Lesher says, “Addiction is a brain disease expressed in the form of compulsive behavior.” As with most chronic diseases, addiction should also be treated with multiple recurring treatments since the brain chemistry of addicts often causes them to relapse into drug use. Lesher makes his case that addiction is a brain disease by stating that addicts cannot quit taking drugs on their own because they require medical treatment like most ill patients. The authors final opinion on addiction is that initial drug use is present due to the voluntary behavior of the addict and while it does not absolve the user of their responsibility as it was their fault, once they have developed an addiction, their brain has chemically changed so much that they can not will themselves to quit and must be treated as though they have a medical disease. NO: Alva Noe states that addiction is not a disease of the brain. First, he points that not all addictions are chemical substances and there are many activities that can be addictive to people.
The authors clearly point out the specific problem to be discussed and key terms are identified. Research is properly cited and current, relevant research is used as well. Direct quotations are used only when appropriate and are limited. Critique of Research Questions The researchers are trying to explore the connection between certain behaviors and emotions to the abuse of substances in clients. Precisely, the researchers are exploring the effects of the forgiveness therapy on these particular types of behavior such as anger and depression.
Therapies are used to help both patients come into terms with the conditions, and try to curb their addiction problems. There are several barriers or influences that contribute to lack of treatment. These influences are societal, and they all similar when it comes to the treatment of chemical dependency and dual diagnosis. The societal influences that hinder treatment are poverty and socioeconomic status (Watkins, Lwellen & Barret, 2001). Personally, I think the 12-Step approach of treatment is the most effective treatment for both chemical dependency and dual diagnosis.
Withdrawal: is another phenomenon associated with mood-altering experiences. A series of temporary physical and biopsychsocial symptoms that occurs when an addict abruptly abstains from an addictive chemical or behavior. The Physiology of Addiction: Virtually all intllectual, emotional, and behavioral functions occur as a result of biochemical interactions between nerve cells in the body. The Biopsychosocial Model of Addiction: Theory of the relationship between an addict's biological(genetic) nature and psychological and environmental influences. The Biopsychosocial Model of Addiciton was developed to explain the complex interaction between the biological, psychological, and social aspects of addiction.
The Effects of Social Relationships on Chemically Dependent Persons: A Lifespan Development Perspective Johnny B. McCall, Jr. Liberty University Human Growth and Development Dr. D. Washington May 11, 2012 Abstract The majority of research today in the chemical addiction treatment profession consists of discovering what evidence-based treatment methods there are that explicitly predict successful treatment outcomes. Additionally, various approaches are examined with the most popular being Cognitive Behavioral and related models. Thus, the focus is on how the individual must act in order to remain free from addictive behaviors. Though personal accountability is paramount in remaining alcohol and drug free, current research tends to overlook the perspective of how social support systems affect those in recovery. This paper proposes that in the field of chemical dependency treatment, one’s ability to remain clean and sober diametrically correlates to their social environment preeminent of the individual’s ability.
My questions are can one social issue directly correlate to another? Does the issue of alcoholism lead to issues within families, education and one’s overall well being? How can treatment for alcohol addiction go beyond the normal physical rehabilitation? Drug abuse can be defined in a sociological context as the use of unacceptable drugs and or the excessive or inappropriate use of acceptable drugs in ways that can lead to physical, psychological or social harm. The term drug has a very broad definition but for the purpose of understanding the social problems drugs evoke it will be referred to as any substance that can affect a person physically, or psychologically, has the potential to be misused and can be harmful to the user or society.
Addictive Behavior Marissa L Riley PSYCH/627 David Engstrom March 10, 2014 In this paper the author explains the biopsychosocial risk factors that are associated with alcohol dependence and assess the biological mechanisms that contribute to alcohol dependence and reasons as to why some groups of people are less likely to develop it. The author provides brief description on the phenomena of tolerance and withdrawal. In addition, explain the importance of understanding addictions. The author provides successful prevention strategies for preventing alcohol abuse and ways in which to apply the strategies and preventions. An assessment is provided as to the physical consequences of the use and abuse of opiate and amphetamine.
EVALUATE THE CLAIM THAT PERSON-CENTERED THERAPY OFFERS THE THERAPIST ALL THAT HE/SHE WILL NEED TO TREAT CLIENTS I, Introduction of the Person-Centered Therapy, the characteristics of Carl Rogers' counselling method II, The practice of that and some results III, Its critics IV, My opinion about whether this method offers the therapist all that is needed to treat clients I, What 'Person-Centered Therapy' means Person-Centered Therapy is a humanistic approach of counselling with the concept that clients are the ultimate agents of self-change of their lives. This theory emphasizes the importance of the therapeutic relationship as one built on unconditional positive regard and accurate empathy, focused on uniquely human issues -with a special regard to the present, 'the Here and Now'-, such as the self, self-actualisation, hope, love, meaning, becoming- that is, a concrete understanding of human existence. This psychological method differed from those generally used that time such as behaviorism -Pavlov's conditioned reflex- and psychoanalysis- Freud's psychoanalysis. The 'father' of the Person-Centered Therapy was Carl Rogers (and other psychologists i. e. Abraham Maslow) in America in the middle of the 20th century. He professed that clients (all individual) has the internal resources they need for growth, and they are their own best authority on their own experience , therefore fully capable of fulfilling their own potential for growth.
Name: Thomas Mulholland Student Number: 300229066 Date: 11/03/2011 Due date for essay: 11/03/2011 Word count: 830 The Intoxication Instinct 13 November 2004 by Helen Phillips and Graham Lawton In this essay I will consider Helen Phillips’ and Graham Lawtons’ idea that the pursuit of intoxication, particularly through the use of illicit drugs, is potentially a basic part of human nature and not as harmful as is often believed. This claim is important because despite continued attempts at prohibition, drug use remains a major part of human society. If we attempt to understand drug use and the desire for intoxication, instead of condemning them as a whole, humanity will have the potential to gain both a new understanding of the human mind, and access any positive uses found in these substances. I will assess the strengths and weakness of this position, and conclude by offering my overall evaluation of the argument. The authors of this paper argue that the pursuit of intoxication, be through mind altering drugs or through other means, is a basic part of human nature, present in some form or another across humans as a species (In their words, it is a “universal” pursuit), and biologically programmed into us, and that drug use and experimentation is not inherently evil, such as is often claimed.
or mind for other than medically warranted purposes. Traditional definitions of addiction, with their criteria of physical dependence and withdrawal (and often an underlying tenor of depravity and sin) have been modified with increased understanding; with the introduction of new drugs, such as cocaine, that are psychologically or neuropsychological addicting; and with the realization that its stereotypical application to opiate-drug users was invalid because many of them remain occasional users with no physical dependence. Addiction is more often now defined by the continuing, compulsive nature of the drug use despite physical and/or psychological harm to the user and society and includes both licit and illicit drugs, and the term "substance abuse" is now frequently used because of the broad range of substances (including alcohol and inhalants) that can fit the addictive profile. Psychological dependence is the subjective feeling that the user needs the drug to maintain a feeling of well-being; physical dependence is characterized by tolerance (the need for increasingly larger doses in order to achieve the initial effect) and withdrawal symptoms when the user is abstinent. Definitions of drug abuse and addiction are subjective and infused with the political and moral values of the society or culture.