tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142743152971096915.post2388861416767444949..comments2023-10-05T04:44:25.174-05:00Comments on Addiction Inbox: Nature, Nurture, and MeDirk Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429793255785560043noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142743152971096915.post-37004219687407963012013-04-26T12:04:53.601-05:002013-04-26T12:04:53.601-05:00Agree with your continuum, Type 1s and Type 2s, so...Agree with your continuum, Type 1s and Type 2s, sort of representing the ends of the spectrum.Dirk Hansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07429793255785560043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142743152971096915.post-17344067057485004172013-04-26T11:02:28.029-05:002013-04-26T11:02:28.029-05:00Why a dicotomy, either/or? Why not a continum of ...Why a dicotomy, either/or? Why not a continum of influences; biogenetic on end, environmental on the other, and all points in between. I am reminded of Godwin's Type II or male limited presdisposition with 9 times the rate of addiciton regardless of environment and the Type I or mileu limited with only 2 times the rate expressed because of the socioeconomic status of the adoptive father.John Clevelandnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142743152971096915.post-90714040420886658882013-04-26T03:28:10.716-05:002013-04-26T03:28:10.716-05:00I think that it depends on which personality you a...I think that it depends on which personality you are. In some cases trauma triggers addiction but in others, addiction leads down the path to trauma...Jerry Simpsonhttp://babyjoggercityselectnews.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142743152971096915.post-75259899496621919762013-04-25T20:56:36.968-05:002013-04-25T20:56:36.968-05:00George Vaillant's longitudinal Study of Adult ...George Vaillant's longitudinal Study of Adult Development is incredibly insightful for the nature/nurture question, at least as it applies to alcoholism.<br /><br />He found that "Multiproblem families ... produced children who later were afflicted with sociopathy and alcoholism... After 33 years, however, the effect of multiproblem family membership upon most adult outcome variables seemed attenuated" (The Natural History of Alcoholism).<br /><br />This seems to suggest that childhood trauma may lead to higher rates of substance problems at an early age, but that lifelong addictions are better predicted by other factors, like genetics.<br /><br />Vaillant also writes " The presence of strengths rather than weaknesses in the childhood environment correlated most highly with adult outcome." So everyone seems to agree that a stable family can be a great defense.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04903694937734828538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142743152971096915.post-38905137120234295712013-04-25T19:45:29.024-05:002013-04-25T19:45:29.024-05:00Hi Jason, thanks for your thoughts. (Jason is the ...Hi Jason, thanks for your thoughts. (Jason is the clinical director of the Dawn Farm addiction treatment center.) I agree that there is something that connects addiction and PTSD but it's still fuzzy in my head. <br /><br />The trauma business is tough,and another area difficult to sort through from a biopsychological point of view.Dirk Hansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07429793255785560043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142743152971096915.post-36036022802052818442013-04-25T18:57:40.638-05:002013-04-25T18:57:40.638-05:00I have the same reaction to Mate's sociologica...I have the same reaction to Mate's sociological version of the self-medication hypothesis.<br /><br />As for trauma, I tend to believe that, for the most part, trauma does not cause addiction. However, it may influence the onset, course, severity and response to treatment.<br /><br />I also know that childhood trauma is associated with earlier age of first use and earlier age of use is associated with high rates of dependence.<br /><br />I'm also interested in the idea that PTSD and addiction may share certain mechanisms. For example, I hear a lot of similarities in PTSD survivor descriptions of intrusive and overwhelming multi-sensory memories and addict descriptions of craving.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Jason SchwartzJason Schwartzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09581672072472783408noreply@blogger.com