Unit 7 Discussion - Research Paper Example

Unit 7 Discussion al Affiliation Unit 7 Discussion One of the human services programs being undertaken to address problemspertaining to alcohol use disorders (AUD) is implemented by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). As noted, one method of measuring people diagnosed with AUD would be to be cognizant of the following symptoms: craving, loss of control, dependence, and tolerance (National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, n.d.). Another method of measuring the behavior of people diagnosed with AUD is identifying the special populations who are at greater risks of drinking alcohol: “youth under age 21, college-age young adults, senior citizens, women, and ethnic and racial minorities” (National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, n.d., p. 1). From the evaluation of the performance of the NIAAA and other agencies tasked with preventing and addressing alcoholism, it could be deduced the program that aims to prevent and treat alcoholism seems to be ineffective.

From the statistics reported by the NIAAA, it was revealed that as much as 17 million Americans have been diagnosed with AUD (National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, n.d.). The figure represents 5% of the total population of the United States which is 313.9 million, as revealed from the U.S. Census Bureau. Concurrently, treatment fidelity means “the strategies that monitor and enhance the accuracy and consistency of an intervention to ensure it is implemented as planned and that each component is delivered in a comparable manner to all study participants over time” (Smith, Daunic, & Taylor, 2013).

It could effectively determine the effectiveness of a human services program since the monitoring would entail focusing on the population at risk over a considerable length of time. Actually, the weaknesses in the program should be identified and appropriate interventions should be improved to appropriately and ultimately prevent identified deviances or maladjusted behavior.ReferencesNational Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (n.d.). Alcohol Use Disorders. Retrieved from niaaa.nih.gov: http://www.niaaa.nih.

gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/alcohol-use-disordersNational Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (n.d.). Special Populations & Co-occurring Disorders. Retrieved from niaaa.nih.gov: http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/special-populations-co-occurring-disordersSmith, S., Daunic, A., & Taylor, G. (2013). Treatment Fidelity in Applied Educational Research: Expanding the Adoption and Application of Measures to Ensure Evidence-Based Practice. Retrieved from Project MUSE: http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/etc/summary/v030/30.4smith.html