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Causes of Addiction


Any sort of substance abuse or addictive behavior is in effect a complex disease. Research shows that risk factors and causes of addiction can be traced back to genetic factors, as well as environmental factors and personality traits of the addict. There is also a link between how strongly the substance or behavior addicted to stimulates the dopamine circuits in the brain. The higher the amount of dopamine or reward circuits stimulated (as in cases of certain types of drugs or excessive consumption of alcohol), the higher the chances of the person becoming addicted to the particular substance or behavior pattern. The sense of pleasure derived from addictive behaviors is what keeps the addict coming back for more. 
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References
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