11/05/2025
Drug & alcohol addiction is not a moral failing and it’s never random.
20+ years of research shows us that addiction always has a root cause. While we can’t always predict who will develop an addiction, we know it’s never “out of the blue.”
For many, addiction traces back to childhood trauma: sexual abuse, verbal abuse, physical abuse, or growing up in chaotic homes. Substances become a way to soothe emotional pain.
But not every story starts in childhood. Genetics and mental health play a role too. Some veterans come home from war and struggle with PTSD, nightmares, anxiety, grief, and reintegration challenges, turning to substances to cope. Others face mental illness or personality disorders, where the only sense of relief or excitement seems to come from a substance.
Even life transitions can be a factor. For example, some women navigating menopause experience emotional, mental, and physical changes that make alcohol or substances feel more appealing, leading to new patterns of use later in life.
The truth is simple: addiction is never a random act. There is always a reason: trauma, genetics, mental health, or life transitions. For some, it takes years to uncover; for others, it’s clear from the start.
