Addiction: Causes and Risk Factors

• Genetic predisposition

• Certain brain characteristics

• Stress

• Personality traits (such as stress, personality traits like high impulsivity, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, personality and other psychiatric disorders)

• Exposure to physical, sexual, or emotional abuse

• Family members suffering from addiction

• Peers suffering from addiction

• Access to an addictive substance

• Starting alcohol, nicotine or other drug use at an early age