MontoyaW Conceptualizingaddictionpaper

It is shown that people that tend to be involved in the use of drugs do so after making a voluntary choice (Heyman, 2009). The major use of drugs for social and non-medical preferences can lead to dependence and further addictions, it is a choice that people tend to make and from that it can lead to wanting it more, do it more with friends and further it becoming an addiction, that then effects the brain and body. When drugs are used in the wrong way they can cause many health issues but some people still tend to refer to drug addiction as a disease. Yes, There has been compelling evidence that addiction is a disease, however the result shown are weak and inconclusive. Results of different brain scans are shown by The National Institute of Drug Abuse (2017) are used to back up that addiction in fact is a disease, however the brain scans used in this research are not symbolic of any abnormal changes. The research by The National Institute of Drug Abuse do point out that changes in an individual’s brain is shown as evidence that addiction is a brain disease, however this argument can be shown as mistaken as changes in many human brains can be seen as not exclusive in addicts, although they can occur when a person is normal (Branch,2011). To top it off the information that is stated by the NIDA however doesn’t show evidence of the behaviour of addicts being involuntary or

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

Every day, hundreds of people experience the overwhelming effects of addictions. Individuals can become addicted to virtually any action or item. If individuals use addictive substances, there will be serious medical repercussions. This paper will focus on the idea of addiction through the fields of anthropology, psychology, and sociology, and how these fields have benefitted this prominent issue. Addictions are currently being researched by various social scientists in an attempt to fully understand their causes and cures.

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.

It is paramount to attempt to understand why individuals become ‘addicts’/ drug dependent, as in doing so treatments and therapies may be adopted in line with the needs of the drug dependent individual. A greater understanding in the area of causality may produce more effective interventions at earlier stages of drug misuse.

The definition provided above is accessible and easy to understand; however, it initiates false beliefs among individuals because it fails to acknowledge that drug addiction is a mental health problem. Moreover, when words such as, “dependence”, “control” and “craving” are used to define drug addiction, it leaves an impression to the reader that addicts are indeed “people who cannot control their impulses.” Consequently, when we fail to recognize that drug addiction is a mental health problem, our focus is diverted towards the physical aspect of drug addiction. This could cause the belief among individuals that drugs alone cause the addiction. It is essential to acknowledge that there are chemical hooks in drugs; however, individuals need to understand that drugs alone do not cause the addiction. We need to identify and distinguish the “root cause” of addiction and ask ourselves: what caused the individual to take the drug in the first place?

There are a number of models associated with substance abuse. Each having its own criteria and advocates. The medical model offers that those suffering from substance abuse are doing so because of a biological malfunction, an imbalance. A different model, the psychosocial model, suggests the user is making a choice to use. The spiritual foundation of chemical dependency suggests a sickness of the soul (Doweiko, 2012). Each of these models interrelate and coexist as indicated by a model termed bio-psycho-social-spiritual model (Addiction Foundation of Manitoba, 2000).

Substance abuse disorders is easily defined when an “individual continues to use the substance despite experiencing negative consequences from their use. These negative consequences can include health problems; difficulties in their family, work, and social life; and financial and legal problems. They are said to be dependent on the substance when,” in addition to theses negative consequences, they build tolerance and experience withdrawal if they stop using the drug” (Martin, 2007, p. 265). Substance abuse dates back to the early Americans colonies with beer that was brought over by the pilgrims and more popularly the ratification of the Constitution to prohibit the use of alcohol

Imagine laying on the floor in your own pool of sweat—miserable, your mind bouncing off the walls while the cloud of your darkest thoughts looms over you. Teeth chattering anxiously, waiting to receive the next second, minute, hour of painless bliss. This—this is the life of an addict; does this horror appear to be a choice or more like a disease haunting the mind of the user? Despite the fact a choice was needed to initiate the result, addiction itself is a debilitating disease NOT a choice due to initial influences and anatomical changes to the brain.

Addiction is like all behaviours “the business of the brain”. Addictions are compulsive physical and psychological needs from habit-forming sustenances like nicotine, alcohol, and drugs. Being occupied with or involved in such activities, leads a person who uses them again and again to become tolerant and dependent eventually experiencing withdrawal. (Molintas, 2006).

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) is redefining addiction. Some experts from the ASAM got together to try to develop parameters to define addictions as a chronic brain disorder in ways the brain communicate. The new development shows that addiction is addiction, whether it’s gambling, food, or drugs. It also shows that addiction is not a disorder but a disease. Addictive behavior is the underlying disease which need to be treated, and if left untreated, it can cause the addiction to get worse and sometimes causes death. Dr. Miller, who was part of this study said “It is time to stop moralizing, blaming or smirking at the person with the disease of addiction”. The ASAM have been trying to remove the stigma or labeling from addiction,

There are many different perspectives and opinions about how a person becomes an addict to any kind of substance. For the past two weeks I have been doing a lot of research on my topic trying to understand more about where addiction comes from. I spent most of my time surfing the internet reading and analyzing almost every argument, all solutions, views, and opinions on the web and I came to a conclusion that no matter how much you read and take in, at the end of the day everyone is going to believe what they want. For my paper 4, I decided to analyze everyone’s perspectives and angles about their understanding of addiction and interacted it in new ways. By doing this, I created a work of art so my audience can understand my creative perspective about addiction and hopefully enrich their understanding about my topic.

What kind of person does society picture when they think of an addict? How are addictions and addictive behaviors viewed as a whole? Whether it be drugs, actions, or behaviors, addictions can tear lives, families, and friendships apart and are never positive. But is it really the addict’s fault? Could it be a genetic flaw that fuels the addiction? Or are these addicts just lazy people with no self control? Along with others, these questions are important because addicts are not that different than non-addicts. The stereotypical “druggie” stigma is not always the case when it comes to

Most people do not know that drug addiction is actually considered a disease. Taking drugs change the way that brains normally function. Therefore once a person becomes addicted it is much harder to quit the drug abuse. “Although the initial decision to take drugs is voluntary for most people, the brain changes that occur over time challenge an addicted person’s self-control and hamper his or her ability to resist intense impulses to take drugs” (National Institute on Drug Abuse 2012). Not only is the reaction in the brain the main cause there are also factors which can increase the likelihood of a person to become addicted to drugs. These risk factors include biology, environment and development. The health issue of substance abuse seems to

Addiction can come in many forms, and be influenced by many different factors. The cause and influence for one’s addiction is never the same as any other person; however, some cases may have similar points that they touch on. No matter what the cause is of an individual’s substance usage or addiction, we can always refer to several different models that describe the etiology of addiction, and utilize the one that best fits the start, severity, and course of an individual’s addiction. The models that will be addressed, when it comes to the etiology of addiction, are: Agent Models, Personal Responsibility Models, Dispositional Models, Sociocultural Models, and the Public Health Perspective Models.