Is addiction caused by genetic or environmental factors?

~ Jason Schwartz

I’ve been involved in some recent discussions about addiction as a disease and the role of experiences like trauma.

A few years ago I had the pleasure of seeing Dr. Jehannine Austin discuss how she approaches genetic counseling around psychiatric disorders and addiction. She doesn’t answer all the questions around the etiology of addiction (who can, really?), but she offers a very helpful frame for thinking about genetics, environmental risk factors, and protective factors. It also helps illuminate the role of recovery capital and social determinants of health.

Fortunately, her talk was recorded. The most salient parts are from 12:15 to 20:30.

Published by Jason Schwartz

I have been an addiction professional and social worker since 1994. I started blogging in 2005 as the Clinical Director at Dawn Farm. I no longer work at Dawn Farm and am now the Director of Behavioral Medicine at a community hospital, and a lecturer at Eastern Michigan University’s School of Social Work. Views expressed here are my own. Keep in mind that the field, the contexts in which the field operates, and my views have changed over time.