Addiction is a disease that negatively affects our society today. Because we can actually inherit an addiction from our relatives, people might make poor decisions in their lives not only depending on their environment but also their genetic history. And while not everyone can control what happens to his or her body, we all have the responsibility to take care of ourselves and find out why addiction affects our daily lives.

People, especially those with a family history of addiction, can become addicted to any drug. When scientists look for “addiction genes,” they’re really looking for biological differences that may make someone more or less vulnerable to addiction. Addiction begins when the chemicals from drugs get into the blood vessels. Our body cannot reject them because once people inhale, eat or inject drugs, the body wants even more.

The brain plays a critical role in developing drug addiction. Multiple genes that are inherited or acquired by environmental factors may make it harder for some people to quit once they’ve started. The illegal drug market in the United States profits much from this disease. As of 2013, there are 23.5 million people aged 12 or older in treatment to cure their drug addiction. In terms of percentage, this means that in the U.S., 80 percent of people struggling with this problem are not being treated, while only 20 percent are seeking help.

Although some people debate that environmental factors are solely responsible for addicts and drug dealers, they don’t realize that some people may have a genetic disease in their bodies. Most addicts use drugs for the first time when they are teenagers while the brain is still developing glial cells. This neuron sends messages to the body that makes it nearly impossible for people to quit.

Addiction can be treated with medication, but people must take the initiative to follow the medical instructions given because if they fall prey to the environmental factors that surround them, the addiction is never going to stop. Addiction mostly begins in adolescence when the brain is developing and awakening people’s obsession with drugs. Whether it’s bad genes or bad choices, it’s up to us to seek help and rehabilitation.