The home in which a person grows up could have a great deal of influence over drug use and abuse. A study in the Archives of General Psychiatry bears out this theory quite well, as researchers looked at drug and alcohol use in genetic twins who had been raised in different homes. Those who grew up in homes that were disrupted by divorce and mental illness, and those who grew up in homes where drugs and alcohol were at play, were more likely to become abusers when they grew up. It’s possible that living in homes like this causes such intense stress that using drugs seems like a reasonable solution, but it’s also possible that growing up in a home like this normalizes drug abuse. As the child grows and sees parents abusing substances, that child learns to also abuse substances.
Similarly, living in an environment in which drug use is rampant may also contribute to addiction. People may see their neighbors buying drugs on the street, and they may walk by needles, vials and other drug paraphernalia on a regular basis. Calls from drug dealers might ring out through the night air, and the person might be approached by dealers on a regular basis. Once again, this behavior can normalize drug use and make the person feel as though abuse is both common and harmless. Additionally, living in a crime-laden neighborhood like this can be stressful, and some people may turn to drugs in order to soothe their fears and worries. Drugs seem like a way to fit in and get relief, and the allure can be hard to resist.