Addiction - Treatments And Failings Of Said Treatments Essay

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Carl Rogers stated, “The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change (see http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/c/carl_rogers.html). Many modern approaches to addiction recovery utilize a dialectical model to examine the change process. Third wave behavioral therapies such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), along with mindfulness meditation (MM), and the 12 Step Recovery model of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) use a dialectic based on acceptance of what is and change to what can be. These modern methods make use of the practices of Buddhism that may be effective treatments for addiction recovery. Moreover, when regarding addiction as a form of attachment as

Treatment guidelines from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration indicate that treatment should include age-appropriate group therapy, and teach skills to rebuild social support networks (Trevisan, 2008). Staff need to be experienced in working with the elderly and use a slower pace and age-appropriate content. Respect with an atmosphere of support and change rather than confrontation should be created in the therapeutic setting. Three medications have been approved for treatment of alcohol problems; however, there are few pharmacological treatment studies of alcohol dependence in older adults and no know studies of other drugs of abuse (Trevisan, 2008). These three medications include Disulfiram, Naltrexone, and Acamprosate (Trevisan, 2008).

Addiction: is it a disease or a choice? A disease can be described as “a disorder of structure or function that produces specific signs or symptoms, or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of a physical injury.” Knowing this, one can believe addiction is a disease. It is something that is done frequently, that usually does not end, just as a disease; it cannot cease on its own, because it requires some form of treatment. The big question regarding addiction is why people believe it to be a choice opposed to a disease.

Recovering from addiction presents you with challenges to say the least. You have to give up your drug of choice, which can be scary, literally painful, and sometimes, even sad. It’s the sadness, or rather the emotional side of addiction that I want to address here.

Addiction is a term used by people who are “dependent” on something, whether it is a drug, caffeine, alcohol or anything a human being does more than once a day. Most people with an addiction do not have control over what they are doing, what they are taking and what they are putting into their body. A person’s addiction may reach a point at which it can become very harmful to themselves and to others. Most likely when a person is addicted to something they cannot control how they use it, when they use it and they eventually become dependent on it to cope with their daily life.

understand their clients with addiction problems and motivate them to change. This model is one of the most widely used models within the field of addiction treatment initially developed to describe the process of adopting any healthy behavior. Motivational interviewing shares much in common with the trans-theoretical or Stages of Change Model of behavior change. Although not universally endorsed, the trans-theoretical model holds that at any given time, a person is at a particular stage in relation to behavior change (Harvard Mental Health Letter, July 2008).

Addiction is the term used when a person takes part in an activity, or ingests a substance that gives them pleasure, but then the continuous use of it becomes compulsive and starts interfering with their everyday life. The behaviour of an addict can easily be recognised as it represents confusing human activity. (Shaffer, 1996). These behaviours can include gambling, excessive sexual behaviours, smoking and drug and alcohol abuse.

Many people believe the misconception that an addiction is a moral problem and not a disease. To better understand the reasons why an additicition is in fact a disease; I will identify several types of addictions, and the problems associated with them. I will examine reasons why certain people are more susceptible for developing an addiction. Also, I will determine why many addicts deny their problems and many recovery methods addicts use to fight their illness. Researching these issues, will help aid my claim that addiction is a disease.

Addiction recovery can be broken down into five common phases. The first phase is awareness and acknowledgement of the problem. This can be the most difficult phase, one that many addicts never move past. Denial separates the awareness that using drugs or alcohol has had a negative consequence from the rational and emotional impact that should take place. A common cycle for an addict is denial, rationalization, and justification. It is during this cycle that addicts frequently experience of range of problems: health issues, loss of employment, deterioration of personal relationships, or even jail time. It is the repeated negative consequences, “hitting bottom”, that moves an addict from mere awareness of a problem to the acknowledgement that action is needed. Few experiences are as essential to an addict as the moment when he or she shifts from denial to a willingness to make a change.

The world is filled with a wide variety of diseases that infect the people who live in it. These sicknesses can range from physical to mental or spiritual and each has its own special effect on people. Addiction is one of the most deadly diseases however it does not fall under one specific category but in fact under all of them. Addiction is defined under two basic symptoms: overindulgence of a substance or activity, and continuing to indulge in something despite the negative consequences. The American Psychiatric Association and the World Health Organization say that in order to be diagnosed as “addicted”, one must meet at least three of the following criteria: low tolerance, withdrawals, low self-control, repeated use through negative repercussions

Substance abuse and addiction have become a social problem that afflicts millions of individuals and disrupts the lives of their families and friends. Just one example reveals the extent of the problem: in the United States each year, more women and men die of smoking related lung cancer than of colon, breast and prostate cancers combined (Kola & Kruszynski, 2010). In addition to the personal impact of so much illness and early death, there are dire social costs: huge expenses for medical and social services; millions of hours lost in the workplace; elevated rates of crime associated with illicit drugs; and scores of children who are damaged by their parents’ substance abuse behavior (Lee, 2010). This paper will look at

Over the years, drug addiction has destroyed the youths in Australia and the entire globe. In 2014, approximately one hundred thousand arrests were made relating to drug trafficking. There were approximately 19 tonnes of drugs that were seized by border patrols and the police. In the 2012-2013 financial year, there was an increase in the drug supply in all drug market and the number of labs used in making the drugs were very low. With the relative accessibility, affordability and the destructive side effects, drug abuse is emerging as a pandemic within the country. The long term use of drugs such as crystal methyl amphetamine and cannabis can lead to depression, kidney failure, cardiovascular diseases and one can become very aggressive and violent. On the other hand drug trafficking has led to an increase in the supply and use of drugs across the globe. From the graph below, it is evident that cannabis is the mostly used drug in Australia with others such as crystal methyl amphetamine and cocaine also on a high usage.

These treatments could be given on out-patient basis, in-patient basis or on short-term or long-term residential basis. There are variety of professionals are giving service for drug addiction treatment. These professional are physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, rehab counselors, social workers, nurses, etc..

How many times have you said "This is so addicting" or "You are addicted" but what is the defintion of this word and are we addicts? To understand the word addiction we must look at the text book definition which states "Addiction is a brain disorder characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli, despite adverse consequences" (Wikipedia). In a more simple definition addiction is like being hooked on something wether its rewarding or destructive and not having the control to stop or slow down on the substance or activity. There are many forms of addiction but even though some are more severe then others they should all be taken seriously. One addiction that is usually associated in our minds with this word is drug abuse which is a very destructive form that just doesnt affect the user but affects everyone around them. Some examples of these are drugs like alcholol, nicotine,