¶ … Addict, Michael Stein uses a case study approach to exhibit, analyze, and discuss addiction in general and how addiction impacts the lives of individuals specifically. The author takes into account psychological trauma, psycho-social issues, and other situational variables but ultimately ascribes to the disease model of addiction. Stein concludes from his case study with Lucy that substance abuse is a disease just as heart disease is but does not provide any substantial evidence backing up this claim. In fact, Stein (2010) simply calls addiction "the disease of wanting more," which is hardly a scientific assessment of substance abuse (p. 25). If the disease model were supported by the literature, there would be clear outlines of disease etiology and the neurobiological pathways upon which it works. In fact, the disease model has not received unequivocal research support. Although popular and politically effective in terms of freeing up funding for addiction treatment, the disease model is not a scientific model. "Wanting more" cannot be quantified as a disease in the same way that cancer or Parkinson's can be. Still, most researchers do recognize the potential benefits of the disease model such as potentially opening up funding for addiction programs. Research reveals the evolution of the addiction model, tracing it back to the early twentieth century and the earliest stage of the profession of psychology itself. According to Parssinen & Kerner (2016), the first formal mention of addiction as a "disease" was recorded in 1878, when physicians first discussed their patients' tendency toward opioid addiction. The use of the term "disease" was similar then as it is now, less a scientific assertion and more an emotional reaction to the pain and suffering exhibited by addicts. Because researchers, physicians, and other conscientious observers noted similar behavioral, emotional, and cognitive characteristics in addicted clients, the disease model seemed like an attractive way to group together cases of substance abuse. Furthermore, the use of the disease model superseded the far less productive...
Given the tremendous push to legitimize psychology as a social science and remove any taint of religion or moral judgment from the field, by1910, the disease model had become entrenched as a paradigm in the field of psychology (Parssinen & Kerner, 2016). The disease model has allowed substance abuse to be studied as a psychological and sociological phenomenon, and has certainly paved the way for actual neurological and biological research into potential disease etiology.
Sociological and Therapeutic Implications of the Brain Disease Inspiration for professionals who authored the account on chronic brain illnesses came from findings on drugs' impacts on the human brain. The assurance that strong anti-addiction medicines can be found appeared great. The budding scientific branch, addiction biology, implies that addiction --a condition which starts off with the clear, intentional decision to have a go at drugs, spiraling quickly down to an irrepressible,
Change Model and Addiction In our society physicians fill the roles of diagnostician and healer but another role equally important is that of aiding patients to understand and take ownership of their own health and guide them in making decisions and any necessary changes to improve that health. Dietary restrictions, stress management, and exercise programs are common interventions prescribed by physicians but none of these will be successful without a change
Alcoholics Anonymous The first face-to-face meeting I attended was an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting at the United Methodist Church in Greenville, SC on a Friday night. Smoking was allowed at the meeting, which was held in a wheelchair-accessible facility. Coffee and snacks were served. I arrived ten minutes early. Several others were also there early, including the person setting up a table full of literature. The person setting out the literature
Crisis Intervention The focus of this work in writing is making a determination of the most optimal course of action and the case formulation in a specific case. A plan of action will be provided and the crisis interpreted within a theoretical framework. A model of assessment, intervention and treatment will be used and included in the assessment will be a possible psychological diagnosis if a mental illness is believed to
Rules and roles are also cited as being a constituent of the family systems theory in alcoholism. Every family is different; however, they all have members that tend to fall into specific roles. The alcoholic's role is the dependent person, while their helpless partner is the enabler. The children also tend to fall into specific roles, either as the over-achiever, the scapegoat, the isolated, and/or the immature child. These are
group meets downstairs in a church. There are "tables" where the members sit and discuss their issues. In this group there are two tables, nearly filled with about 20 people at each table. There are mostly middle-aged to older adults here (40 years old and up), but a few that are under 30 years of age. There is a pretty even distribution of males and females at the two
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