RISK FACTORS IN ADDICTION
AGE
A01 - AO2 –
BROWN ET AL (1997) RESEARCH – Health Canada Youth
The influence of peers on Smoking Survey
smoking + drug use appears to POINT – supports the role of age in
addiction.
wane in later adolescence + the
EVIDENCE – involved over 50,000
role of a close friend (+ especially adolescents. Compared smokers who
romantic partners) becomes became dependent between 12-15 yrs
increasingly important as an with non-smokers. Found early onset
→
influence on attitudes + smokers were more likely to drink
behaviour, especially those that alcohol, binge drink + smoke cannabis.
are health-related. This implies adolescent cigarette
smoking is a gateway to facilitating
progression to other legal + illegal drug
use.
EXPLAIN – supports that at a young age
the ability to make decisions rationally is
inhibited so they are more likely to
become dependent because they don’t
consider the consequences.
EVALUATE – strength – large sample
STRESS
A01 – AO2 –
People report that they drink, RESEARCH – Driessen et al
smoke, use drugs, gamble etc. (2008)
as a means of coping with POINT – supports the
daily hassles (such as relationship between stress +
relationship, financial + work addiction.
problems). EVIDENCE – found that 30% of
This is in keeping with the self- drug addicts + 15% of alcoholics
medication model.
Such stressors may contribute
→ suffer from PTSD.
EXPLAIN – supports the idea that
to initiation + continuation of people exposed to severe stress
addictions, as well as to are more vulnerable to
relapse even after long addictions.
periods of abstinence. EVALUATE – weakness – difficult
People exposed to severe to establish whether it is a
stress are more vulnerable to correlation or causation
addictions. relationship – weakens research
support.
AGE
A01 - AO2 –
BROWN ET AL (1997) RESEARCH – Health Canada Youth
The influence of peers on Smoking Survey
smoking + drug use appears to POINT – supports the role of age in
addiction.
wane in later adolescence + the
EVIDENCE – involved over 50,000
role of a close friend (+ especially adolescents. Compared smokers who
romantic partners) becomes became dependent between 12-15 yrs
increasingly important as an with non-smokers. Found early onset
→
influence on attitudes + smokers were more likely to drink
behaviour, especially those that alcohol, binge drink + smoke cannabis.
are health-related. This implies adolescent cigarette
smoking is a gateway to facilitating
progression to other legal + illegal drug
use.
EXPLAIN – supports that at a young age
the ability to make decisions rationally is
inhibited so they are more likely to
become dependent because they don’t
consider the consequences.
EVALUATE – strength – large sample
STRESS
A01 – AO2 –
People report that they drink, RESEARCH – Driessen et al
smoke, use drugs, gamble etc. (2008)
as a means of coping with POINT – supports the
daily hassles (such as relationship between stress +
relationship, financial + work addiction.
problems). EVIDENCE – found that 30% of
This is in keeping with the self- drug addicts + 15% of alcoholics
medication model.
Such stressors may contribute
→ suffer from PTSD.
EXPLAIN – supports the idea that
to initiation + continuation of people exposed to severe stress
addictions, as well as to are more vulnerable to
relapse even after long addictions.
periods of abstinence. EVALUATE – weakness – difficult
People exposed to severe to establish whether it is a
stress are more vulnerable to correlation or causation
addictions. relationship – weakens research
support.
