Substance abusers need treatment, counseling, or medical attention to show them how to stop abusing and teach them how to live healthier lives. The danger is that alcohol and drugs can impair your judgment, making you more likely to hurt yourself or others, to develop legal problems, to do poorly at work and school, or to have trouble in relationships. Dr. Bailey says that substance abuse is often present in domestic violence situations. She says that the children of addicts are at risk of abuse and neglect. They are likely to repeat the cycle of domestic violence because they learn a violent approach to resolving family conflicts, he explains.
Scientific evidence shows that people who are addicts have a different brain chemistry than others.
This leads medical professionals to believe that addiction is, in part, a hereditary disease. Another factor that can contribute to addictive behavior is the environment in which a person is raised. Regardless of the cause, addiction can be treated. Early detection and getting help are the keys to recovery. Recognizing the problem The first step to recovery is admitting a problem exists.