...use as a learned behavior * People using drugs because drug use is modeled by others * Peer pressure * Environmental effects leading to drug use MORAL MODEL * Addicts are usually weak and can overcome a compulsion to use with willpower * Drug abusers are anti-social and should be punished for that * Drug are generally evil BIO-PSYCHO-SOCIAL MODEL * All the above are true, to greater or lesser degrees * Each person’s drug use is a result of some aspects of some or all the other models * Treatment and recovery require addressing the body, mind, social, nutrition, employment, family issues, psychological issues. On a broad inference, addiction is generally concerned with alcoholism so therefore we shall talk extensively on alcoholism. ALCOHOLISM Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled...
Words: 3596 - Pages: 15
...Alcoholism Name: Institution: Alcoholism This refers to the excessive consumption of alcohol. This condition is considered a disease in the medical field. A person suffering from this condition is referred to as an alcoholic. Alcoholics have an incontrollable urge to keep on drinking despite the obvious physical, social and mental problems associated with alcoholism. Physical risk factors associated with alcoholism include damage to the nervous system, epilepsy, pancreatitis, dementia and an increased risk of liver and cardiovascular diseases (Galanter, 2005). Alcoholism is considered the third most common mental problem with the most major risk factor being depression. This is as a result of the alcoholic having low self esteem and feeling out of place thus becoming antisocial. Alcoholics become very irritable when confronted about their drinking problem. This usually leads to them alienating themselves as they feel judged and misunderstood which sometimes leads to the alcoholic becoming suicidal (Galanter, 2005). Medical practitioners have carried out research to determine the causes of alcoholism with some speculating that the condition is hereditary. Studies show that people with a history of being either physically or sexually abused as children have a higher likelihood of developing alcoholism as they already feel out of place. Furthermore, children who engage in alcohol intake before the age of 15years are more likely...
Words: 608 - Pages: 3
...Alcoholism in Adult Magoha Mayagila Research Paper, Psych 2301 Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a non-curable mental disorder that’s affects millions of people worldwide. According to national institute on alcohol and alcoholism, 1 in 12 adults in U.S is suffering from AUD. If not diagnosed early, AUD can effects a person life psychologically, socially and economically. Despite affecting the general population, studies have shown men are two to three times more likely to develop AUD than women due to generic differences (Mettmann D 2014). The androgen receptor (AR) gene, located on X chromosome contains a common polymorphism involving cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) repeats, which impacts disease and could contribute the unequal sex ratio in alcoholism (Mettman D 2014). Even though men are more susceptible to AUD, the effects of AUD on women health is enormous compared to men. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is a psychological tool that have been used to collect mental disorder statistics since 1840. By 1952 American Psychiatric Association developed DMS-I to diagnose mental disorders. Prior to 2013, DMS-IV was the tool of choice for clinical diagnosis for alcoholism. DMS-IV categorized alcoholism into two distinct disorders, alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency; and two distinct criteria, abuse and dependency based on 11 symptoms. Alcohol abuse is defined as a behavior at which a person drinking pattern leads to undesirable acts and behavior...
Words: 1052 - Pages: 5
...Alcoholism Alcoholism refers to a chronic disease where your body becomes dependent on alcohol. Being an alcoholic is not limited to gender, race, or age. At any time while drinking people can form a dependence to alcohol. To fully understand the meaning of being an alcoholic, what it does to the body, and the recovery processes that follow, it is important to remember that alcoholism is an addiction and can affect anyone. The DSM IV defines alcoholism as a maladaptive pattern of alcohol use, leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by three or more of the seven criteria, occurring at any time in the same 12-month period. Some of the major criteria are; building a tolerance to alcohol, withdrawal symptoms arise after not drinking, and it take more and more alcohol to feel the effects over time (DSM IV 1994). Now these are just the top three criteria but if a person has three out of the seven then they are considered an alcoholic even if they themselves do not want to accept that title. Some people think that it is very shameful to have a title of addict because of the negative stigma American society puts on that word. Men might feel emasculated, women might feel weak, and teens fighting this illness might be overwhelmed and confused because their peers put so much pride on being able to drink more than each other. So many phrases are becoming popular among teenagers that promote excess drinking under 21. Some of these phrases include; being...
Words: 888 - Pages: 4
...Alcoholism is drinking alcoholic beverages at a level that interferes with physical health, mental health, and social, family, or job responsibilities. Alternative Names Alcohol dependence; Alcohol abuse Causes Alcoholism is a type of drug addiction. There is both physical and mental dependence on alcohol. Alcoholism is divided into 2 categories: dependence and abuse. People who are dependent on alcohol spend a great deal of time drinking alcohol, and getting it. Physical dependence involves: • A need for increasing amounts of alcohol to get drunk or achieve the desired effect (tolerance) • Alcohol-related illnesses • Memory lapses (blackouts) after drinking episodes • Withdrawal symptoms when alcohol use is stopped The most severe drinking behavior includes long drinking binges that lead to mental or physical problems. Some people are able to gain control over their dependence in earlier phases before they totally lose control. But no one knows which heavy drinkers will be able to regain control and which will not. There is no known common cause of alcoholism. However, several factors may play a role in its development. A person who has an alcoholic parent is more likely to become an alcoholic than a person without alcoholism in the immediate family. Research suggests that certain genes may increase the risk of alcoholism, but which genes or how they work is not known. Psychological factors may include: • A need for anxiety relief • Conflict in relationships ...
Words: 1699 - Pages: 7
...Kendra Alcoholism Overview: Alcoholism is a medically diagnosed disease which manifests itself in the frequent use of alcohol, despite the negative consequences it has on a person’s life. Genetic predisposition, environment, and mental health are the leading risk factors for developing alcoholism. Alcohol problems are severe and involve substantial consumption of alcohol, which results in multiple physical and psychosocial problems. Symptoms: Signs and symptoms of alcoholism include significant hangovers, which increase in time needed to recover, increased amount of alcohol consumed because of increased tolerance, lowered self ambition, irreversible damage to critical organs such as the liver, nervous system, heart, stomach, and brain. Common medical side effects include high blood pressure, sexual problems, cancer, osteoporosis, and depression. Treatment: There is no cure for alcoholism but treatment can help. Treatment can only begin once the addict accepts the problem exists, is motivated to change and agrees to stop drinking. The most common treatment is done in 3 stages; Detoxification, rehabilitation, and maintained of sobriety. Detoxification is needed immediately after discounting alcohol. This should be done at a hospital because detox can result in withdrawal seizures, hallucinations, delirium tremens, and in some cases death. Rehabilitation involves counseling and medication to give the alcoholic the skills need to maintain sobriety. Therapy might include counseling...
Words: 254 - Pages: 2
...their problems. Not only does the use of alcohol create serious health disorders for those who drink heavily during their lifetime, but also causes serious health disorders in children whose mothers drank while pregnant. Individuals who drink alcohol are often responsible for injuring other innocent people. Each year in the United States, nearly 85,000 people die from alcohol-related causes, making it the third leading preventable cause of death in our country. (NIAAA) Many automobile accidents involve drunk drivers. People who drink endanger themselves and everyone around them. In addition, business and industry suffer financial loss because their employees drink. What might begin as casual drinking can become heavy drinking and alcoholism. Because the abuse of alcohol has a negative effect on men, women, and children, that same abuse on alcohol is a threat in our society. Although society cannot force people to stop abusing alcohol, society does try to provide rehabilitation for heavy drinkers and alcoholics. People who watch television commercials and read magazine advertisements perhaps think that the use of alcohol can be a positive factor in their life. But according to the author of Alcohol: The Delightful Poison, “alcohol is classified as a...
Words: 2160 - Pages: 9
...The Deadly Affect Alcoholism had a major affect on the life of the famous director/comedian Sherman Alexie. He grew up in a family that was addicted to alcohol, so he has always had a good understanding of how alcohol can affect a person and others around them. He put this knowledge into film in the 1990’s movie Smoke Signals. Statistically 58% of deaths are alcohol related. Alcohol has an affect on the lives of everyone. When it is consumed, people tend to do a lot of things they would never think of doing. It plays a major role on our life today. When under the influence the decisions made by alcoholics are sometimes fatal to not only themselves but others around them. In the movie Smoke Signals alcoholism is portrayed through a Native American Indian reservation. The main character Victor Joseph deals with alcoholism at its worst with an abusive alcoholic father. This movie shows how a family battles through alcoholism and how it affects them afterwards. In the 1998 film Smoke Signals, Victor grew up on an Indian reservation with his family. Arnold, Victor’s father, was an alcoholic who accidentally lit his friend’s house on fire. The parents of the house were killed, but Arnold managed to save their son Thomas. After he burnt down their house Arnold was never the same. He began to become more of an alcoholic due to his depression. One night Arnold and his wife decided to throw a party. Victor came outside while they were drinking and his dad came up to him and said...
Words: 780 - Pages: 4
...Alcoholism In today’s society, alcoholism is quickly becoming a menace. It is a disease that is affecting people of all ages, but has been observed to be rampant in the younger generation. Continued abuse of alcohol can have adverse effects on one’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health as well as other undesirable effects to the community. One risks dangers such as irreversible damage to crucial organs and body systems, for example, one risks liver and heart failure in addition to a compromised brain, nervous system, and stomach. Alcoholism also has severe consequences to one's social life. It can lead to cases of domestic violence, loss of employment, marital conflicts, and isolation from family and friends. In order to control alcohol abuse, we have to be able to recognize the symptoms of alcoholism. By knowing them, we can quickly identify an alcoholic and take the necessary steps forward. Physical symptoms are the most obvious. They include incoherent speech, poor balance, delayed reflexes, blackouts or loss of consciousness, persistent stomach pains, nausea and vomiting, and redness of the face during and after periods of heavy consumption (Littrell, 2014). Increased abuse of alcohol results to more serious medical symptoms, which include expression of anger and other emotions especially in inappropriate places, participating in risky activities that have serious health financial and legal consequences, neglecting family and professional obligations, insomnia...
Words: 1174 - Pages: 5
...Alcoholism Jennifer Gruberman American Military University January 30, 2014 Abstract Alcoholism is a disease that is a major concern in the United States because alcoholics endanger themselves and society. Alcoholism follows a certain course with known physical, psychological and social symptoms. Once addicted, the alcoholic continues to consume alcohol despite the destructive cost. The definitions of an alcoholic, alcoholism, and alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence are constantly being refined and changing according to the purpose of the definition. An alcoholic can be typed by more than one set of criteria: genetic, habitual, and behavioral. All definitions of alcohol include the knowledge that the individual must have a preoccupation with the substance and use of the drug alcohol. In all cases, alcoholics must continue to use the substance even though they are aware that continued use of alcohol is harming them. The abuse of alcohol causes problems for all members of the family, and can be viewed as a public health problem as well. When the genetic component is present, the alcoholic individual exhibits other abnormal behavior and mental traits. These individuals find it difficult to abstain from the use of alcohol and even when sober exhibit difficulty with some mental tasks. On the other hand, alcoholics who have developed a dependence on alcohol through habitual usage, have less trouble becoming and remaining sober...
Words: 1373 - Pages: 6
...Alcoholism: Choice or Disease Mitzy Morgan Drug Abuse Soc2133 J.Kirk September 28,2011 Imagine yourself being 11 years old. You and your next-door neighbor just finished eating dinner, and now playing cards in front of the television. A few hours pass and your mother tells you that its bedtime. After being asleep for a couple of hours, you hear your father come inside your house. This was not unusual; he always comes home late at night. You hear your parents yell at each other and then you hear an awful sound. Did your father just hit your mother only because his dinner was cold, and he was late? You ask yourself why, why is he like this? He is like this because he is an alcoholic and cannot control his temper when he has been drinking. The next day you promise your mom and yourself that when you grow up you were never going to become an alcoholic. You see what your father’s alcoholism has done to your family and yourself and would never want that to happen to your family when you become an adult. Twenty years later, you too become an alcoholic. Children of alcoholics are four times more likely to grow up to be an alcoholic than any other children, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. One in five adult Americans lived with an alcoholic while growing up. (AACAP) Studies have shown that even twins separated at birth and living in two very different environments still...
Words: 1295 - Pages: 6
...Alcoholism is a commonly known disease with plenty of research and studies on this subject. Conducting research on alcoholism, there will be vast information from clinical studies with certain classifications of people, and groups. I would check with official statistics, mass media, public opinion, and views from influential groups. I would want to know questions such as, “how is alcoholism a social problem?” The answers will range from medical, social, economic, and even cultural issues. The sources involved would be from credible sources, such as www.arg.org which is an alcohol research group. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has plenty of information; they lead the national effort to reduce problems associated with alcohol. My personal experience will also be added information on the problem. Working out the details of my solution to the problem will involve me getting as much research information done. Visualizing the solution will help me include my own personal experiences, and information from credible sources will substantiate the solutions to the problem. The information gathered will have to be examined for imperfections. The information will need to be clearly understood to all audiences involved. The solutions I come up with will be compared to other sources, and what changes my solution will make. The terminologies involved will need to be explained in detail for clarity to all ages. I understand that I may have to go over several ideas to...
Words: 385 - Pages: 2
...Alcoholism is a prominent substance abuse issue in Western society. The treatment method of controlled drinking as opposed to abstinence is a continuing cause of controversy in alcohol research to this day. The US is different from Europe in its acceptance of controlled drinking as a goal of treatment: “in the US alcohol dependence is typically depicted as a ‘recurring disease’ and the ‘successful abstainer’ as a ‘recovering’ though never ‘recovered’ alcoholic” (Coldwell, 2005). Depending on the alcohol abuse patient’s individual characteristics, either controlled drinking or abstinence is chosen as a treatment. Alcohol treatment in Canada, however seems to incorporate both mechanisms as shown in the study by Rush and Ogborne (1986).The study states that goals for one third of clients who were non abstinent were accepted depending on whether it was a residential or community-based outpatient service. Other effective methods in treating alcoholism are pharmacotherapy, behavioral method and self help manuals. This paper will discuss different therapeutic interventions while highlighting the controversy between controlled drinking and abstinence. Alcohol abuse is growing rapidly throughout U.S. society. One in every twelve adults is being diagnosed with alcohol abuse (Barlow and Durand, 2006). All that are diagnosed with alcohol abuse must meet one or more of the following criteria within a twelve month period: he/ she must fail to accomplish major work, school or home responsibilities;...
Words: 2780 - Pages: 12
...Alcoholism Emma Lattany NU250 Mental Health Instructor: Lori Barnes RN, BSN, LNC Alcoholism, is a destructive pattern of alcohol use that includes tolerance to or withdrawal from the substance (Dryden-Edwards, 2012). It is also known as alcohol dependence or alcohol addiction. Using alcohol longer than planned or having difficulty reducing its usage is a part of alcoholism. Alcoholism is not a chosen pattern of behavior but it is considered to be a disease. Those with alcoholism show signs of physical addiction to alcohol, but still continue drinking despite problems with physical and mental health. It also causes them problems with their social and family life as well as job responsibilities. Alcoholism may also take control over and alcoholic’s life and relationships. Some of the medical complications of alcoholism are: pancreatitis, cardiomyopathy, alcohol-related cirrhosis, and gastrointestinal bleeding. The use of alcohol on a daily basis has also been associated with many different types of cancers (Thompson, 2012). Alcohol use during pregnancy could lead to fetal alcohol syndrome which is a leading cause of mental retardation. Alcoholism is also linked to dementia, depression, suicide, accidents and homicide (Thompson, 2012). Alcoholism is the third most common mental illness and in the United States, more that 14 million people are affected by it (Dryden-Edwards, 2012). Alcoholism has a pattern of afflicting about 10% of men and 4% of women and costs...
Words: 1344 - Pages: 6
...Alcoholism in Society SOC100 Introduction to Sociology Alcoholism in Society What are the causes, effects, and solutions of alcoholism in today’s society? Alcoholism is one of the most prevalent sociological issues facing people in today’s society. It really relates to the field of sociology as it studies how it affects people as a whole and how it affects their daily lives when interacting with others. The known causes of alcoholism are from various reasons such as problems, stress, pressure, culture, genetics, and psychology. Alcoholism is also caused by what people see others are doing such as commercials, movies, and television shows. Many people start drinking at a young age because of how their upbringing was and who they are hanging out with especially in school. A lot of students get such experience because of what they see in society and how it can become part of their life. This is where the early stages of alcoholism begin because when it starts at a young age, the tolerance to alcohol becomes very high and results in them having more drinks. It is socially accepted in some societies at parties and gatherings where people are expected to have a drink or two and sometimes ending up having more because of peer pressure and how people will think about them when they don’t have that drink. Another major factor causing alcoholism is the emotions that people are experiencing and how they deal with those emotions especially when it has enormous stress on a relationship...
Words: 791 - Pages: 4
