Etiology of Substance Abuse and Similarities in Alcoholism and Drug Abuse

Most addicts and their families, in reflective moments, want to identify the small flaw in the addict’s earlier life that will provide understanding of the destructive addiction. The simplistic search for “an etiology” of harmful substance abuse likens the problem to a sore finger caused by a splinter. If only the splinter could be plucked out, the problem would disappear. This form of thinking creates an urgency to find the cause of addiction, for its removal represents the “cure.”