Health Psychology and the Media - Essay Example

Health Psychology and the Media Introduction: This report describes a critical evaluation of the documentary on the reduction of alcohol consumption among the heavy drinkers. The general features which were discussed in the documentary are as follows: Short term preventive interventions by heath care providers that target hazardous levels of alcohol consumption are shown to be effective in reducing alcohol consumption for up to 2 years in heavy drinkers. Many psychosocial treatment methods with a clear structure and well defined interventions have favorable effects on alcohol dependence. These methods include cognitive behavioral therapy, 12-step treatment, structured interactional therapy, structured modern therapy with dynamic reference frameworks, motivation enhancing treatment, partner therapy, and strategies that involve the family in treatment. The effects of many psychosocial treatment methods (e.g. general counseling) have not been scientifically documented. Benzodiazepines are the most thoroughly documented medication for alcohol withdrawal. The routine practice of supplementing this treatment with antiepileptic therapy does not have satisfactory scientific support. Furthermore, the scientific evidence stated in the documentary states that treatment with antidepressants relieves depression and anxiety in alcoholics, but it does not show any positive effects on alcoholic dependence. Description: The target audience in the documentary was adolescents who as per the writers are the group of people who drinks heavily. The legal minimum drinking age is stated as 21, however, there still exits a problem on the sale, procession, and consumption of alcohol among adolescents. This particular group of people is more vulnerable and at risk considering the messages that bombards the media on the use of this substance. Different figures were shown reflecting the results of the psychosocial treatment methods carried on various individuals. The author investigated patterns of treatment completion and outcome among a set of heavy drinking adolescents. Participants received a cognitive-behavioral treatment that included education, relaxation, CR, and imaginal and in vivo exposure. Fourteen percent of the sample (N = 8) did not complete treatment; when completers were compared to dropouts on baseline characteristics, very few differences emerged. With regard to treatment outcome, cluster analysis revealed two patterns, one for responders and one for partial responders. In comparison to responders, partial responders to treatment showed more severe pretreatment numbing symptoms, as well as greater depression, pain, and irritable nature as well as lower level of global functioning. It is of note that responders and partial responders did not differ in number of sessions attended, homework compliance, stressors occurring during therapy, or the presence or absence of any litigations. Although the description provided about the techniques applied and the figures related to the participants and so on had been specific and well communicated, yet a tabular or more numerical approach to the data would have been more precise, clear and understandable. Considering that the targeted group by this page is adolescents' emphasis of passing the content should have been made clearer by the use of aids like graphics, pictures, and diagrams that are clearly and colorfully illustrated. The adolescent may learn more from such illustrations rather than literature which will take time to read through. The graphics may also look attractive to the adolescent and make the article interesting to read. These young minds can easily recall the content when it is illustrated much more than when it is in a literary form. Evaluation: Significant social problems arise from the consumption of alcohol among adolescents. These young people are looked at by the society as being deviant and anti social; they may end up loosing on their school work and eventually quitting school. It is illegal for these young persons to use alcohol and this can land them in serious problems with the law. Rather than taking an approach of treatment using the psychosocial treatment methods it would have been more advisable had the author used the biopsychosocial model for alcoholism. The biopsychosocial model is not inherently partial towards gender or age. Because the model involves a comprehensive approach to understanding health and illness, it does not have a bias that could lead counselors to misinterpret the behavior of any age clients. In that sense, it stands apart from the other models or other psychosocial treatment methods. When the biopsychosocial model is used appropriately, it is an effective tool for treating any age group of clients. Counselors using this model should be able to gather and integrate a broad range of information relevant to their client's presenting problems. Counselors misuse or nonuse of the biopsychosocial model can lead to two important problems: the failure to treat clients holistically and the failure to promote client health. Conclusion: Alcohol consumption patterns in a contemporary society should be viewed from many perspectives in an effort to understand the multidimensional nature of the problem. Patterns of alcohol use and dependence particularly among adolescents have changed radically in the past 20 years. Rates of use and dependence have all increased at an alarming rate, as has the variety of substances indulged in by young and old alike. Many theories have been developed as social scientists seek to understand and explain the upsurge in adolescents' alcohol consumption. To explore and explore fully the complex nature of alcohol use among youths, one must look at the theoretical constructs of anthropology, economics, medicine, politics, psychology and sociology. Given the alarming rate of acceleration in alcohol consumption among adolescents and the complexity of the issue, it is advisable to adopt the "biopsychosocial model" as this would allow theorist and scientist from varying discipline to study and collaborate in an effort to understand and intervene in this escalating social issue. References: ASK- Adolescent Substance Abuse Knowledge Base. (2007): Adolescent Substance Abuse Retrieved from http://www.adolescent_substance_abuse.com accessed on 8th November 2007. Peter M, Monti. (2002): Treating Alcohol Dependence: A Coping Skills Training Guide. Guilford Press. Read More