Anyone know of any studies that might indicate why some people are able to stay clean/sober and
some aren't?
(Scientific studies, not woo--just kidding.)
= new reply since forum marked as read
The alcoholic genes are strong in my family. Cigarettes and alcohol killed two of my grandparents.
Another grandparent of mine had an even worse family history. Prohibition didn't slow down their alcohol consumption at all. But this grandfather quit both smoking and drinking in his middle age and lived into his nineties.
How'd he do it? 
I might say he was a very strong willed person, or that the drinking and smoking were getting in the way of his other interests and obsessions, but what's that mean?
My grandparents who died alcoholic were strong willed and had other interests and obsessions too.
I don't think punitive approaches work. Absolutely, don't let drunks drive! Keep them away from cars. But punishment is ineffective. Take away their cars, throw them in jail, and many will walk to the nearest liquor store or drug dealer as soon as they are released.
Drug and alcohol addiction ought to be treated as a public health problem. Prohibition doesn't work, and a few people seem to have such an unfortunate combination of genes and experience that they will never be "cured." How do we, as a society, create a place for addicts that minimizes the damage they do to themselves and others, and maximizes their opportunities to remain sober?
but I just watched a documentary last night about the science behind habits and addictions ("Slaves to Habit"
. The main points are that people who have a hard time quitting don't have the right tools, that most people who quit do so on average 6 times before they are successful and that it's all a matter of changing just a few things. Things like writing down your goals, having support, tapering down (cold turkey has a horrible track record but they were mostly talking about smoking), having a replacement coping mechanism, understanding you WILL slip up but it's ok, getting back on track when you do slip up and understanding all is not lost.
They also discussed how kids who had unhappy childhoods (emotional or physical abuse) were far more likely to become addicted to anything, really.
Probably not what you were looking for though...
