Political Socialization is the process, by which citizens of a particular region, nation, state, city, or country develop the ways in which they develop views and beliefs about the political issues of their respective areas. This process is developed in America, through this nation's citizens' families, peers, the media, and their political party involvement (if any). It is the intent of this research paper to show the reader how the rise in alcohol and drug addiction has had adverse effects on this process called political socialization, in America. The paper will lead the reader through the four influences in this process and show how addiction has a negative effect upon each.
             The first influence in a United States citizen's life is the citizen's family. The ways in which the family views political issues have a big effect on the ways that the individual also views these issues. Parents teach their children about the value of participating in the political system through their example and approval. Therefore, if the family has a strong addictive, anti-social tendency towards the political factions of their society, there will be a strong tendency towards the same anti-social perspective created in their children. In The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Volume 24, number 4, Jeanette Taylor, M.A. states that, "after tabulation for the families of 35 delinquent, substance-abusing (multiple problems) adolescent males, as expected, a significant, positive correlation among conduct disorder, anti-social personality disorder, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse was found for each corresponding male's family. It was concluded that identifying male multiple problem youths also identifies families with a high incidence of similar problems." This information states that families tendencies are an almost mirror image of what their children's tendencies are likely to be. With these conduct and personality disorders on the rise, our nati...