VIDEO. Why are some people more susceptible to addiction than others?

Above all, Jean-Victor Blanc, addictologist and doctor-psychiatrist, distinguishes “simple use of a substance of an addictive disease”. Addiction is characterized, according to him, by a loss of control “with regard to the quantity and time spent on consumption”, “the fact of maintaining this consumption despite the physical problems that it can cause” and/or again “the fact that the body will get used to certain doses, so we will have to take more substances to have the same effect”. All these criteria make it possible to characterize an addictive disease.

According to the psychiatrist, certain elements, such as “being anxious or very impulsive”, the social environment, such as a state of precariousness, or hereditary and genetic factors, can promote addiction. He says it: some people will “being born with a vulnerability to addictions. (…) We are not all equal when it comes to addictions”.

A question “generally misunderstood” in France

However, the addictologist wants to be reassuring: “There is no inevitability regarding addictions. And it is important to know that at all stages of the addictive illness, we can access care and get better”. He recalls that in France, the question of addiction “remains generally poorly understood, with many stereotypes” which predominate. According to a survey, “half of French people still think that [rompre avec une addiction] is only a question of will”.

If men are mainly affected by addictions, Jean-Victor Blanc indicates that there is “an increase in tobacco consumption but also alcohol consumption among women”. In his book Addictshe wishes to destigmatize the issue of addictions by relying on pop culture. “Bradley Cooper, Naomi Campbell, Avicii, Amy Winehouse, Matthew Perry, all have been affected by an addictive disease. I talk about addictions with examples from films and series. The idea is to desacralize the issue of addictions for everyone, the people concerned, but also those around them.”