8. Could I Become an Addict?

“Why me, Doc? Why am I the one hooked on drugs in my family? Why do I have all this trouble? Maybe I’m a bad seed...” Conversations like this can be common between drug users and their doctors. Understanding why someone is a drug user is a complex and important problem.

“Vulnerability”—Who Will Take Drugs?

Drug users are a diverse population of individuals, and drug abuse, in general, is a complex process. But, key questions are the following: What traits or characteristics do drug users share? Can we identify groups or individuals that will become addicts or are in danger of becoming addicts? It would be a great thing if we could, because then we could target these people for prevention and treatment. Targeting just ...

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