candidlyautistic:

boethiah:

a world where people acknowledge that 99% of drug/alcohol addiction is caused by untreated mental illness and/or shitty life situations rather than peer pressure and a spooky drug dealer 

I’ve studied this!

Best predictors of addiction of any kind in no particular order. #1, lack of basic needs due to low socioeconomic status. #2 lack of socialemotional support aka, support networks such as family, friends, community, church, etc., etc., #3 lack of institutional support beyond basic needs – addiction support, anti-incrimination policies, dinstituionaliztion of mental healthcare, anti-stigma campaigns, anti-racism campaigns, access to (well funded) community health centers, etc., etc.

Notice what is not in the top three? Predisposition to addiction. Family history of addiction. Easy access to drugs. Yes, those things increase risk. What they are not is accurate or significant predictors of addiction.