| A Substance use
disorder is an illness that can affect anyone: rich or poor, male or
female, employed or unemployed, young or old, and any race or ethnicity.
Nobody knows for sure exactly what causes it, but the chance of
developing a substance use disorder depends partly on
genetics—biological traits passed down through families. A person’s
environment, psychological traits, and stress level also play major
roles by contributing to the use of alcohol or drugs. Researchers have
found that using drugs for a long time changes the brain in important,
long-lasting ways. It is as if a switch in the brain turned on at some
point. This point is different for every person, but when this switch
turns on, the person crosses an invisible line and becomes dependent on
the substance. People who start using drugs or alcohol early in life run
a greater risk of crossing this line and becoming dependent. These
changes in the brain remain long after a person stops using drugs or
alcohol. |