What causes Addiction? Genetics, Trauma, Mental Illness or Personal Choice?

Studies have proven that addiction does tend to run in families. What we don't know is, whether this is from genetics, mental illness, if this is behavior which is taught and passed down through generations or if it's simply ones personal choice to do drugs and/or drink, and continue to do so until addiction occurs. I personally think it's all of the above, depending on individual situations and lifestyles.

Often times individuals have untreated mental illness like depression and anxiety which causes them to desperately seek relief, finding that temporary fix in a pipe, bottle, etc. In my personal situation, I suffer from anxiety and depression and as an uneducated, naive teenager, I discovered alcohol. I didn't know about mental illness, all that I knew was that alcohol gave me temporary relief from those awful anxiety symptoms, and I finally found a way to feel okay. Little did I know, I was playing with fire.... I had no idea that I was opening a huge can of worms that would take years of pure hell to figure out how to close.

Some people have no addiction in their families, don't suffer from mental illness, have had no trauma or abuse, yet become addicted to drugs or alcohol simply because they tried it, liked it and kept on using or drinking and ended up addicted.

So, in conclusion, there are all different types of people in this world from all different walks of life who become addicted to drugs and alcohol. Nobody is immuned to addiction, so it's best just to leave it all alone because addiction is a very powerful, manipulative, evil force that I would not wish upon my worst enemy, and that's a fact.