Addiction and Pre-Schoolers

Here, interesting ties between pre-schoolers early behavior habits and later addiction tendencies are created.  This study conducted in New Zealand showed that a large portion of toddlers at age three who were not socially well adjusted were much more likely to develop addictive personalities to things such as gambling later in life.  These connections may open a very important opportunity for people in the future.  If people with addictive personalities are discovered when they are toddlers, they can be taught from an early age how to avoid addictive tendencies.  It could also mean that the addiction gene could be discovered and genetic therapies could be produced to help people suffering from addictions.  However, this also opens up a dark side of dealing with addictions.  It could mean that a second class of citizens could be formed.  This is because if children who are not well adjusted by age three are link to addictive personalities later in life, many people could preemptively give up on them.  This means that society could just abandon children who even show signs of addictive disorders because society feels that they will not be worth the trouble later in life.  This is an awful idea which would harm the lives of millions of children.  Therefore, this study has both positive and negative side effects.

http://healthland.time.com/2012/04/26/how-preschool-behavior-can-predict-addiction-and-problem-gambling-in-adulthood/