Sociopathy & Addiction

Sociopathy & Addiction

There have been numerous studies made to understand the link between sociopathy and substance abuse addiction.

One of the problems researchers face when trying to study this problem is that often addicts with no previous history of sociopathic behavior do begin to show signs of it when something happens to make the addictive substance difficult to obtain.  This tendency could lead researchers to record "false positives" when declaring that an individual addict is also a sociopath.

What is known is that it would be wrong to think of all addicts as sociopaths, or that all sociopaths are addicts.  But there is strong evidence to suggest that substance abuse is more common among people who can be diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD), more widely known as sociopathy.

Emotional control, denial, and excuses

Many people mistakenly believe that because one of the supposed signs of ASPD is that the individual has a high level of emotional control, they would be unlikely to use substances that would lead to a loss of control.  For example, by using drugs or alcohol, it is expected that the sociopath may "slip up" and reveal his or her true nature.

In fact the opposite is true.  Some sociopaths may actually crave that loss of control.  But more importantly, it must be remembered that sociopaths tend to be exceptionally self-confident, and it is unlikely that they will believe they will experience a loss of control when they first get on the path to substance abuse.

Even once they do become addicted, they may assert that they are in control of their addiction, or "could give it up if they wanted to".  For some sociopaths, being under the influence of drugs or alcohol also provides a handy excuse for their antisocial behaviors.
Addiction is always a serious problem, but it can be even more serious for sociopaths

A key difference between true sociopaths and other addicts is that whereas most normal addicts come to realize the negative effect of their addiction on others and eventually seek help, the sociopath may be left untreated until the situation has become so dire that there is absolutely no other choice but to get treated.

Sadly it is often the case that may cause serious harm to themselves or others as a result of their addictions, and sometimes they will even die or end up in prison.

Why sociopaths are so susceptible to substance abuse

What may seem like normal life to many people can be incredibly boring to a sociopath.  Sometimes they are willing to do almost anything to escape that boredom.  Sociopaths tend to be thrill-seekers by nature, and they are more likely to indulge in risky behaviors, including drug and alcohol abuse.

Something can be done

While many professionals view sociopathy as "untreatable", the sociopathic thrill-seeking tendency does not necessarily have to be destructive.  It just may never occur to the sociopath that the stimulation they crave could be obtained in more constructive ways.  Sports and physical activities, for example, could be viable alternatives. Florida Beach Rehab is just one of many facilities around the country that’s fully capable of dealing with sociopathy and other types of addiction problems.
Seeking treatment as early as possible is vital

Everyone suffering from addiction should receive treatment for it.  The tendency of sociopaths to avoid treatment places them especially at risk of serious consequences.  Without treatment the addiction will continue to get worse, and so could the destructive behavior patterns that accompany it.