I am one of those who does not buy into genetic predisposition for addiction.
I do however, believe that there may be a genetic predisposition to immature congnition/concrete thinking and some personality traits that are more conducive to addiction/alcoholism.
I tend to think it's more about the culture and easy availability of substances.
Why bother to learn to cope with anything when there are an abundance of prescription meds that will make us feel better in the moment. That they are FDA approved and an MD prescribes them means they are safe, right?
Our culture tolerates pain pill addiction reasonably well. How many people understand an opiate is an opiate?
Rehab is cool and where the celebrities go to detox, between parties.
It's all about the culture. Our culture, right now, values the quick fix over the hard work of living life as is, not as we think it should be. It's easier to take a hit, or pop a pill and live in the moment.