help prevent it.
Studies have shown that circumstances beginning as soon as early childhood may affect an individual’s likelihood of becoming a substance abuser during adolescence or adulthood. For example, children raised in a chaotic environment with improper or inadequate parental nurturing are at a higher risk of abusing drugs and/or alcohol later in life.
As the child ages, factors outside the home environment that can increase her risk of developing a substance abuse problem later in life include very aggressive or shy behavior at school and poor academic performance. Other factors include an inability to cope appropriately in social situations and interacting with a deviant group of peers.
If a child was raised in a less than desirable home or exhibited some of the behaviors listed above, it does not mean the child is going to become a substance abuser. However, it does mean that the child has a higher than average risk of abusing drugs and/or alcohol at some point during his or her life.
Education and awareness can help alleviate some of these risk factors. Sometimes simply knowing the risk factors makes a person more aware and able to recognize if they are falling into the trap of substance abuse. This knowledge is also invaluable to parents and teachers that may worry about the kids in their lives turning to alcohol and drugs. A little knowledge and education can go a long way in preventing a substance abuse problem.