Problems of Identity in Those Who Have Addiction

         Addiction is an immensely powerful disease and if those who have it begin to use substances it can take over every aspect of their lives in a very short period of time. Recent studies show that over 74% of those seeking treatment for addiction began using substances at the age of 17 or younger (NIH 2017). Because adolescence is a time critical to identity formation (Erikson,1968) , and the majority of those with addiction begin using in adolescence, identity formation issues are often seen in these individuals (Moore, 2020). Addiction is also an extremely invasive disease and as a result many individuals who begin using in adolescence end up forming identities primarily, or solely based around substance use. This impact addiction has on identity formation, and the formation of these active addiction based identities can then enforce the vicious cycles of substance use, and make entering into recovery much more difficult. 

         Addiction is a disease that involves genetic predispositions that are then in many cases triggered by environmental factors. Addiction genetics are thought to account for around 50-70% of one’s likelihood of having a substance use disorder, this percent varying some with each substance (Rutgers U., 2024). Addiction is genetically a complex disease and is different for each individual. Different genes are thought to increase abuse rates for different substances, although many of the genes associated with addiction are overlapping for all substances (NIH, 2010). When an individual is then exposed  to substances these genes are triggered, often resulting in a substance use disorder which causes the disease to become apparent. On top of this life experiences such as trauma, have been known to play a significant role in addiction and exacerbate the effects of these genes when triggered by the use of substances. 

         As mentioned previously addiction is often not noticed until an individual is exposed to substances, and many are exposed to substances by adolescence. As brain development progresses in adolescence, partaking in risky behaviors such as substance use becomes much more likely and is often considered a normal part of development (Treiber, 2019). Studies show that 68% of European adolescents reported consuming at least one energy drink in the past year (Moor, 2020).  Unfortunately for those adolescents with addiction, this normal experimentation can serve as a catalyst begging a cycle of substance use. On top of this we see that for those with addiction, early use of substances like caffeine is often tied to later identity issues (Moor, 2020). I myself am an addict and can testify to the ideas of Elisabeth L. de Moor. I was first introduced to caffeine around the age of eleven by some friends who occasionally drank energy drinks. By age twelve I had 5 hour energies hidden all throughout my room, and would drink upwards of 6 energy drinks on a day out with my friends. Not only did caffeine awaken my disease, but it also began to give me an identity amongst friends that would stick for almost 8 years, I was now the partier. 

         When individuals with addiction begin to encounter and use substances, substance use disorders are seen to develop quickly. It is often extremely difficult for such individuals to regulate the amount of a substance consumed in a sitting, as well as the frequency at which they use these substances. As a result of these factors, encounters with the law, mental institutions, and treatment facilities often begin to occur not long after substance use begins. It is at this point when the individual’s disease begins to become visible to society and we start seeing the effects of the stigmatization of addiction.(Treiber, 2019). A new label is now placed on these individuals by society, and this label has been stigmatized and misunderstood for hundreds of years. As a result, oftentimes these individuals isolate from the rest of society, and begin only to identify only with others who have addiction and are actively using substances.(Treiber, 2019) On top of this it is during this period when the individual starts to associate a negative connotation with their identity, and what I mean by this that no longer is the individual only viewed as “the partier” but their now also viewed, or perceive themself as being viewed as “the addict”. 

         Many people who have addiction begin to embrace this identity as an addict if they are able to enter into recovery. Identifying as an addict has seen to be extremely helpful for recovery purposes, for the addictive mind is cunning and good at convincing individuals with addiction that they have no disease. With this said society’s view on the addict identity has been seen to create a divide between addicts and the rest of society that furthers the already present identity confusion in many recovering adolescents (Rwatschew, Langan, Dent, 2019). For many individuals such as myself, the only way to recover is to constantly acknowledge the disease we have, and the fundamental differences between us, and people who do not have the disease. With this in mind one of the main identities of those who enter recovery becomes “the addict” or “the recovering addict”, and it’s important that this identity be integrated smoothly with other identities of the individual. The problem with this is that in society there still exists a prevalent idea that an “addict” is something that can be altered or avoided with strength and willpower. As a result of this idea and this stigma that surrounds the identity of “addict” many try to avoid this integration of addiction into their identities, resulting in the inability to maintain recovery (Trieber, 2019).

          Another common situation is for the individual to take on this addict identity internally, and in the rooms of AA/NA but feel the need to hide it in everyday life due to the stigma. As a result, many experience the feeling that they must live a double life of sorts, making smooth identity integration difficult. Testifications from the five recovering addicts in Rwatschew, Langan, and Dent’s study illustrates that when these individuals told employment about their disease when applying for jobs, they faced discrimination, and were often turned down. We see that recovering addicts are often unable to find employment, obtain housing, and even obtain insurance as a result of them having addiction, and their actions and behaviors during active addiction. (Judd, Yaugher, O’Shey, Meier, 2023). All these factors contribute to the difficult integration of the addict identity into other identities of that individual.