Substance Abuse: Causes, Effects, and Treatment
For this assignment I propose to look at the causes, effects and treatment of Addictive Behaviours primarily focusing on substance abuse i.e. drugs. The main body of my research shall derive from a UK study on addictive behaviours defining attentional bias for substance-related stimuli, the effects of attentional bias manipulation on craving and substance use and the treatments available. I shall also support my investigations through theoretical synthesis and conclude with the importance of understanding my role in a social care setting and my influence in my work when advocating with troubled clients.
Addictive behaviours concern current behavioural patterns that are compulsive and out of control behaviour in nature and the level of difficulty encountered in changing them (Addiction and Change, 2006).
Etiology reflects a belief that the best way to understand and change addictions is to understand why and how they began. It is critical to understand etiology because it often reveals the source of the problem. “A virus or a contaminated environment and a mode of transmission – which when attacked or resolved leads to the eradication of the problem”. (Donovan & Marlatt, 1998; Glantz & Pickens, 1992 cited in Addiction and Change, 2006:6)
Having reviewed an article from Science Direct focusing on the causes, effects and treatment of substance abuse in the United Kingdom I shall synthesise my research focusing predominately on drug abuse and also touch on how other countries relate to and see if there are similarities on this topic. Addictive Behaviours are characterised by attentional biases for substance related stimuli. Integrating theoretical models explain the development, causes and consequences of addiction related attentional biases. Classical conditioning substance-related stimuli elicit the expectancy of substance availability and this expectancy causes both attentional bias for substance-related stimuli and subjective craving.
Addictive behaviours concern current behavioural patterns that are compulsive and out of control behaviour in nature and the level of difficulty encountered in changing them (Addiction and Change, 2006).
Etiology reflects a belief that the best way to understand and change addictions is to understand why and how they began. It is critical to understand etiology because it often reveals the source of the problem. “A virus or a contaminated environment and a mode of transmission – which when attacked or resolved leads to the eradication of the problem”. (Donovan & Marlatt, 1998; Glantz & Pickens, 1992 cited in Addiction and Change, 2006:6)
Having reviewed an article from Science Direct focusing on the causes, effects and treatment of substance abuse in the United Kingdom I shall synthesise my research focusing predominately on drug abuse and also touch on how other countries relate to and see if there are similarities on this topic. Addictive Behaviours are characterised by attentional biases for substance related stimuli. Integrating theoretical models explain the development, causes and consequences of addiction related attentional biases. Classical conditioning substance-related stimuli elicit the expectancy of substance availability and this expectancy causes both attentional bias for substance-related stimuli and subjective craving.
Bibliography: DiClemente, C.C. (2006), Addiction and Change; How Addictions Develop and Addicted People Recover, Guilford Press, London Field M and Cox W.M (2008), Attentional bias in addictive behaviours: A review of its development, causes and consequences, Drug and Alcohol Dependence 97 (2008) 1-20 Kavanagh D.J and Connolly J.M (2009), Interventions for co-occurring addictive and other mental disorders (AMDs) Addictive Behaviours 34 (2009) 838-845 http://www.minddisorders.com/A-Br/Addiction.html Franken, H.A (2003), Drug craving and addiction: integrating psychological and neuropsychopharmacological approaches, Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 27 (2003) 563-579