Drug Abuse and Dependence

What Increases Your Risk

Not everyone who uses a drug develops a drug problem. Certain things make abuse and dependence more likely. These are called risk factors.

Risk factors you can't change include:

• Genes. People with drug problems often have a family history of drug use. Studies report that genes may influence whether you use drugs and whether you move from drug use to drug abuse and dependence.¹
• Gender. More men use drugs than women, but the rate of abusing prescription drugs is similar in men and women. Among people who use drugs, more women than men have serious mental health problems.²
• Family. At early ages, your family plays a large role in how you feel about drugs. If your parents or older brother or sister used drugs or broke the law, you are more likely to use drugs.³ If a spouse or partner uses drugs, you are more likely to use drugs.³
• Early use. The earlier you began to use drugs, the more likely you are to abuse them or become dependent.³ This may be because early drug use changes the developing brain.

Risk factors you can change include:

• Your mental health. If you have a mental health problem, such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or an anxiety disorder, you are more likely to use drugs. Treating mental health problems makes drug use less likely, and if you're using drugs, treating mental health problems makes recovery more likely.
• How you use. If you smoke a drug or inject it into a vein, you are more likely to become dependent.³ These methods give you a fast and intense "high," but you lose the high quickly and then feel low. This may make you use the drug more often.
• The drug you use and how strong the drug is. Some drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, are so strong that dependence is possible no matter how you use them. It doesn't matter if you inject them or snort them.
• Environment. If you live in an area where drugs are easy to get, people use drugs, or drugs are accepted as part of life, you are more likely to use drugs.
• Friends. Your friends may influence you to use drugs by directly urging you to or by using drugs when you're around them.
• Problems with others. You may be more likely to use drugs when you are having problems in your family or with friends.
• Not having purpose or satisfaction in your life. If you have no activities that give you a sense of purpose, you may be more likely to use drugs. A satisfying job or schoolwork or volunteer activities can give your life purpose and meaning.

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Author:	Paul Lehnert Ryan Powers	Last Updated: February 15, 2008
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine James R. McKay, PhD - Psychology
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