...The disease model of addiction describes an addiction as a lifelong disease that involves both biological and environmental sources of origin. The disease model originates from the traditional medical model of disease which states that an individual suffering from a disease has an illness or sickness that causes interruption, cessation, or disorder of bodily functions, systems or organs and must have identifiable signs and symptoms (Gorski, 2001). The contemporary medical model attributes addiction to changes in the brains mesolimbic system and also takes into consideration that the disease may be a result of other biological, psychological, or social entities (Disease model of addiction, 2011). Within the disease model of addiction, it is believed that a genetic predisposition to addiction exists, in addition to the occurrence of some environmental events that increase the likelihood that this predisposition will be sparked. Within the overall concept of the disease model of addiction, there are various specific disease models that concentrate on the specific areas of the disease concept. For example, the medical consequences model focuses on the many biomedical consequences of alcohol and drug use. This model simply focuses on the biological etiology and consequences of drug and alcohol consumption. The bio-psycho-social-spiritual consequences maintenance disease model is much richer than the biomedical consequences model because the concentration is on biological, psychological...
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...Effective Components in Determining Substance Use Behavior Crystal Ramsey Liberty University Effective Components in Determining Substance Use Behavior Addiction is regarded as having a multitude of causations and contributing factors. No single specific component or model can accurately predict a person’s substance use behavior (Clinton & Scalise, 2013). Substance use disorders are a reflection of the impact of person-specific biological, psychological, and social influences. Understanding an individual’s spiritual beliefs and the role spirituality plays in a person’s susceptibility to addiction is also necessary. If a spirituality component is absent in a person's life, addiction could fill that void (Doweiko, 2015). Substance abusers can use chemicals to cope with psychological anguish, social pressure, be biologically susceptible or to create an illusion of purpose. Biology The biological model consists of the physical, fundamental, and atomic mechanisms. These elements affect the natural functioning of the individual. Substance use disorders are believed to be the result of a physiological abnormality (Doweiko, 2015). Normal biological processes are altered within the body such as the reward system. Typically the reward system is designed to help people. However, numerous substances inundate the natural neurotransmitter system giving false signals to the brain’s reward system (Doweiko, 2015). Unfortunately, a natural process that evolved to assist in human existence...
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...Models/Theories of Addiction Moral Model of Addiction: It is one of the oldest theories of addiction. Under this theory, addiction is the result of an individual's poor choices made from having a lack of will power or moral strength. It does not recognize biological or genetic factors to addiction, ignores all the scientific evidence including genetics, neurobiology/pharmacology and twin studies and offers no sympathy for addicts. It believes that addiction can be cured by simply choosing not to use alcohol or drugs. Although not commonly used anymore, there are still many who feel addiction is still the result of moral failure. Addictive Disease Model of Addiction: Defines addiction to alcohol or other drugs as being an incurable and irreversible progressive disease. There is no cure for the addiction but it can be controlled by lifelong abstinence and group support. It believes addicts cannot control their need for alcohol or other drugs and will ignore negative outcomes to use. This dependency is a result of pre-existing genetic chemical alterations in the brain which are activated by the substance abuse. Progression of the disease is measured by the amount, frequency, and the circumstances of an individual's substance use. Treatment starts with the individual acknowledging and admitting their problem, followed by addiction recovery treatment, and then maintaining sobriety with lifelong recovery through abstinence and support groups like AA or NA. Behavioral/Environmental...
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...Biological Model of Addiction (4+6) AO1 The biological model of Addiction views addiction as a disease, therefore assuming that addiction is an illness, it is irreversible and the problem lies in the individual with no other contributing factors. With addiction the most poignant neurotransmitters is dopamine, where neurotransmitters carry chemical messages (information) around the brain. Dopamine is particularly active in the reward center; therefore Dopamine is related to motivation, rewards and moods. The main pathway that is travels is the mesolimbic dopamine system. According to this model people get addicted because when they take a particular substance and enjoy it is a rewarding feeling and dopamine gets released. There are different phases in becoming addicted to something, the first of which is the initiation phase. This is the taking of addicting substances; such as alcohol or nicotine trigger the release of more dopamine, motivating the brain to do it again. For example in theory crack cocaine causes receptors in the mesolimbic pathway to be rapidly activated, the brain then remembers to link the drug with the rewarding experience. This is also known as operant conditioning where the rewarding experience is positive reinforcement. The next phase is maintenance; “down regulation” involves withdrawal and stress. This is the brain adapting to new drugs and more are needed for a reward, so the previous positive reinforcement becomes negative reinforcement. “Neuroadptation”...
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...The Disease Model According to the disease model of addiction, addiction is a brain disease. Marked changes in brain structure and function that, over time, lead to involuntary use or compulsive behavior are the key characteristics of the disease (Leshner, 2001). The behavioral expressions of addiction are uncontrollable, and in that aspect, similar to that of other brain diseases. For example, just as schizophrenics cannot voluntarily control their hallucinations and delusions or Parkinson’s patients cannot control their trembling, an addict cannot control the urge to use (Leshner, 2001). Once an individual has the disease, it is irreversible. It is an incurable, chronic illness. Proponents of this model purport treating the addict just as one would treat an individual with any other brain disease or chronic illness (McLellan, Lewis, O’Brien & Klecher, 2000). As with other diseases, a holistic treatment approach, combining medication therapy, behavioral therapy and any needed social services and rehabilitation is considered the best treatment approach (Leshner, 2001). Research would seem to support the position that chronic substance use produces long-lasting changes in the brain (Volkow, Chang, Gene-Jack, Fowler et al., 2001) that are responsible for the impaired cognitive functioning, including the compulsive urge to use, that is characteristic of addictive behavior (Leshner, 2001). The comparative analysis conducted by McLellan and others (2000) also suggests similar kinds...
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...In the Psychological model, the addiction was driven from stress. Guilt and shame were usually associated with the addiction, but other reasons while play a role in the addiction (Lewis, 2014). The client uses blame for using, like another person caused them to do self-medicate. Therapist may use behavior therapy, or use coping mechanisms to encourage a total recovery (Lewis, 2014). The psychological model suggests that the addiction is an individual program (Lewis, 2014). Within the Psychological model, drugs, like heroin, work to mimic the brains own chemicals because they activate neurons, which do not active neurons in the same way as they normal would, this leads to abnormal messages that are transmitted in your brain (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014) Drugs, for example, Cocaine, can release neurotransmitters that prevent...
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...Behavioral Theory of Addiction Contrasted With Moral and Disease Theories Theory and Practice in Addiction Counseling The behavioral model of addiction emphasizes conditioning as the primary reason for substance abuse. The individual chooses whether or not to engage in substance-using behavior depending on what they get out of the experience, relative to other options they have. If the substances are more rewarding than other activities within the person’s environment, then the behavior will continue. If this situation reverses, then extinction of the behavior is expected due to lack of reinforcement. Although social and economic context are recognized as factors in substance use, they are not primary causes of the behavior, nor is the presence of a comorbid psychological or medical condition. Interventions are based on the idea that an addicted person wants or expects certain results from substance use, and also wants certain outcomes in other areas of life. These objectives, wants, or needs are referred to as rewards, or reinforcers, in behavioral conditioning. The individual sets the economy of reward by weighing the relative value-cost of engaging in substance using behaviors. Immediacy of consequences, whether positive or negative reinforcement, or actual punishment, is a factor in this internal economy. If punishment for the behavior becomes stronger than the perceived benefits of continuing it, then there is economy of reward to motivate change, or discontinuation...
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...will cut themselves off from society, because their addiction becomes greater than fear. The addict is left living a life of isolation rather than community. While someone who isn't suffering gains protection. The Ill no matter their diagnoses should receive the same remedy. Addiction isn’t a choice and they’re constantly growing. Researcher Gene Heyman illustrates in his journal that “A normal choice process can lead to addiction, arguing that people do not choose to be addicts, but that normal choice dynamics can lead them to that condition. He points to a variety of factors that keep most from becoming addicted”(Heyman). These individuals are just trying to live with their mental disability and not be abandoned. People with addictions do have the same right to be free from discrimination as anyone else with a disability or...
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...What is Addiction? Addiction is a condition in which a person is unable, without help, to stop from repeating a harmful behavior. While the behavior may not itself be harmful, it is the extent to which the behavior is repeated, as the “using episodes” become more frequent, intense, and severe over time. Typically the behaviors associated with an addiction become physically and psychologically harmful to the person doing them, and often to others as well. The compulsion to repeat the behavior is often accompanied by thoughts which drive the person to continue the behavior, despite them having objective knowledge that the behavior should not be done. The consequences of the addictive behavior usually become more and more serious over time too. The disease model of addiction explains the physical changes in the brain that occur as a result of a person who behaves in an addictive manner. Research has shown that there are biochemical pathways which clearly account for the effects that an addictive behavior or substance has on the body. There are specific chemicals, called neurotransmitters, which are released in the brain as a result of an addiction and these chemicals, such as dopamine, have been found to cause predictable reactions in the way the person experiences extreme pleasure. The addict, however, feels more intensely than a non-addicted person would feel in the similar experience. As a result of this powerful and pleasant sensation, addicts are driven to repeat...
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...Wounds of Sexual Addiction Michelle Beel Liberty University Psych 307 Summary Dr. Mark Lasser’s book “Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction” gives insight to those who suffer from sexual addiction and to the families, friends and other people in their lives. Dr. Mark Lasser has chosen to write this book, to share with others his personal struggle and victory with sexual addiction. Dr. Lasser has written this book from a Christian view, to give other individuals hope in a difficult and growing disease, which is taking control and destroying our families. Lasser defines sexual addiction as “a sickness involving any type of uncontrollable sexual activity, and because the addict cannot control his or her sexual behavior negative consequences eventually result.” (Lasser, 2004, pp 23) Lasser goes on to state that this secret sin has existed for years, since the beginning of time, and it still to this day continues to be “misnamed, mistreated, ignored or completely misdiagnosed, and even though it has wounded, killed and humiliated countless individuals people still believe it doesn’t exist”(Lasser, 2004, pp 15) Lasser describes sexual addiction as a “secret sin which grows from seeds planted in childhood and symptoms go undetected for years” (Lasser, 2004, pp 15), being that this is seen as normal developmental phase, going untreated it becomes worse over time, having grave consequences on the individual. Dr. Lasser further points out; sexual addiction is at an increase...
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...Gayed PPSY 511 Addiction Assessment and Interventions 2-18-16 Addiction and Grace Paper \ Addiction and Grace Paper Addiction and Grace by Dr. Gerald May, was an extremely insightful and helpful resource in understanding those who struggle with addiction, the nature of addiction itself and the healing process. I realized through my reading that addiction is a broader issue that involves a range of behaviors far beyond alcohol and drugs to include work, sex, performance, responsibility, and intimacy. According to Dr. May (1991), “We are all addicts in every sense of the word” (p.4). As a future therapist this opened my eyes to how addiction is a universal problem and how forces of attachment to anything can bring suffering and agony. Reading Addiction and Grace had helped me understand addicts and their behavior better; I am more knowledgeable of the psychological, neurological and physiological nature of addiction, as well as learning about the important elements in the healing process. I had little knowledge previous to reading this book about what addicts are really like. Especially going into this field of therapy, I had little perception about addicts’ personality, behavior and mind. One interesting thought I learned about addicts is that chemical addictions do not occur due to preexisting personality defects and that addictive personality is a myth. According to Dr. May, “symptoms of addictive personality were caused by addiction, not the cause of...
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...Title of assignment: Describe compare and contrast the traditional abstinence model of addiction treatment with the modern harm reduction model in the context of counselling a heroin using client who is HIV or Hep-C positive I declare that this assignment is entirely my own work and that all sources are credited. Introduction: In this essay I am going to first define abstinence, harm reduction, heroin and HIV. Then i’m going to compare and contrast the abstinence model versus the harm reduction model in relation to a person who uses heroin and has also HIV under the counselling context. Definitions: The Abstinence Model: The term 12 step applies to a number of self-help groups which have grown from the original alcoholics anonymous movement. 12-step groups are fellowships of men and women who meet regularly to support each other in their efforts to achieve and maintain abstinence. Groups are run by the members themselves who are not professional counsellors. They have a spiritual foundation are not affiliated with any organised religion. (McMurran, 1994) For the purposes of this essay groups like NA(Narcotics Anonymous) would represent a traditional abstinence group and the Minnesota Model would represent a counselling approach in relation to addiction counselling. The Harm Reduction Model: The idea of harm reduction first emerged explicitly in Dutch drug policy during the 1970s and 1980s from concern about the social integration of people who use drugs into...
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...Introduction Addiction is one of the global problems leading to huge loss of life and causing untold suffering in families and society. This paper will focus on various models that are used to explain the etiology of addiction. Models for addictions refer to the tools used to deliver message concerning the biological basis of addiction as well as the broader social and psychological aspect of addiction. Models The following are the known models that explain the concept of all forms of addiction. 1. Personal responsibility model 2. Agent model 3. Dispositional model 4. Sociocultural model 5. Public health perspective Personal Responsibility or Moral model According to this model, society has divergent views concerning the issue of addiction although none of them is positive. One of the many views the society has is that addiction is a criminal behaviour. The other view or perspective is that addiction is a sin. The model attributes character and weakness defects to addiction (Bentley, 2007). The model has neither sympathy nor care for the individuals who have chronic addictions. The model bases its message concerning the addiction as an individual’s choice. As per this model individuals who are strong morally are well positioned to avoid, control and stop any form of addiction. The situation makes the model resemble medical and spiritual model. Moral uprightness is closely associated with religion. Without strong spiritual belief, various researchers...
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...Addiction can be defined as an uncontrollable need for or use of a habit-forming substance (“Merriam-Webster”). Addiction is impacted by one’s tolerance and the physiological symptoms that follow when suffering from withdrawal of a substance (“Merriam-Webster”). In our society today, we spend more than $740 billion in relation to crime, lost work productivity, and health care for those who use substances harmfully (“National Institute”). As addiction continues to be a serious problem for many individuals in the US, there continues to be a question: is addiction a disease or a choice made by the own individual (Russell, Davies, & Hunter, 2011)? Disease vs. Choice Addiction as a disease or choice are the most commonly known perspectives to...
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...Conceptualizing Addiction Conceptualizing Addiction McNeece and DiNitto (2010) agree that defining addiction is not an easy task. Jaffe (1980) defines addiction as "a behavioral pattern of drug use, characterized by overwhelming involvement with the use of a drug (compulsive use), the securing of its supply and a high tendency to relapse after withdrawal. In addition, it is characterized by craving, withdrawal and tolerance." Schuckit (1992, p. 182) believes addiction 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.” The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-V), combined the DSM-IV categories of Substance Abuse and Substance Dependence into a single category of Substance Use Disorder (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). The DSM-V covers 11 criteria for Substance Use Disorder: 1) taking the substance in larger amounts or for longer than the you meant to; 2) wanting to cut down or stop using the substance but not managing to; 3) spending a lot of time getting, using, or recovering from use of the substance; 4) cravings and urges to use the substance; 5) not managing to do what you should at work, home or school, because of substance use; 6) continuing to use, even when it causes problems in relationships; 7) giving up important social, occupational or recreational...
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