What is the Root of Addiction?

Addiction is a complex condition that affects millions of people across the United States, transforming lives and relationships in profound ways. At Ocean Recovery, we understand that successful treatment begins with exploring the underlying causes that drive addictive behaviors.

Whether you’re struggling with substance use, behavioral addictions, or co-occurring disorders, understanding the root of addiction is the first step toward lasting recovery. Our beachfront Newport Beach facility offers gender-specific treatment programs designed to address these fundamental issues through trauma-informed, attachment-based care. Speak with admissions today to find out how we can help you.

What Does “the Root of Addiction” Mean?

“The root of addiction” is a phrase that refers to the underlying factors and experiences that make someone vulnerable to developing addictive behaviors. Rather than a single cause, addiction typically results from multiple intersecting influences that create the perfect conditions for substance use disorders to take hold.

Identifying these root causes is essential for recovery because surface-level treatment that only addresses symptoms rarely leads to lasting change. When we treat addiction at Ocean Recovery, we work to uncover and heal these foundational issues, whether they stem from childhood experiences, mental health conditions, or other sources of pain and disconnection.

Common Causes of Addiction

Mental Health Disorders

Co-occurring mental health conditions represent one of the most significant risk factors for addiction. Many people turn to addictive substances as a way to self-medicate symptoms of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder. The temporary relief substances provide can create a dangerous cycle where mental health symptoms and addiction feed into each other.

The relationship between mental health and addiction is bidirectional. Substance use can worsen existing mental health conditions or agitate the symptoms of others, while untreated mental health issues increase vulnerability to addiction. This is why comprehensive treatment must address both conditions as interconnected aspects of overall wellness.

Genetic Predisposition

Genetics play a substantial role in addiction vulnerability, accounting for approximately 40-60% of a person’s risk. If you have a parent or sibling with addiction, your likelihood of developing a substance use disorder increases significantly. Certain genetic variations affect how the body metabolizes substances and how the brain responds to their effects.

However, having a genetic predisposition doesn’t guarantee you’ll develop addiction. It simply means you may be more susceptible when exposed to substances or addictive behaviors. Environmental factors and life experiences interact with genetic factors to determine whether addiction develops. Understanding your family history allows for proactive prevention strategies and early intervention when needed.

Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences

Traumatic experiences in adulthood, such as combat exposure, sexual assault, serious accidents, or the sudden loss of loved ones, can trigger behaviors that lead to addiction. Individuals may seek ways to numb overwhelming emotions and intrusive memories. At Ocean Recovery, we utilize trauma-informed care and evidence-based modalities like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to help individuals process and heal from traumatic experiences.

Environmental and Social Factors

The environment in which someone grows up and lives can significantly impact addiction risk. Growing up in a household where substance use is normalized, experiencing poverty or housing instability, attending schools with high drug availability, or living in communities with limited resources all increase vulnerability.

Peer influence can play a particularly strong role during adolescence and young adulthood. The desire to fit in, combined with developing brains that are already more prone to risk-taking and less capable of long-term consequence assessment, creates heightened risk during these formative years. Our program emphasizes community building and provides robust alumni support to help individuals develop the connections that support long-term recovery.

Chronic Stress and Coping Mechanisms

Ongoing stress, whether from work pressures, financial difficulties, relationship problems, or chronic health conditions, can drive people toward using substances to cope. When healthy stress management skills are lacking, substances offer quick relief from tension and overwhelm (although they are ultimately harmful).

The modern pace of life, with constant digital connectivity and mounting responsibilities, has intensified stress levels for many people. Some turn to having a few drinks to unwind after work, taking a few extra prescription medications to manage anxiety, or smoking a stimulant to have energy to keep up with life demands. What can begin as a general supplement to life can evolve into dependence, while underlying stressors remain unaddressed.

Early Substance Exposure

The age at which someone first uses substances significantly impacts their addiction risk. Early exposure, particularly during adolescence, increases the likelihood of developing a substance use disorder later in life. The lower someone’s age when they start using substances, the more time their developing brain has to form addictive patterns. They may also romanticize substance use from this time period, enough that they chase the (perceived) good times for years. This is why prevention and early intervention are so critical, especially for young people who may be experimenting with alcohol, marijuana, or other substances.

Chronic Pain and Prescription Medications

The opioid crisis has highlighted how using prescription medications intended to treat legitimate medical conditions can lead to addiction. People prescribed painkillers for injuries or chronic pain conditions may develop physical dependence, which can evolve into addiction. When prescriptions run out or are discontinued, some individuals turn to illicit substances to avoid withdrawal symptoms and maintain a sense of “normality.”

At Ocean Recovery, we understand the unique challenges faced by those whose addiction began with prescribed medications. We provide compassionate, non-judgmental care that addresses both the person’s original condition and the addiction that developed as a consequence.

Get Help for Addiction at Ocean Recovery

At Ocean Recovery, we’ve been providing compassionate, evidence-based addiction treatment for over 23 years at our beachfront Newport Beach location. Our approach goes beyond surface-level symptom management to address the root causes of addiction through comprehensive, individualized care.

We offer gender-specific residential programs for adult men and women, recognizing that addiction and recovery can look different across genders. Our truly beachfront location, just 90 feet from the sand, provides a healing environment where individuals can engage in surf therapy, beach walks, and experiential activities that support recovery in unique ways.

The Ocean Recovery Difference

What sets Ocean Recovery apart is our commitment to thorough, clinician-driven care. We specialize in treating co-occurring disorders (including eating disorders) alongside substance use, using an attachment-based and trauma-informed approach that gets to the heart of what drives addictive behaviors.

Our clinical team facilitates process groups led by licensed clinicians, and we incorporate evidence-based modalities including EMDR, somatic experiencing, individual therapy, group therapy, and experiential therapy. We also provide weekly family coaching and offer a four-day family intensive every two months, recognizing that addiction can affect entire family systems.

Our Continuum of Care

Ocean Recovery offers a full continuum of care, including medical detox, residential treatment, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), and step-down outpatient services for individuals transitioning from our residential program. We’re in-network with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, and we work with most private insurance plans.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, you don’t have to face it alone. Our admissions team is available to answer your questions, verify your insurance coverage, and help you take the first step toward recovery. Contact Ocean Recovery today to learn more about our residential treatment programs and discover how addressing the root causes of addiction can lead to lasting change.

Recovery is possible. At our Newport Beach facility, we’ve witnessed thousands of transformations as individuals move from the grip of addiction to lives of purpose, connection, and freedom. Your journey toward healing can begin today.

FAQ About Developing an Addiction

What are the risk factors for developing addiction?

Key risk factors include family history of addiction, mental health disorders, childhood trauma or adverse experiences, early substance exposure, chronic stress, social isolation, environmental factors like peer pressure, and certain genetic variations. Having one or more risk factors doesn’t guarantee that someone will develop an addiction. But awareness of these vulnerabilities can inform prevention and early intervention strategies.

Can I work while attending rehab?

During residential treatment, individuals focus entirely on their recovery without outside work commitments. This immersive approach allows for deep healing work and the development of essential recovery skills. As they progress to PHP and IOP levels of care, some may be able to gradually reintegrate work responsibilities. But placement in a treatment program is assessed on an individual basis with clinical guidance.

What happens after completing residential treatment?

Ocean Recovery provides robust alumni programming and ongoing support to help maintain recovery long after a person leaves their treatment program. Our quarterly family intensive and weekly family coaching continue supporting both individuals and their loved ones throughout the recovery journey.