Global IP Students

Many believe that addicts belong in prison as some form of punishment, a way for them to take responsibility for their actions. One of the first steps in the typical rehabilitation program is accepting that one has a problem, and that one is responsible for it. In this way, rehabilitation empowers addicts with a sense of personal responsibility not only for getting into the endless pit of addiction, but for crawling out of it as well. Though personal responsibility is a very large part of rehabilitation and is effective, addicts themselves are not entirely at fault for their addictions. Addiction itself is not something a person chooses.

Some are more predisposed to addictive behaviors than others both biologically and environmentally. It has been proposed that some are born with lower serotonin or dopamine levels. Because the body does not supply a satisfying amount of these euphoria-inducing neurotransmitters, one would be driven to replace them with drugs. Harmful substances such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine alters a person’s brain chemistry in a manner that makes them desire it with intensity. As is stated by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), an addict will be determined to take their drug and satisfy their need, despite the vast array of consequences. To an addict, taking a hit of their drug of choice is as essential as eating or sleeping. Addiction has also been found to be genetic. It has been estimated that genes are responsible for 40 to 60 percent of a person’s predisposal to addiction. Much like alcoholism, those who have a family history of drug abuse are more likely to possess these addictive behaviors.