5 Socio-Cultural Factors that Cultivate Addiction

Years of study have shown that addiction, once thought to be caused by degeneration of morals and lack of self-control, is as much a clinical disease as diabetes and depression are. Current and ongoing research has even identified genetic markers that can predispose certain people to possibly developing a substance use disorder (SUD) at some point in their lives.

However, while addiction can be physiological in origin, the fact remains that there are also many cultural and social factors that cause and cultivate addiction in many. The following are five socio-cultural factors that can increase a person’s risk for addiction.

1. The Bonding Experience

Alcohol, sometimes called the “social lubricant,” has been used by people as a means of lowering inhibitions in social settings since wine was first produced in the late Neolithic Period (circa 10,000 B.C.). It is now commonplace for groups of friends to plan social gatherings around the presence of alcohol, such as meeting for happy hour at a favorite bar.

Being under the influence of alcohol tends to make peer interaction much easier; people often feel more confident, are quicker to crack jokes and speak up, feel less self-conscious, and worry less about rejection. There is, however, a downside to being so socially uninhibited. People who are intoxicated can become loud and obnoxious, offensive, and are sometimes difficult to handle.

Similarly, marijuana has the effect of relaxing and mellowing users in a social setting, but at the risk of increased paranoia, pronounced lethargy, and the tendency to get lost in one’s own thoughts. Marijuana and alcohol are just two examples of substances that someone may turn to in order to reduce anxiety in social settings, however it is important to remember that most all mind-altering substances tend to lower inhibitions.

2. Stress Relief

Sometimes, people overindulge for the sense of relief from the stresses of daily life. Have you ever heard someone say that their drug of choice is “an outlet” or their means of temporarily “escaping reality”? This typical, yet harmful, justification of frequent intoxication is common and can be a precursor to full-blown addiction.

Comforting oneself during times of stress through the misuse of drugs or alcohol might seem to work for some people at first. Unfortunately, that “success” is often short-lived, as continued substance misuse often leads to the onset of additional life stressors, such as financial problems and interpersonal conflicts.

Those who feel overwhelmed by the amount of stress experienced on a day-to-day basis have a plethora of healthy alternatives to manage stress. Meditation, guided breathing exercises, and yoga are relaxing and teach awareness of the state of your body and its processes, both physical and emotional. Additionally, many find counseling and stress-management programs to be highly effective.

3. Sense of Community

Another social factor that contributes to addiction is the tendency for drug and alcohol misuse to promote group solidarity and feelings of community and belonging. In particular, the primary contributor—by a large margin—for use of narcotics such as cocaine and heroin are peer group characteristics, followed distantly by adverse familiar conditions and individual social circumstances (such as homelessness).

Although social influence is among the most consistent factor for substance misuse, especially among adolescents, it is important to foster healthy, positive relationships with cohorts. Additionally, there is substantial research to support that positive peer groups can aid in addiction recovery. This is due to the fact that impressionable individuals are more likely to take advice from others perceived as being similar to them with comparable backgrounds and interests.

4. The Allure of Rebelling

The misuse of alcohol and drugs, by nature, creates the sense that one is rebelling against the norms and expectations of society. Adolescents in particular will turn to substance misuse as a way to “act out” against authority and the limitations imposed on them at work, school, and at home.

In fact, studies suggest that substance misuse can be the platform from which adolescents derive a sense of identity. One of the most effective treatments to satisfy the desire to rebel is called dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). This form of therapy promotes what is called Alternate Rebellion. The individual makes a list of activities that could be enjoyed for fun or because they might break a social “rule,” then they choose activities, one by one, until one is found that satisfies the urge to slightly bend the rules without being harmful to oneself or others.

5. Lifestyle Appeal

Sometimes individuals find the lifestyle of someone who misuses drugs and alcohol to be appealing, perhaps even glamorous. Observers may notice the way these individuals dress, the music they listen to, what they do for fun, and their attitude toward structure and responsibility and find this lifestyle appealing.

But the casual onlooker who is enticed by the novelty of such a lifestyle may fail to see the negative aspects. A survey taken by a vocational placement facility in the Midwest states that oftentimes someone who struggles with substance misuse has a work history that shows frequent job changes, a steadily declining salary, unstable relationships and family disruptions, and a pattern of absences on Mondays.

In tandem with biological contributors, social and cultural factors can be highly influential in prompting a substance use disorder. Despite these environmental components that seem to nurture addiction, there are many healthy alternatives that can meet one’s need for acceptance, belonging, relief from stress, and self-actualization.

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Also Read: 5 Ways You Are Physiologically Predisposed for Addiction