Addiction Is An Individual Problem Or A Family Problem?

The three models of addiction examined in this week’s readings include the medical model, the psychosocial model, and the disease of the human spirit model. The medical model “rests on the assumption that disease states are the result of a biological dysfunction, possibly one on the cellular or even molecular level” (Doweiko, 2012, p. 333). Many consider this model and “maintain that much of human behavior is based on the interaction between the individual’s biological predisposition and the environment” (Doweiko, 2012, p. 333). Individuals under this model view free will “as an illusion” (Doweiko, 2012, p. 333). There is controversy regarding this model as “to the degree to which the

As we see from the system theory family are an important part of what contributes to a person addiction. It’s not done maliciously, more so to cope and survive the dysfunctional environment they must survive in. Unfortunately some “treatment facilities don’t have the qualified staff or resources to provide the kind of therapy a family needs” ((Stevens & Smith, pg. 253). It’s proven that family therapy can be a “powerful adjunct in the treatment of substance abusers” (Stevens & Smith, pg. 253). If the family receives treatment then the substance abuser will go back to a “different environment where the enabling and silence has stopped” (Stevens & Smith, pg. 253).

As a recovering addict I know firsthand how my addiction affected my family. Addiction to alcohol or drugs is a disease; it affects everyone in the family, not just the substance abuser.

This essay will look to outline the different arguments in that; addiction to a substance is a choice of one’s free will, or is it a disease element in our bio chemical or physical make up? It will consider, if addiction extends from genes inherited from parents or forefathers, or if it is a learned behaviour through day to day lifestyles, and changes through growth from tots to teens, to youths, then to adults. It will also seek to analyse how different approaches and points in this relevant argument can be debated in the academic and medical world, with the views and discussion of recognised professionals in the study of addiction.

Modern society has failed bring the burgeoning problems of addiction under control. The word “addiction” was applied to drug use in the 20th century, but now it refers to a wider variety of non-drug hobbies, such as eating, gambling and sex. To treat the devastating flood of addiction problems, it is important to understand that addiction is not just a physical problem but more of a social and psychological problem. Dislocation caused by the free market society and the pressure from family can lead to addiction.

Addiction is a brain disorder defined by the compulsive engagement in rewarding behavior, despite negative consequences (Angres and Bettinardi–Angres 696). From the outside looking in it can be easy to judge and condemn adicts for pursuing their vice. However, don’t let anyone fool you into thinking that addicts are just people with weaker morals or insufficient spiritual guidance. Addiction is a medical disease with a complex etiology. Social dislocation and family stress appear to contribute significantly to the development of the disease. Social dislocation is the removal of an individual from their community, family or friends. The lack of social support can be devastating to an individual. It can create a painful void that they may attempt

A person, especially a parent, who is dependent on alcohol or drugs destroys a family because family members not only see how miserable the addicted really are, but they also witness, firsthand, the way substance abuse can deteriorate a person’s physical and mental body, as well as the fact that family members notice the money that is spent on the abused substances, which sometimes leaves families living in poverty for no reason other than the simple fact the addict has to have their fix. Addicts are the destroyers of happiness, self-worth, and any amount of money.

At the end of the course, it would only make sense that we turn to the question that we considered at the beginning of the course: What is addiction? Although the many decades of research on the topic have focused on many of the same topics, there are still disagreements on the answer to this question. Despite differences in opinion related to some of the most basics aspects in the field, there have been improvements in treatment and the way the topic is discussed. When I began this course, I was firmly ground in the belief that addiction is a disease, but there were some different parts of the course that have encouraged me to reexamine my initial understanding of addiction. This final paper will detail the process in which my beliefs at the

The crippling effects of alcoholism and drug dependency are not confined to the addict alone. The family suffers,

Abuse often starts from the desire to alter one’s mood, whether it is to deal with stress, self-medication, or even as learned behavior from a dysfunctional home life. For my mother, it was self-medication for depression; my grandfather’s struggle started as an attempt to deal with the death of his young son. Addiction does not discriminate on ethnicity, race, gender, or socio-economic status, as it does not have strictly genetic or biological causes. It is, however, by far a more pressing issue on vulnerable populations, such as those who come from a poor family environment of child abuse, preexisting mental disorders, poverty, or

One mystery of health and science is the problem of addiction and how we treat or even cure it? Many call it a disease, problem, or an issue in which he or she has no will power over the power of the drug. The idea of addiction and the future of curing/treating it is debated in Laura Miller’s article “Addiction is not a disease”, Benoit Lewis’ article “An Anti-Addiction Pill”, and the Ted Talk about addiction knowledge and it’s preconceived notions. The overarching themes/ideas/issues that are addressed in each of the readings are the need for a better health system that can better treat addicts, the need to better understand addiction and the human brain, and the need to understand the people who use drugs and the reasons for why they do so.

Addictive substances and behaviors are becoming a growing concern in the United States. Millions of Americans are affected by addiction in some way. While these substances and behaviors are becoming a growing concern, there is always a demand for more efficacious and cost-effective treatment methods. There are many different beliefs and options about how addictions develop, how change occurs, and what treatment methods are best to use in practice. This paper aims to explore my personal theory of addiction in regards to these specific areas of addiction. A biological and social explanation for addiction is examined, various methods and conditions for change are investigated, and an integrated treatment approach of motivational interviewing,

Research question: How does drug abuse impact family members? Barnard, M (2007). Drug Addiction and Families. Retrieved from: http://web.b.ebscohost.com.library.sheridanc.on.ca/ehost/ebookviewer/ebook/bmxlYmtfXzE4MDQ2NV9fQU41?sid=92164d9f-4cd4-4f66-90db-6fca650d41c2@sessionmgr102&vid=0&format=EB&rid=1 This online

The psychological approaches to addiction are based on behavioural factors, which suggest the frequency of a behaviour is influenced by its consequences or reinforces, and the likelihood of behaviour being reinforced depends on the balance between rewards and punishments. Family and social

6). These studies show that although not everyone with a family history of substance dependence becomes an addict themselves, it does put them at a significantly greater risk of developing a dependence upon any type of substance they may abuse in their lifetime. “For the individual with a history of substance dependence in his or her family, even occasional or sporadic abuse should be viewed with more concern that if family substance dependence were not present” (Margolis and Zweben 67). Those with parents and grandparents that have had a substance addiction should be extra cautious when using drugs and alcohol, because it can affect them very differently. “Just trying it once” could turn into a lifetime reliance upon the substance. The biology of this is not fully understood though one hypothesis is that it has to do with having a fewer number of dopamine receptors in the brain, meaning they might not be absorbing as much dopamine as normal people do (Casey, Benkelfat, Cherkasova, Baker, Dagher, and Leyton 23). This may cause a desire to increase the amount of dopamine in the brain through certain types