What Personality Might Have To Do With Drug Abuse Risk

Scientists have attempted to find certain risk factors that increase the likelihood of substance abuse. In the past, research has been done to examine the influence of genetics in substance abuse. Even though it can run in families, there is not direct correlation between genetics and substance abuse.
Dr. Sergi Ferré, a senior scientist and section chief at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, believes that there may be a link between substance abuse and genetics if personality traits are also taken into account. Some personality traits that have a higher risk for substance abuse are: people who are introverted with fewer positive feelings or are attracted to rewards in life, people with negative emotionality or neuroticism, a personality with low levels of constraint.
These personality traits can be linked to certain brain circuits and brain functions. People may be born with different type of brains that make them more likely to develop a substance use disorder or the use of drugs may effect their personality to show these traits. This is an important factor to consider for developing better substance abuse treatments.

To read the full article from the Huffington Post, go to “What Personality Might Have To Do With Drug Abuse Risk”