Breaking the Silence: Ending the Cycle of Intergenerational Addiction

We have all heard stories from our parents about becoming addicted to drugs or about that one uncle who abuses substances. When we talk about addiction, we often focus on an individual's choices, bad behavior, or immediate environment. However, for many, the roots of substance issues trace back before they were even born. It comes from decades of family history, past abuses, and generational trauma.

First, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), they “consider dependence on alcohol or drugs to be a long-term illness, like asthma, hypertension (high blood pressure), or diabetes” [1]. They also say that not only do genetics play a part in the chance of developing a substance abuse disorder, but also someone's environment, psychological traits, and stress level [1]. A substance abuse disorder is a serious classification of disease that should be met with compassion, understanding and a comprehensive strategy rather than judgement or isolation.

Next, to understand the causes of substance abuse we must analyze the link between a difficult childhood and a negative adulthood. According to the CDC’s landmark Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study, they found that adverse childhood experiences can have “long-term negative impacts on health, opportunity and well-being” including toxic stress and “unstable work histories as adults and struggle with finances, job stability, and depression throughout life” [2]. Many of these negative consequences can lead to a turn to a dependence on substances.

Other research shows a direct relationship between generations, that the “empirical evidence is clear that parent substance use predicts substance use among offspring” [3]. Also that “intergenerational continuity in substance use appeared to be largely due to the transmission of a general tendency to use substances, rather than substance-specific mechanisms” [3]. In summary, if your parents abused drugs, you are more likely to as well, along with your kids. This cycle usually repeats generation after generation.

Another unaddressed aspect of this substance abuse issue is the concept of stigma. In many families, a family member’s substance abuse is hidden. This secrecy inadvertently teaches the next generation similar behaviors if they go on to develop a substance abuse disorder. It was found that “perceived stigma in substance abuse was linked to poorer mental health” and was “associated with lower self-esteem, higher depression and anxiety, and poorer sleep [4]. On the other hand “perceived social support was linked to greater mental health” [4]. Overall, this stigmatization can unintentionally deprive individuals of the social support necessary to recover and reinforce harmful behavior.

Combatting this concept of intergenerational substance abuse is complicated but many people are working on different solutions. First the CDC is “committed to building systems and communities that nurture development” and to “prevent ACEs before they happen, and buffer the risk of harm when they do happen” [2]. Secondly, getting abusers to use social support can also mitigate the negative impact of internalized stigma and health [4]. Finally ,“successful preventive interventions in substance abusers “may not only reduce conduct problems and substance use” but “may also affect positive development in the next generation” [3]. Ultimately, these intergenerational issues can be addressed through the right support.

In conclusion, generational trauma and abuse may be built on someone past, but can be combatted in the present to prevent its spread into the future generations. By understanding the science of addiction and destigmatizing substance abuse, we can dismantle the barriers to recovery and help the next generation.

Reviewed By: Vedant Patel

References

[1] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2014). What is Substance Abuse Treatment? A Booklet for Families. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://library.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/sma14-4126.pdf.

[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). About Adverse Childhood Experiences. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/aces/about/index.html.

[3] Bailey, J.A., Hill, K.G., Oesterle, S. et al. (2006).  Linking Substance Use and Problem Behavior Across Three Generations. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-006-9033-z. 

[4] Birtel, M.A., Wood, L., Kempa, N.J. (2017). Stigma and Social Support in Substance Abuse: Implications for Mental Health and Well-being. Psychiatry Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2017.01.097.