Childhood Trauma and Addiction – Sex and Relationships

Erin Snow

Research shows that we can’t attribute addiction entirely to genetic predisposition. Environmental factors also play an important role. But how big a role does the environment play? How can we measure it? One way is to study the incidence of addiction in adopted children and twins (especially identical twins who are separated at birth and raised by different parents). In this way, the relative influence of genetic risk factors versus environmental risk factors can be measured.

Adoption studies often ask: What happens if the biological children of drug addicts are adopted into a family where neither parent uses drugs? Researchers consistently find that people whose biological parents are drug addicts but whose adoptive parents are not are more likely to become addicted. So genetics plays a role. That being said, being more likely to become addicted doesn’t mean you will become addicted. In fact, many of the people in these studies did not become addicted. Furthermore, many of the biological children of non-addicts became addicted. So now we can add a point to the parenting aspect.

Twin studies are even more revealing. First, there are two types of twins: fraternal twins, who share half their genes, and identical twins, who carry exactly the same genes. Studies consistently show that siblings of both types of twins show a shared risk for addiction. If one twin develops an addiction, the likelihood that the other twin will, too, increases. Predictably, identical twins have a higher correlation than fraternal twins. However, the numbers don’t match up exactly, and there are many cases where one twin is an alcoholic and the other isn’t. This is true whether they are fraternal or identical twins, and whether they grow up together or apart. So, clearly, a genetic predisposition to addiction is not an inevitable life sentence; environment plays a role, too.

Similar studies have been done for cocaine, nicotine, and opioids, with very similar results, leading scientists to conclude that the overall risk for addiction is about half genetic and half environmental. Moreover, nature seems to be outweighed by nurture. For example, abused children are very likely to develop addiction (and other adult psychological problems) regardless of genetics. The more trauma a child experiences, the greater the likelihood of addiction and other problems as an adult.

A well-known study tells us that survivors of chronic childhood trauma (defined as four or more severe traumas before age 18) have:

• They are eight times more likely to smoke.
• Nine times more likely to be obese.
• Four times more likely to experience persistent anxiety.
• They are six times more likely to suffer from depression.
• They are six times more likely to be identified as promiscuous.
• The likelihood of becoming an alcoholic is doubled.
• The likelihood of becoming an intravenous drug user is doubled.

Thus, there is an undeniable link between early life trauma and symptoms and disorders in adulthood, especially addiction.

Another relatively common environmental risk factor is early exposure to addictive substances or behaviors. Many studies have found that the lower the age of first use, the higher the likelihood of addiction later in life. Sometimes, age of first use is directly related to family instability (including a family history of mental illness and/or addiction) because in such families, addictive substances and behaviors (such as pornography) may be easily accessible at home. In such cases, other environmental risk factors (abuse, neglect, inconsistent parenting, etc.) may be major factors in the development of addiction. However, the link between age of first exposure and addiction later in life is undeniable.

* * * * * * * * * *

If you or someone you love is struggling with sex, pornography, or drug/sex addiction, Seeking Integrity can help. In addition to inpatient rehab, we offer low-cost online workgroups for newly recovered male sex addicts and male pornography addicts. Click here for information about our sex addiction workgroup. Click here for information about our pornography addiction workgroup.