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cording to the American Psychological Association, 60 percent of
a person’s susceptibility to addiction is attributable to his or her
genes. Genes, which pass from parents to children, carry the in-
formation that determines characteristics such as height and eye
color. Researchers believe that some people also inherit genes
that make them more likely to become
addicts. In fact, researchers have identi- “We need to tell our chil-
fi ed fi fty genes that might contribute to dren that one drink or one
addiction vulnerability. Even with this in- pill can lead to an addiction.
formation, they do not fully understand Some of us have the genes
the role genetics plays in addiction. that increase our risk of
People who are genetically predis- addiction, even after just a
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posed to addiction might face harsher few uses.”
consequences for their choices to ex- — Maxine, an ambassador with
periment with drugs and alcohol. “We Shatterproof
need to tell our children that one drink
or one pill can lead to an addiction,” warns Maxine, who works
for the addiction crisis organization Shatterproof. “Some of us
have the genes that increase our risk of addiction, even after just
a few uses.” According to the organization Addiction Treatment
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Services, some people inherit genes that cause them to experi-
ence more extreme withdrawal symptoms, heightened pleasure
from certain behaviors or substances, and more diffi culty refrain-
ing from substances or behaviors.

The Home Environment
Genetics is only one factor in addiction. Home environment is
another. A study conducted by the Department of Epidemiolo-
gy and Public Health at Yale University School of Medicine con-
cluded that the children of addicts are eight times more likely to
become addicts themselves. However, having an addicted par-
ent does not automatically mean a child will become an addict;
rather, there are factors that make it more likely.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that 25 percent
of children in the United States grow up in households where

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