What is the focus of the Developmental Model in understanding addiction?

The Developmental Model emphasizes the importance of understanding addiction through the lens of lifetime factors that influence both the risk of developing substance use issues and the potential protective factors that can mitigate these risks. This approach recognizes that an individual's experiences and environments over their lifespan, encompassing childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, significantly contribute to their vulnerability to addiction.

Factors such as genetic predisposition, early life experiences, social relationships, cultural influences, and personal circumstances all play a critical role in shaping an individual's relationship with substances. By focusing on these developmental trajectories, the model allows for a comprehensive understanding of how various influences throughout a person's life can either heighten their risk for addiction or provide resilience against it.

While other options touch on important elements related to addiction, they do not capture the holistic and temporal perspective that the Developmental Model prioritizes. The biological mechanisms, familial roles, and environmental consequences are indeed significant but are typically addressed within the broader context of how they interact with developmental factors across a person's lifetime.