Author's position: Addiction is not a clear cut medical condition and adopting the disease model of addiction has serious ramifications for American society.…
Addicts make rational decisions causing them to create a web of lies and steal possessions just to get their next dose. They surround themselves with people who have similar backgrounds and manipulate their loved ones. Their outlook towards non-addicts are negative and pre-judge them as judgmental or stuck up, they have developed a type of dissonance to feel superior. The more they believe it's okay, the less likely they will get help. Before they became addicts, there may have been a sense of guilt but once they become numb to the guilt, their reality becomes a fantasy. As Festinger’s theory predicts an addict will create false beliefs to hide their true behavior or, in this case, addictive behavior.…
Psychodynamic is the view point I agree with the most for the explanation of substance abuse. Although, the environment a person lives in plays a vital role in how they view these instances. I believe it begins in an early age of how we are raised that will determine our self-esteem levels which further determines whether we are susceptible to excessively using drugs or alcohol. Personally, I believe that is how addicts get hooked but, for a person to try these drugs to begin with has much to do with the way they were raised. As a child we are educated about the affects of addictive drugs because, most schools have a seminar on them. Even our parents teach us the difference between right and wrong. I believe that as kids we need a home that is loving, secure, and with minimal stress to fulfill all of our emotional needs. According to “Addictioninfo.org" (n.d.), “In its brief form, a psychodynamic approach enables the client to examine unresolved conflicts and symptoms that arise from past dysfunctional relationships and manifest themselves in the need and desire to abuse substances” (Chapter 7 Brief Psychodynamic Theory).…
Addiction is not easily defined. For some, it involves the “continued, self-administered use of a substance despite substance- related problems, and it results in tolerance for the substance, withdrawal from the substance, and compulsive drug- taking behavior due to cravings” or drives to use the substance (Schuckit, 1992, p. 182). No single theory adequately describes the etiology of addiction or dependence (McNeece & DiNitto, 2012). Most models of addiction is an “addictive disease” (Washton, 1989, p.55). In this paper will compare and contrast the moral model and the disease model conceptualizing addiction. Describe the two on how they take competing views on addiction, and a summary on a theory that can be most useful in helping to intervene on addiction.…
Although people have been using and abusing substances for as long as these substances have existed, the study of of addictions with the exception of alcoholism did not really emerge until the 1960's-1970's. Through out the last decade multiple changes to how addiction is viewed have occurred. Due to advances in the medical field and a better understanding of the chemistry of the brain addiction is now viewed as a disease instead of just a lack of morals. Because of the prevalence of wide spread usage of opiods, cocaine, and marijuana in the 60's and 70's more comprehensive research was deemed necessary to not only treat but effectively prevent drug addiction and alcoholism. It was also during this time frame that different classes of substances were created and we see a shift in how drug offenders were handled from the once harsher punishments to required treatment programs.…
This chapter discusses the biological perspective on addiction. When looking at this perspective it is important to understand the biological causes of addiction, tolerance and withdrawal. The chapter discusses the different ways drugs can be administered and absorbed. Further it talks about the different ways drugs are metabolised and excreted and how drugs affect the central nervous system. Lastly it examines tolerance and withdrawal as understood from the biological perspective.…
Capuzzi, D., & Stauffer, M. D. (2012). History and Etiological Models of Addiction. In D. Capuzzi & M. D. Stauffer (Eds.), Foundations of addiction counseling (pp. 1-15). Boston, MA…
The Moral Model of addiction implies that people have a choice as to their use of substances. The decision of…
In order to better understand addiction as a disease as opposed to a moral dilemma it first must be broken down. First you must look at the way in which the chemicals affect the brain. The first attempt at partaking in any mind altering substance can be looked at as a choice to the individual. However what happens after that first time? Are you then in control of how much or how often the substance is introduced to the body? As the substance is consumed it begins to alter the way in which the brain controls our feelings; happy, sad, anger, depression, etc. The brain tries to compensate for the influx of chemicals by reducing the amount of dopamine (a simple organic chemical in the brain system that is responsible for reward-driven learning). Thus when the substance is no longer in the system you can experience extreme “lows” that directly relate to depression. The brain then tells the body that it needs more of the DOC (drug of choice) to make up for that loss. It can be argued that once the levels of dopamine have diminished in the brain the choice of whether or not to use the DOC has been lost. Subconsciously the individual will experience the phenomenon of “craving”. As stated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “The initial decision to take drugs is mostly voluntary. However, when drug abuse takes over, a person 's ability to exert self control can become seriously impaired. Brain imaging studies from drug-addicted individuals show physical changes in areas of the brain that are critical to judgment, decision-making, learning and memory, and…
A large majority of people today are willing to believe that addiction is a disease. However, there are many who disagree and define it as a lack of will power or moral weakness. In order for one to have compassion for those suffering from this disease, they must understand the stages and characteristics of the process of addiction.…
Addiction is defined as “a state of physiological or psychological dependence on a potentially harmful drug or behavior (Encarta, 2009).” Addiction has the distinction of creating a positive feeling or a false sense of euphoria. This is seen most prominently in drug and alcohol addictions as they both give the user a false sense feeling of well being and happiness. Although drug and alcohol addictions are the prevalent addictions, they are not the only ones. Some other addictions are: shopping, smoking, gambling, and sometimes sex addictions give the addict the same sense of well being. However, they all share the same negative outcome to the individual as his or her compulsion to acquire the “high” overrides the logical and rational sense of self-preservation.…
After reading “Shamanic Origins of Religion and Medicine” Written by Weston La Barre, PH.D. I have a new outlook on what a shaman is. A shaman to me is a person who has understanding of the paranormal in dreams, trance, vision, hallucination, spiritual state. Shamans use drugs most of the time to heal or see the vision that help in there assistance to people in need. Sometimes history has shown that shamans were jokesters and entertainers. Drug and alcohol counseling (Chemical Dependency Counseling) assists addicted clients to stop using illegal drugs and there is possibility clients might need prescription drugs to treat other mental issues do so.…
The three different views of addiction consist of immoral conduct, disease, and maladaptive behavior. When reading Thombs & Osborn, the way how an addiction was seen as sin took me by surprise. Although in the early years of school I learned about the health concerns of addictions, seeing an addiction as a sin was not talked about. The way an addiction was seen as a sin took me by surprise because it is not something an individual can control unless he or she has the will power. Yet, the way the immoral conduct comprises of punishment through various legal enforcements create injustices. Once an addict gets into the legal system he or she will likely will be kept in the system, also called the revolving door. Furthermore, it was intriguing…
Addiction is a condition that outcomes when someone ingests a substance or takes part in an action that can be pleasurable yet the proceeded with use/demonstration of which gets to be enthusiastic and meddles with customary life obligations, for example, work, connections, or wellbeing. Commonly, the users may not be mindful that their conduct is wild and bringing about issues for themselves as well as other people. Somebody who is dependent or snared mentally trusts that they can't work without this substance in their bodies. Medication and liquor enslavement and destroy families, they change people who once were the best individuals to be around with. Most addictions begin at a people immaturity age where they simply realizing who they are…
Addiction is the fact or condition of being dependent upon a particular substance. The ripple effect caused by addiction not only affects its victims but also the loved ones and people close to them. As someone that has seen the disastrous effects addiction can cause for both parties, there isn't one specific path it can go.…