The Causes and Consequences of Addiction

There are many potential reasons why an addiction develops, and an equally large number of possible negative consequences for individuals, for families, and for society as a whole.  In some cases, the causes and consequences overlap.  For example, alcoholics may hit their spouse or abuse their children; in turn, these family members may develop addictions of their own as a way of coping with the situations in which they find themselves.  In this way, addiction can be perpetuated over generations until someone – either the addict or someone who cares about the addict – decides to break the cycle. 

The negative outcomes of addiction range from serious health problems for the addict to increased crime and lost productivity for society.  Family and friends often struggle with feelings of guilt, shame, anger, and fear while addicts may put themselves in dangerous situations to maintain their supply or because they have lost all hope of returning to the life that they once knew.

Addiction does not have to be the end of your family.  Modern medicine offers many options for treating addiction.  It is even possible to use self-help methods to end an addiction although having the support of others in your life is advantageous for many reasons.  But if you or your loved one is not convinced that stopping an addiction is worth the effort or expense, learn more about the possibility of serious and even potentially fatal consequences if an addiction is left to spiral out of control by reading the articles below.