Degenerate
Prefix: "De-"
from Latin, from dē (prep) from, away from, out of, etc.
Therefore a Degenerate is someone who has had taken away some quality that was present in former
generations, or their younger self.
It's self-fulfilling because once "Degenerated," people often go on to further make poor choices in the preservation of themselves.
I don't wanna speak evil of people's choice of baby-parent (parenting's hard enough, as it is) but whether through abuse, self-abuse, poor choices or luck; they degenerate into a worse, or simpler condition.
This can affect other people as well.
Sadly; the ability to retain their own problems diminishes and they become everybody's problem (not that discussing problems is always a bad thing).
Confessing the fear of
Degenerates and Degeneracy might just save yer ass...