This is one of those situations where how the surrounding adults dealt with substances, as well as any genetic tendencies, plays more of a role than neglect or even lack of love. This is my opinion.
We have not read-up recently on the scientific studies, however our own personal observations and some older scientific studies leave us convinced that your belief on that score is simply misplaced. i.e. people without a physiological, DNA predisposition to substance abuse CAN AND DO become addicted to substances.
The raw substrate is there in everyone of us to establish that very dysfunctional dopamine groove, feedback loop etc. And, it doesn't seem to take toooo much to get it off and running in a dysfunctional way and degree in virtually anyone.
Certainly there seem to be genetic optimists that refuse to be depressed or dissatisfied about much of anything. But they are a minority.
One example of that is the dopamine reinforced loop of a cheap, shallow thrill by a "like" on social media; or merely receiving a text from someone. But the dopamine thrill is short-lived and shallow. So the screen/social media addiction is kept alive by the constant need for and acting out of the addiction to such. It's almost extremely difficult to find someone not so addicted in many circles and arenas, streets.
Substance abuse addictions are somewhat different than behavioral addictions to other things but NOT GREATLY. The dopamine reinforcement grooves and loop still plays THE key part in both sorts of addictions in very similar ways.
One might say: "A high is a high is a high is a high and a rose by any other name is still the same sort of high."
The dysfunctional brain groove, loop gets more and more deeply established regardless of whether there is any substance abuse involved, or not. That's the way dopamine works. In some respects, that's the way dopamine was designed to work. But the dysfunctional aspects were not part of the goal of the design.
Dr Henry Wright--Pastor in Georgia--says that ALL addiction is a desperate grasping for Daddy's love that was never there in sufficient qualities and amounts. Addictions are a vain--too futile effort to fill the hole that was unfilled at a critical time in a forming brain and life. He's right.
Actually, the oligarchy knows all this. Mostly they write-off individuals with serious degrees of RAD as untrustworthy and ultimately not worth society's bother. Trouble is, most of them are in the same boat. Idiots.
As my housemate has posted in several places on the web--there was a massive study of all the other studies todate 40+ years ago. The key question was--WHAT parenting, child rearing factors RESULT IN SUCCESSFUL ADULTS?
Success as adults was defined as:
1. A successful work record;
2. A successful marriage to one woman/man;
3. No trouble with the law;
4. Never been on welfare.
They looked at everything--socio-economic variables; types of discipline variables; consistency; easy-going vs strict; etc. etc. etc.
They discovered to their shock that ONE VARIABLE accounted for 80% of the variance. ONE FACTOR was 80% of what decided whether a child succeeded as an adult, or not.
What do you imagine that one variable was?
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No, it was NOT whether the parents loved the child, or not.
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It was DID THE CHILD FEEL LOVED, OR NOT.
That is an incredible finding. And it affirms a ton of RAD research, as well.
That’s just baloney.....my gosh I didn’t ‘feel’ loved as a child and never resorted to drugs.....and there’s plenty more like me......Sick and tired of hearing all the lame excuses used for drug addictions...
How about ‘they’ put it in their mouth...or ‘they’ shot it up with their own two hands.....
Play with fire you are going to get burned....it’s not like the warnings haven’t been out their for decades.
Very fascinating. I think your focus is actually very helpful to the intertwined communities dealing with addiction or RAD. I hope the research continues. I am fine being wrong in my opinion, and would adjust accordingly, if it helps families.
One thing that throws me off is all the defining points, like am I a successful adult? I guess not, with two failed marriages. Did I feel loved as a child? Yes, I did. Was I abandoned for most of the day at age 2? Yes, I was. My own case is confusing to me. I was a bit adrift and a classic perfect victim sort of child. No substance abuse (addiction) whatsoever even with tons of (including involuntary) drug exposure. So many things went wrong but not that. But I’m not a very strong case and no RAD at all.
The dopamine loop is real, and it seems many are caught up in it from social media to shopping to substances. I like your focus and wish you success.