THEORIES OF ADDICTION - Essay Example

? Task Theories of Addiction Introduction Addiction is the process whereby an individual has lost power over addictive substances such as drugs, computer and activities such as gaming and shopping. People who are addicted find it hard to stop engaging themselves in those addictive activities. Addiction is like a disease which influences many parts of the body and mostly the brain. These individuals know the effect of the addiction but the craving overpowers them. Addiction is mostly on drugs and alcohol, but it can also be an addiction to shopping, gaming and gambling. People who are addicted take more time in their addictive behaviors and do not spend time with family and friends. Addiction is like a way of escaping from their mental problems but they leave more sad and regretful after every activity (Brian and Hastings, 2005). They use their addictive activities as a form of distraction from their loneliness. With proper guidelines there is hope from addiction and they only have to get in touch with their minds and spirits in order to get help from the addiction. Addiction not only affects the user but also affects other people close to the user. This is because they have to adapt to the changes and struggle to help the user. Feelings of low self esteem, competition and insecurity can lead individuals to addictions. An addiction theory is a framework that puts the concept of drug abuse into a set of essential perceptive principles (Kurtz, 2002). The theories allow the prioritization of issues and search for solutions to these issues. Each theory provides an explanation of drug abuse and solutions for the problems. All the theories have unique aspects that are different from the other theories. Most of these theories on addiction are based on alcoholism and drugs because it is the most prevalent form of addiction in the world. Cogent theory provides scientific evidence, and experimental research to support its solutions. Once the theory has been accepted and has a valid solution, it is then applied to the problematic group. Addiction of shopping is also a very common behavior among the female sexes. They always find themselves buying things without a proper plan. Some even buy things they do not need in excess. It is continuous substance abuse that causes addiction and the users cannot live without them. People who are addicted tend to be withdrawn, and live in total denial and this affects the people who are around them. In this context, addiction occurs when an individual abuses drugs such as alcohol and other pleasure giving drugs such as marijuana, opiates, dopamine, cocaine, amphetamines, morphine, and heroine (Goldstein, 2010). Addiction tends to have a negative effect on the population at large, and it is why cure is extremely significant. Addictive behaviors have a negative impact on an individual’s health and affect those who surround them. It is also vital to control addiction in today’s society in order to prevent them from being disturbed individuals, especially the youth. Addiction has been studied by many researchers, and they have come up with different theories of control and cure. The Disease Theory of Addiction Most of other addictive and compulsive disorders require effective treatment such as drug treatment, therapy and counselling. There are many theories of addiction which have been discussed by various schools of thoughts. These theories have tried to explain the characteristics of addictive behaviour that lead to addiction. For example, drug craving whereby a person wants to take drugs every time and cannot resist. This is what leads to addiction. Addiction of gambling as well is like a disease. Addicted individuals to gambling tend to spent most of their time doing it, and lose a lot of money in the process. Gambling, sex, food and shopping are forms of behavioural addiction. The users engage in these activities even though they know that it is harmful to their bodies. Theories of addiction range from negative and positive reinforcement and incentive sensitization theory. In order to understand addiction, we must have knowledge of the neuroadaptations that are as a result of repeated drug use (Johnson, 2010). When someone takes drugs repeatedly, it becomes accustomed in the brain that they must take the drugs every time. This is also applied to those addicted to sex, gambling and shopping. The body, therefore, asks for the drugs and items every time just like food. This is what incentive sensitization theory concerns. This theory is represented by the medical model of addiction. According to this representation, addiction is a mental/brain disease which affects the neurons (Gutkin, & Ahmed, 2011). All diseases have agents, vectors and host, and in the context with this, agent of the disease is the drug while the vector is the dealer and finally the host is the victim or the user. The disease theory of addiction views addiction as a disease that has been changing with changes that are made in the social world (Brian and Hastings, 2005). These addictive behaviors and items have been continuously utilized over an extended period. Some are still used in considerable amounts in the medical field. According to this model, users appear to have no control over their behaviors and eventually develop an every time urge to take shop, do drugs and gamble. The medical field has viewed addiction as an illness which can be treated, and users can regain normal lives. In order to be treated effectively, the patient has to accept that they have a problem of addiction. With acceptance, they will, therefore, be helped through the relevant treatment options. The disease model tends to center its activities more on the biological causes of addiction than the social causes in order to establish a form of treatment. Alcohol and other abused drugs tend to affect the nervous system more and can lead to its destruction if a solution is not devised (Gutkin & Ahmed, 2011). Individuals who are addicted try to stop taking their bad habits but it is all in vain, and they end up going back to their old habits. That is why treatment is a better solution in this case. Craving is an incredibly essential aspect in the disease model of addiction as it is what leads to addiction. Craving, according to Jellink is the urgent desire that proceeds beyond feelings. The treatment of the disease largely depends on the level of addiction. Individuals can be addicted in a higher context and others in a lower context. Those at low context tend to have self curing and fully recover from the drug use. Different people take drugs for different reasons or needs. All drug users always have a reason for taking a certain drug, with some even making excuses to themselves in order to take drugs. According to research, a substantial percentage use drugs for pleasure and others had just developed the habits of taking drugs. This model implies that users can only be helped by use of various forms of treatment and rehabilitation. Some of the medications used in treatment of addiction include welbutrin and antabuse. These medications help relax the patient. The problems associated with the disease model are that the addicts have to go through the same treatment. Treatment is also necessary to avoid the dangers associated with addiction which includes death. The other problem is that even after treatment; the occurrence of relapse is particularly possible and can take place any time. This makes it to be different from the biopsychosocial theory of addiction. This has been highly criticized by some theorists who believe that users can stop their addictive behaviors willingly. The disease model also encompasses working with the user until they reach a point of no return. The disease model, however, has been successful, but it has not attempted to display the behaviors associated with addiction. This explains for its criticism. Study shows that detoxification works remarkably well for those who are addicted, and this indicates that addiction is not only, brain controlled but the body is a key contributor. The Biopsychosocial Theory of Addiction The biopsychosocial theory of addiction explains the reasons for behavioral changes during the period of addiction. Behaviors such as gambling, shopping, drugs and overeating are connected to personal problems, and can become habitual. It looks out to explain the relationship between biological, psychological and social aspects of addiction. It also involves human spirituality and some theorists claim that addiction is connected to the spiritual part of a person. This model was implemented as an alternative for the medical model which just focused on treatment of the disease rather than establishing what caused the disease. The biopsychosocial model of addiction acknowledges that addiction is a disease but, in addition, thinks that the treatment should also include the investigation of aspects such as psychological, social and biological (West, 2005). This model on addiction aims at recovering the body from the harms of alcohol, drugs and other addictions. It encourages users to detoxify and use healthy food supplements to recover that which has been lost. Like other theories, it also prevents the user from stopping other addictive behaviors. After the patient recovers, they follow up and form groups to help with the same. This will help prevent reversion. According to the biopsychosocial theory of addiction, the body is connected to the mind in such a way that what affects the body affects the mind and vice versa (West, 2005). Depressed individuals have a tendency of turning to drugs as a manner of escaping from the reality. Depression can be sourced from numerous factors, which are all dependent on each other. For example, if a student is harassed by the teacher, he/she will be depressed, and this could have a consequence on how they communicate with other people, and on their studies. Latest developments in the substance abuse field have indicated that the family also plays a crucial role in taking of drugs and addiction. The family has been accused of tolerating the addictive behavior and substance use. These behaviors in the family context are associated with trauma, mistreatment and poverty. Some parents are usually too busy for their children who tend to be lonely and, therefore, shift to drugs and substance abuse such as food and ice-cream. The psychosocial reasons of addiction are extraordinarily significant as many people have the same consequences and behaviors. Milkman and Sunderwirth’s model of addiction was not only based on drug abuse but also on the other factors that contribute to the addiction. They believed that addiction resulted from neurotransmitters which are as a result of other social and psychological factors such as peer pressure. They also believe that the biological aspect of addictive behavior is interlinked with the social factors. This model links addiction to one’s experiences, which eventually lead them to such behaviors. They are trying to solve their depression and emotional distress (Dayton, 2000). Some individuals when they take drugs, shop and gamble find a solution to their problems when they connect with their emotions. Although some do not find the connection and end up turning to drug taking, shopping and gambling. Some cultures allow the taking of certain drugs and people are expected to obey the rules of their culture. This shows how the society plays a monumental role in the drugs cycle and addictive behaviors. Whenever people who have recovered from drug addiction or any addiction meet up with other individuals who are practicing the evil, they end up being tempted to relapse in taking the drug again. Comparing and Contrasting Of the Biopsychosocial and Disease Theories of Addiction Both the theories are used to curb addiction and help individuals with addiction. They regard addiction as a disease which should be eradicated extremely fast to prevent its spread and more harm to the body. However, the disease model has faced a lot of disapproval because of its overdependence on treatment only as a solution for addiction. Addiction is a behavior that is mostly developed in social arenas and gatherings and, therefore, its eradication should also include studying the social contributors too. Addiction is believed to be caused by many factors and understanding those factors is particularly relevant as dependence on learning the chemical part of addiction is not enough (Goldstein, 2001). According to the biopsychosocial model biological factors such as genetics and destruction of the central nervous system can cause addictive behaviors. They are dependent on other environmental factors such as the family, peers and community. Most of the people are largely influenced by the people around them and quickly adapt to their behaviors. While the disease model focuses on treating just the addiction, the biopsychosocial model focuses on the treatment of the whole individual. This is what distinguishes the two theories of addiction. Determining the cause of addiction is an exceedingly relevant step of treatment of addiction, without it doctors will just be treating for the sake. The disease model has also been so dependent on other theories for treatment such as the moral model and biological theory model. The disease model of addiction is the traditional form of ways of dealing with addiction and has in the past been expanded to include the psychological, biological and social factors of the addiction. It is the interaction of these factors that try to explain addiction though the biopsychosocial model of addiction. One component does not provide a complete explanation of the disease. The biological aspects include genetics and neurobehavioral aspects. Addictive behaviors can be hereditarily inherited from the parents and at the same time can affect unborn children. Psychological aspects of addiction include emotional feelings and behaviors through the social learning theory and personality theory (Zentall, 1988). Many people who are addicts have been reported to have mental illnesses such as depression, mental disorders and stress. The social part of the theory centers addiction on families and how they cause addiction. These social aspects are related to family theory and cultural theories whereby the culture and family play a crucial part in causing addiction (Clinard, M., & Meier, R., 2011). While the biopsychosocial model is concerned with the establishment of the origin of addictive behaviors and what keeps them, the disease model is focused on the treatment of the addiction as a disease. Nothing else matters but the treatment in the disease model theory. Physicists believe that addiction is a complex process which requires be properly studying and treating in the correct manner so that it does not recur. The disease model, however, treat all addicts to the same way arguing that they all exhibit the same behavior. This is not true as different people react in different ways when it comes to addiction. The biopsychosocial model puts up with the differences among individuals and treats them according to their problems and needs. Any biopsychosocial model of addiction will focus on the diversity of the needs of the addict and uses them as objects of self recovery and self determination (West, 2005). They appreciate the fact that individuals are large contributors to leaving their addictive behaviors. This model also involves other addiction models as restorative options. Other traditional models can fit in this model. The disease based theory relies largely on the biochemical aspects and other models such as the moral models. The BPS model is also in line with the current addiction research and behavior theory so that they prevent and treat addiction in the modern way. Environmental factors tend to be dynamic and, therefore, it is necessary to be updated. The biopsychosocial theory of addiction tends to provide more lasting solutions for the problem of addiction as compared to the disease theory of addiction (West, 2005). It develops support groupings and social circumstances for recovered addicts to control relapse. The disease model of addiction is mainly concerned with abstinence and curing of the patient is what matters. The physicists who implemented the biopsychosocial model knew that the path to cure would be to get rid of psychological factors that led to addiction. The individual will also be separated from his/her friends in order to establish the main cause of addiction. Awareness is also part of this model so that the community will have knowledge on the problems associated with addiction. All these efforts fight to ensure that there are no cases of relapse. When relapse occurs, the addiction is much stronger than it was before. Depending on the biopsychosocial theory, abstinence must not be acquired because treatment largely depends on the degree of addiction (Moss and Dyer, 2010). This differs from the disease theory of addiction whereby abstinence is a mandatory process in order to achieve cure. The biopsychosocial theory ensures that harm is reduced to people who are addicts. They embrace the fact that users have different disabilities as a result of substance misuse. The biopsychosocial theory embraces the aspects of both the chemical dependency and the ideology of learning theory (Harwood and Myers, 2004). It deduces that drug abuse is directly proportional to use over a range of time. Through the incorporation of ideologies of learning theory, the biopsychosocial theory ensures that an effective remedy is applied in the treatment of addiction. Conclusion A thriving addiction theory is supposed to involve the addictive substances, observed, cultural and individuality components. It is supposed to explain why a drug is prevalent in one community than another and what makes it affect one individual and not others. The models involved are supposed to include the relevant and similar behaviors that are exhibited when one is on drugs. There are similar behaviors that help individuals, psychiatrists and doctors deduce that an individual is taking drugs and is addicted. These theories should also be based on human observations and experiences and not just on the theoretical part. The biopsychosocial theories are very rich in information that is concerned with dealing with addiction. They properly and in the right dimensions explore the causes of addiction and a way to deal with them. The disease theory of addiction tends to misapprehend the nature of addictive behavior by just treating addiction as a disease with a chemical composition (Khantzian, 1999).The various theories seldom agree and try to outdo each other by dedicating time on research to avail necessary evidence to support claims on addiction. However, other models are preferred to others because of their authenticity due to supporting evidence generated from extensive research. Because of the negative effects of addiction, it is imperative that quick remedies have to be availed to save the human race from a possible threat of worthlessness and restore the human dignity and dependence from substances that we produce. References Brian, D., and Hastings, Peter. Addiction to the Internet and Online Gaming. Cyber psychology & Behavior, Vol. 8:2, 2005. Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Clinard, M. B., & Meier, R. F. (2011). Sociology of deviant behavior. Australia: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. Dayton, T. (2000). 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