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Addiction is a part of life.
The Urge (Part 2) Words Jeremy Ireland Illustration Marco Melgrati As promised, the aim this month is to look into some of the socioeconomic reasons behind why one person may be more prone to addiction than another. It’s a complex issue, and just like an iceberg, what we see on the surface is only a small part of its entirety, the majority of its mass being hidden underneath and out of view. Let’s look into genetics and personality traits that can help shed some light on how an addiction can develop. Genetic vulnerability has been shown to play a role in problem drinking. In some alcoholics a gene has been identified that alters dopamine receptors. Furthermore, alcoholics may inherit a tolerance to the negative effects of alcohol and sensitivity to its positives (probably not what you want to hear if you’re currently struggling through Dry July). Studies using identical twins back this genetic component, showing that if one of the twins is an alcoholic than there’s a 76 per cent chance that the other twin is as well. Children of alcoholics are also at increased risk of becoming alcoholics, with hereditability estimated at around 30 per cent. But what about personality? It too is in part determined by genetic factors but is more open to interpretation. The good old ‘nature versus nurture’ debate comes into play here (‘nature’ being more biological and ‘nurture’ being our social environment and how we are raised and see the world we live in). One phrase I hear a lot from clients is, “I’ve got an addictive personality.” This may seem true to the addict who is usually searching for some kind of answer, but I like to flip this around and point out that perhaps they have a personality that is more prone to addiction. People are generally wired to respond to 36 The Beast August 2022 Issue 211
different things in different ways because of their personality. If one is high in ‘negative affectivity’ or negative in mood and prone to feeling anxious and/or depressed then they are more likely to find relief from alcohol. Our social surrounds play a big part as well. Drinking is often associated with winning or having a good time. No one is seen to be having a bad time with alcohol in the ads we see on TV. We see the huge logos of beer brands on the footy fields when we watch our heroes ply their trade (spoiler alert - these are actually graphically superimposed, not physically stencilled onto the ground). The spraying of champagne on the winner’s podium, the raising of glasses when we toast an achievement, even slogans like ‘keep on walking’ or ‘for a hard earned thirst’ are etched into the psyche. Culture comes into effect here too and can be problematic and difficult to turn around. But how does knowing this help if we find ourselves in the grip of a substance on addiction’s slippery slope? It might help to know that addiction is nothing new; millions have struggled in the past and millions will struggle in the future, it is part of the human condition. Science will help and new treatments will be developed, but at the end of the day addiction will always be here as it is a part of life. I am not saying this as an excuse for the addicted person, but the more we can move away from the ‘disease model’ and stereotypes of addiction and accept that there is no single solution, the better chance we can give to those who are suffering, offering more opportunity for relief and a better outcome. It’s important to add that this is for the addicted, as well as the non-addicted people who suffer alongside them. Perhaps addiction should be less focused on the individual and be more on a community experience. Choice has its limitations; the common thread I have found is that no one chooses to be an addict. As Carl Fisher points out in his book The Urge, “The suffering of addiction is not an individual malady - it also comes from deep ancestral wounds.” If you are suffering, recognising it and reaching out to people who understand is an important start. You are not alone and it can often take years to take the first step. The sooner we recognise what drives addiction, especially from an inequality standpoint, the easier it can be to get help. Instead of trying to eradicate addiction perhaps we might all be better off finding ways of working with it. Have you got a question? You can get in touch with Jeremy by calling 0400 420 042.
