To put it simply: Yes. Addiction doesn’t discriminate according to backgrounds and personality types; every young person is susceptible for substance abuse. For some, the first time is all it takes for addiction to set in.

There are several key risk factors that may increase the likelihood of your child becoming addicted to alcohol or drugs. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) identified the following conditions as common precursors to alcoholism:

-    Use of alcohol and/or other drugs at age 14 or younger
-    Having an alcoholic parent
-    Having close friends who are alcoholics or other drug users
-    Being abused as a child
-    Experiencing a major traumatic event as a child
-    Having behavioral problems at a young age
-    Failing school
-    Receiving severe, inconsistent punishment
-    Having a family that does not communicate with them or keep track of their activities
-    Lacking support from family or friends

Another factor that increases the likelihood of substance addiction is mental illness, which includes mood disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and developmental conditions. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, “as much as 50 percent of the mentally ill population also has a substance abuse problem.”
While the factors above do indicate the risk of alcohol abuse is high, it does not mean that all young people with those experiences will become alcoholics or drug addicts. Generally a loving, supportive relationship with a parent is the pillar of strength that helps them stay drug and alcohol free. If you need help with a loved one you believe has a high-risk of addiction, give us a call. Our addiction counselors would like to help.