Models of Addiction
Models of Addiction
SUBS 505
Models of Addiction
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 individual’s genetic heritage actually serves to predispose the individual to a substance use disorder, and how much of this is the result of psychosocial factors” (Doweiko, 2012, p. 344). The disease model does appear to govern the way in which substance abuse disorders are considered and treated in the United States.
The psychosocial models of substance use proponents suggest that it is interlinked with the medical model in that both “admit that there is a major psychosocial component to the addictions” (Doweiko, 2012, p. 345). Psychosocial proponents state that “addictions are learned behavior(s), poor psychosocial functioning, or the result of maladaptive thinking” (Doweiko, 2012, p. 345). It is suggested that the pharmaceutical industry may be responsible for ‘disease mongering’ to help promote the sales of drugs said to cure proposed diseases, therefore promoting the disease model. Some believe we are obscuring unacceptable behavior and calling them diseases suggesting that we have “become a nation of blamers, whiners, and victims, all too happy, when we get a chance, to pass the buck to somebody else for our troubles” (Doweiko, 2012, p. 346). Multiple theoretical models were offered: moral model, temperance model,
SUBS 505
Models of Addiction
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 individual’s genetic heritage actually serves to predispose the individual to a substance use disorder, and how much of this is the result of psychosocial factors” (Doweiko, 2012, p. 344). The disease model does appear to govern the way in which substance abuse disorders are considered and treated in the United States.
The psychosocial models of substance use proponents suggest that it is interlinked with the medical model in that both “admit that there is a major psychosocial component to the addictions” (Doweiko, 2012, p. 345). Psychosocial proponents state that “addictions are learned behavior(s), poor psychosocial functioning, or the result of maladaptive thinking” (Doweiko, 2012, p. 345). It is suggested that the pharmaceutical industry may be responsible for ‘disease mongering’ to help promote the sales of drugs said to cure proposed diseases, therefore promoting the disease model. Some believe we are obscuring unacceptable behavior and calling them diseases suggesting that we have “become a nation of blamers, whiners, and victims, all too happy, when we get a chance, to pass the buck to somebody else for our troubles” (Doweiko, 2012, p. 346). Multiple theoretical models were offered: moral model, temperance model,