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Does everyone who abuses alcohol or illegal drugs have an addictive personality ?

10 Answers
Last Updated: 04/30/2019 at 6:00pm
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Brenda King, PsyD

Psychologist

I treat life changes, women’s issues, and issues of aging using evidence-based treatments with healthy doses of warmth, empathy and humor to enhance healing and growth.

Top Rated Answers
shaunbon1224
October 1st, 2018 5:43am
I think addiction is dependent upon environment, surrounding and genetics. It's a complex question. I would have to agree that they do, but I think everyone fits on the spectrum. Most people who are addicted to alocohol and drugs could be considered people with addictive personalities, but I think they are struggling more with their emotions and wanting to dull them. I think someone with a truly addictive personality is someone who will find any drugs, or activities that will keep them distracted for a long time. It is a never ending need to be distracted, to run away from life.
katieee1234
April 30th, 2019 6:00pm
Having an addictive personality can be shown in different ways. Some ways that can determine if someone is displaying addictive behaviors is through the excessive need to do a particular action constantly. Some of these can include: Smoking, Gambling, Sex, Overspending, Playing video games, Porn viewing, Overeating, Hoarding, Overworking, and Drug and Alcohol misuse. There is no medical exam that can be taken to figure out if someone possesses an addictive personality. Instead, it’s important for individuals and their loved ones to pay attention to their daily behaviors. Any kind of activity that makes a person’s dopamine levels increase drastically can be a sign that someone is becoming addicted to that act. Actions such as driving fast, having sexual flings, gambling, doing drugs and taking dangerous risks can show that a person is itching for a sense of thrill. Speaking of thrill, feeling the need to experience the exact same kind of rush over and over again can show that a person has an addictive personality. This is seen a lot with individuals who struggle with an alcohol or drug addiction. A tolerance is built up to the substance the person is misusing and they feel the need to consume larger amounts to obtain the same kind of buzz they experienced when they first had it.
Anonymous
January 9th, 2015 4:08pm
No, the addiction happens for many different reasons, stress, peer pressure, various anxieties and yes genetics among others. They’re all factors but not necessarily direct causes.
Anonymous
April 3rd, 2015 2:41pm
Not always. Some might be abusing alcohol and drugs under severe depression or anxiety maybe. The addiction takes place after a certain level.
SerenitySmiley
April 4th, 2015 2:38am
In my opinion, I think an individual who abuses alcohol or illegal drugs has underlying issues. There could be many different reasons as to why someone starts to abuse a substance. I think by labelling someone to have an addictive personality, one may be jumping to conclusions. You always have to dig a little deeper!
bestTruth96
April 10th, 2015 1:15am
I do not know for certain that is so much an addictive personality, but the addiction gene. Some of us are more likely to become addicts based on our genetic make up.
Anonymous
May 23rd, 2015 5:08am
textbook research in my addiction treatment class suggest that there are some who use drugs like heroine etc. for fun and that at least 1/3 of all users quit on their own terms without therapeutic intervention..
warmSunshine98
August 10th, 2015 4:31pm
I thinks people with addictive personality generally exhibits a long term patten of distress extreme thinking such as difficulty managing emotions and frequent interpersonal difficulties.
Dextroze
November 23rd, 2015 7:15pm
Not always ..some times its just for fun and some times it depend on the experience of the individual and his own life ..but addiction is a choice we choose and we can of course conquer that
KoreaNathan
November 24th, 2015 9:53am
Being a past drug-user, and knowing quite a few drug dealers, I have a propensity towards saying yes. I would say there are different stages of addictive personalities, but most of the people I know who abuse drugs and alcohol do it addictively. I certainly did, and I have a MAJORLY addictive personality. Some of my friends were less intense, but they all had certain addictive qualities, in one way or another. I am sure there are people who abuse drugs and alcohol who don't have addictive personality issues that show themselves in other aspects of their lives, but that is something I didn't see in my experience.