Addictions from a social point of view

The problem of addictions, due to its complexity, requires a complex approach, interdisciplinary, to achieve a comprehensive approach that leads us to understand it in the most complete possible. One of the possible reading and analysis edges in the area of ​​addictions is the social area.

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What does the social gaze focus on?

In the configuration of an addiction, many aspects, conditions and factors come together. Beyond the physical and psychological characteristics that a person must have for addictive behavior to develop, and outside From the most intimate and individual, there are social factors that condition it and are intertwined with other circumstances for this to occur.

The broader family and social context, where the person is born, raised and develops her life, can condition, although not determined, the habit of compulsive consumption, and in some way promote it.

As each family is different, it will be possible for each one to configure a different position on consumption. Therefore, just as some families promote consumption and others prohibit it abruptly, acquiring repressive features and the order of the taboo; other families can,

without facilitating or prohibiting consumption, to educate so that this, if it is going to exist, is in a moderate way.

Social and family factors of addiction

Are there socio-family factors that can promote addictive or risky behavior?

Yes, there are many factors that can constitute a risk. We can mention the lack of containment nets, of involvement of family ties, of communication and dialogue, or the presence of close relatives or loved ones with drug use problematic.

When a social-family environment promotes substance use, risk factors prevail that increase the probability of consumption and that it is problematic. That is, if a child is born and grows up in a family system where the elderly (and sometimes also young people under 18 years of age) drink alcohol, at each family gathering, the child may come to think that the drink cannot be absent. If this same child observes a significant figure of reference drinking excessively, having fun, he may associate alcohol = fun.

It may also happen that you get used to someone in your immediate environment taking sleeping pills, not being nervous or being calmer, without proper supervised treatment.

The message is the same: you need substances to have a better time. And even if children are told not to drink, or not to drink too much, or not to get involved with certain substances, it will be the concrete acts and events that will modulate the behaviors of young people. They learn more from what they see than from what they are told, that is why we must accompany our words with our actions.

Other recurring scenes of consumption are often seen in the neighborhood. Sitting on the sidewalk, young and old, as a way of life they use the “stop on the corner” with people whom they consider friends but perhaps only momentary companions of consumption.

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Are these aspects sufficient to determine a consumer problem?

Of course these social aspects are not enough. Other factors that are linked to the social must come together. Social phenomena are only one component, important and conditioning but not determining. In the framework of issues that generate a problematic consumption situation, there are the social, cultural, physical-neurological and psychological.

Each member of the society that we make up takes a position, sometimes without realizing it, about different events and social problems. Especially with addictions, it is difficult to understand if it is a problem, or if there is a intentionality to generate discomfort, as well as the addict is confused as a synonym for delinquent, or dangerous.

Depending on what position we assume as part of society, we can contribute or not to social change.