This, in turn, triggers further substance abuse. This then may evolve into a downward spiral of addictive behaviors. This can lead to a cycle of abuse and addiction. Personality traits often thought to accompany alcoholism and other dependencies include impulsiveness, narcissism, dependency, anxiety, hypochondria and ambivalence. However, prospective studies have established no specific personality profile that predisposes individuals to alcoholism or other drug dependencies.
Adolescents often initiate substance use due to peer pressure.
Other factors that influence choice of drug include the legality and availability of a drug. Various environmental stresses, combined with access to drugs, can increase the risk of substance abuse and dependence. The factor of life stress alone has not been shown to be a critical determinant of substance abuse. For recovering alcoholics and addicts, returning to an environment associated with previous substance use after many years of abstinence can induce withdrawal symptoms and initiate drug-seeking behavior, especially if the individual is under stress. Cues in an environment may renew the cycle of addiction even after years of abstinence.