Drug addiction and alcoholism most commonly develop through the abuse of substances. While there are people whom may have a genetic weakness to certain substances, when the drug or drink is not abused, it seldom turns to a flow blown addiction. For example, prescription drug prescribed by doctors have very addictive and dependence causing attributes, but are not dangerous if taking by a strict prescribed regiment. Also alcohol typically does not drive everyone, whom drinks one beer, to then stay out all night, drink ten more and not be to work on time the next day.
Initial abuses of drugs and alcohol have a very strong correlation with a person becoming an addict. One whom drinks under aged, and is never introduced to the normal social environment of adult drinking can develop drinking tendencies which may generally occur in an unreformed and wild atmosphere like that of an underage binge drinking party. These tendencies can carry on past the ages of which the habit of binge drinking may have formed and can further more fuel dependence in later life. Here an abuser may continue to consume large amounts of drugs and alcohol even though the social festive atmosphere for the behavior is no longer present. These tendencies are a way in which addiction can grow.
The abuse of both prescribed drugs and illegal drugs also leads to addiction. Taking amounts of a drug to attain a certain level of high for the sole purpose of getting high is textbook drug abuse. The chemicals in the brain and physical bodily dependencies are affected by drug abuse and can be altered by drug abuse. In this situation chemicals, which are normally released for regular brain and body function, may no longer be utilized in a regular fashion.
Here an abuser may become addicted as they use more of the drug of choice to attain both their desired peak highs and for normal functions as well. All in all drug abuse is probably the most sure way to grow an addiction. Simply avoiding the acute abuses of drugs and alcohol can dramatically lower chances of addiction.
