Exploring the Roots & Societal Impact of Addiction
I’ve lived through addiction. I now know that untreated trauma was the root cause. That understanding changed everything—and it's why I write about addiction today. My goal is to raise awareness and encourage others to seek real help, not shame. Shame never cured addiction. Compassion, support, and treatment do.
When I see people publicly shamed for their addiction, it hurts. It’s not just cruel—it’s counterproductive. Stigma pushes people further into isolation, and isolation is where addiction thrives.
What Causes Addiction?
Addiction is not a moral failing. It's a chronic, relapsing medical condition. Understanding its causes helps break down stigma and opens the door to real solutions.
Here are some of the most common contributors:
Genetics: Up to 50% of the risk for addiction is hereditary. A family history increases susceptibility.
Brain chemistry: Repeated substance use rewires the brain’s reward system, reducing natural dopamine production and reinforcing compulsive use.
Trauma and mental illness: Many people use substances to numb emotional pain or cope with undiagnosed mental health conditions like PTSD, anxiety, or depression.
Environmental exposure: Childhood adversity, abuse, neglect, or early access to substances increases risk.
Social and cultural factors: Normalized drinking, lack of community support, and poor access to care can all increase vulnerability.
Understanding these factors can help reframe addiction not as a choice but as a health crisis shaped by experience, biology, and circumstance.
Why Stigma Still Dominates the Conversation
Addiction stigma is deep-rooted. People often view substance use through a lens of judgment instead of healthcare. This thinking is partly a result of how drug use has been criminalized in the United States, especially in marginalized communities. Even today, drug policy often emphasizes punishment over treatment.
Stigma is one of the biggest barriers to recovery. It deters people from asking for help and makes it harder for families to speak openly.
How Many Are Affected?
In the U.S., over 46 million people aged 12 or older met the criteria for a substance use disorder in 2021. That’s nearly 1 in 6 Americans in that age group. This includes not only alcohol and illicit drugs but also prescription medications.
Addiction also goes beyond substances. Behavioral addictions—like gambling, gaming, or compulsive shopping—can be just as disruptive.
The Ripple Effect
Addiction doesn’t just harm the person using. It impacts families, workplaces, and entire communities. Loved ones may carry the financial burden of unpaid bills, legal fees, or lost income. Emotionally, the toll is heavy—grief, frustration, fear, and burnout are common. Families often experience cycles of conflict, mistrust, and guilt.
For children growing up in homes affected by addiction, the consequences can last a lifetime. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to higher rates of addiction, mental illness, and chronic disease in adulthood.
What Actually Helps?
Addiction is treatable. However, treatment is more than detoxification or medication—it involves addressing the underlying causes. This might include trauma therapy, psychiatric care, housing support, or peer mentoring. For many, long-term recovery depends on community connection and sustained support, not just sobriety.
Combining behavioral therapy with medication—like methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone—can be highly effective for opioid addiction.
Changing the Narrative
We can’t treat what we refuse to understand. Every time we reduce addiction to “bad choices,” we block someone’s path to recovery.
Instead, we need to:
Use person-first language (e.g., “a person with addiction” rather than “addict”).
Support harm reduction efforts that meet people where they are.
Educate others on how trauma and mental illness play a role.
Push for policies that expand access to care, not incarceration.
Where to Get Help
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, help is available 24/7:
SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
Narcotics Anonymous (NA): na.org/meetingsearch
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): aa.org/find-aa
National Harm Reduction Coalition: harmreduction.org
About the Author
Jamie Hairston is a former addiction counselor turned writer and mental health advocate.
Sources
National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Understanding Drug Use and Addiction.” Revised July 2020. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/understanding-drug-use-addiction
National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction.” Revised January 2019. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/treatment-approaches-drug-addiction
SAMHSA. “2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.” https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2021-nsduh-annual-national-report
Office of the Surgeon General. Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health. November 2016. https://addiction.surgeongeneral.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-generals-report.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).” https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/index.html