Recognizing and Addressing the Five Main Causes of Addiction

Unlike what many believe about drug and alcohol addictions, while some can get addicted rather quickly, these addictions do not just happen overnight. For most, these addictions happen over a long period as the substance slowly takes over. Many people who suffer from drug and alcohol addictions do not know what happens until it is too late.

Growing up in a small town, drugs and alcohol, house parties, and having a good time were all we cared about. By the time I was a junior in high school, alcohol addiction had already begun to set in, and then, while in the Army, a drug addiction had taken over. By the time I got out of the Army in 2009, full-blown drug and alcohol addiction had taken over, and I found myself without control most of the time.

At the time, I didn’t know what the signs of addiction were, nor would I have done much about it, but there were others in my life who would have done something had they known. We need to understand the causes and characteristics of addiction, especially if we desire to help others before it becomes too late. So, I want to list out five causes (characteristics of addiction in part 2) of addiction in hopes that it might help us to recognize addiction better before it takes total control of someone we love.

1. Emotional: Many addicts suffer from varying ranges of emotional abuse. Emotional abuse can be defined as any non-physical form of abuse, such as, but not limited to, manipulation, intimidation, belittling, humiliation, and aggression. Emotional abuse is a widespread problem, and it can take place at any time and in any place. It happens to children as well as adults. Proverbs 18:21 tells us that the tongue has significant power to bring about life or death in an individual. But Psalm 103:6 tells us that God will bring justice for all the oppressed.

2. Relational: Relational issues are a big problem that leads people to find comfort and identity in a substance. Often, when we desire to be part of a group more than we desire to be a part of God’s people, substance abuse can spring up very quickly. When this happens, the addiction can take over quickly, and the person finds themselves constantly in need of this substance to heal the ailments of their relational problems. Relational and social issues at work, home, and even church can all drive a person to find comfort and identity in their substance of choice.

3. Physical: Sometimes, we have a physical ailment, such as chronic pain, that can drive a person to find relief in a substance rather than finding relief in God, who heals. I suffer from chronic pain due to an accident. Doctors have put me on different medications for the pain, but my relief and hope should ultimately be found in Christ alone. Chronic pain, or some other physical ailment, can be one of the biggest causes of addiction today. But we must remember that one day, Jesus will come back, and we will be healed. This isn’t to say that medication is wrong and that we should stay away from it, but we must be careful here and ultimately find our healing and relief in Him. If we aren’t careful, the medicine itself will become our god.

4. Cognitive and behavioral: For someone who may encounter bouts of forgetfulness, especially if they forget their identity in Christ and their position in the creation as the imago dei, substance abuse can be a preferred method of finding that identity. Someone suffering from irrational and/or illogical thinking may find comfort in the substance rather than God. Likewise, those with unrealistic expectations about others and themselves often find some comfort in a substance instead of dealing with those issues.

5. Spiritual: When we think about the spiritual aspect of this, we can see that there has been an estrangement of God, as the addict is in a state of continual sin. Sometimes, the addict feels as if God doesn’t care enough to fix the problems they have faced, so the next best option for them is to run back to the substance that numbs and brings temporal joy. For sinful humanity, it is almost natural to run to something else for comfort when we do not perceive God as the one we should run to.

In conclusion, while this is not an extensive list of what would be viewed as causes of addictions, it is a list of the main issues leading people into substance abuse. We will inevitably run to something else when we do not find our identity, comfort, relief, and protection in God alone.

Substance abuse is prevalent because the substance typically numbs the feelings caused by abuse, faulty relationships, physical ailments, behavioral problems, and even spiritual problems. As we experience these problems or notice that someone else is experiencing them, we must be ready to direct their hearts to the God who cares for them more than any substance or person could ever care for them.