The Theories of Addiction - Essay Example

?Theories of Addiction Addiction to drugs and alcohol has become a of major concern. This has made addiction theories to become issue of interest in studies involving drugs and change of behaviors. Due to the problems associated with drug addiction people are eager to understand addiction and reasons why people get addicted to drugs. Addiction theories provide sufficient resource to both the drug users and concerned parties. This is because knowledge related to drug abuse is equivalent to knowledge on drug addiction. This implies that understanding addiction theories is essential in understanding reasons why people get addicted to drugs. Addiction theories use drug addiction elements such as self-control and compulsion to explain major occurrences in the field concerning drug use and drug addiction. The elements are also vital in explaining current school of thoughts concerning drugs and drug use. Most of the addiction theories move beyond the stereotyped concepts of narcotics and alcoholism (Skog, 2000). The theories also move beyond the hereditary idea that has been over used in people’s attempt to explain drug abuse and alcoholism. This paper presents a discussion of addiction theories concerning alcoholism and narcotic. The paper will focus on biological and psychological theories of addiction. Addiction theories attempt to explain why people become addicted to drugs and why it is so difficult to eliminate the behavior. Addiction theories can be classified into four major classes, which include the biological model, sociological model, psychological model, and biological models. Exposure theories are based on biological model and they attempt to explain why people become addicted to drugs. The biological addiction theory proposes that drug addicts have a biological abnormality that makes them to become addicted to drugs. According to the theory, biological differences among people are the main cause of drug addiction. People are different in terms of their genetic and physiology. Physiological differences imply that people have different metabolisms and rate of reactions in their body. These differences make people to respond differently towards various biological and physical factors (West, 2006). Existence of physiological factors also implies that different people react differently to various substances. The biological theories try to explain that drug addiction is a biological abnormality. The different biological formation among people determines their differences in formation of behaviors. Behavior can be for or against a substance (Koob, & Le Moal, 1997). Drug abusers therefore have developed behaviors that make them to have preference to a certain type of drug. On the other hand, non-users have behaviors that make them develop a negative attitude towards drugs. Biological abnormality that results into drug addiction can result from genetic condition. In such case, individuals have no control over the addiction. A biological abnormality that results into drug addiction can also be an acquired problem. In such cases an individual, develop cravings for a certain type of substance (General Household Survey (2005). This craving alters their biological formation or system leading to addiction. The brain is a key organ in the determination of drug use and addiction. Drug addiction results from the brain. To most drug users, drug addiction is beyond their control and hence a challenge. According to the biological theory of addiction, addiction to drugs results from a chemical imbalance in the brain. This theory suggests that the brain respond to this imbalance by creating a craving for drugs (Schaler, 2000). Individuals suffering from drug addiction respond to the craving by taking more of the substance in order to suppress their cravings. This implies that addicts live their lives as cycles between phases of high and low demand. The chemical imbalance in their brain dictates the two phases that determines the life of a drug user. During the low phase, an addict experience cravings for drugs. At this phase an individual, respond by taking the substance. This phase is followed by high phase; at this phase, an addict feels, or experiences the effects of drug or the substance resulting from previous consumption. As time goes by the level of drug in the body begins to disintegrate. At this stage, an addict reaches the normal phase before returning to the low phase. During the normal phase, an individual experiences normal conditions similar to experiences of a non-addict. This implies that at normal state, an individual view drugs just as an ordinary person. The normal phase is followed by the low phase. This phase makes an individual to have craving for drugs and the cycle begins over again. The biological theories assert that individual may or may not have a choice concerning their drug dependency. Addiction resulting from genetic malformation is beyond the control of the users and therefore individuals suffering from such condition have little or no control over the condition. Their genetic malformation makes such individuals to have certain cravings that can only satisfied by consuming their drug. Biological theory is an important theory that explains drug addiction and other related problems. This theory relates substance addiction with human physiology. Physiological processes in human body control drug dependency. The theory also explains that substance abuse is a biological response. According to the theory biological differences among people is the main cause of drug addiction. This theory implies that the difference between an addict and a non-addicts results from their biological differences. The biological differences in people are a proven factor. These differences provide an appropriate basis for the theory. Although biological theories are important in explaining cases of addiction, the theory is insufficient. This is because the theory lacks the capacity to explain addiction resulting from psychological factors such as stress and happiness (Munafo, & Albery, 2006). The theory also does not explain the reasons behind different levels of addiction. The different levels of addiction among drug users are not sufficiently explained by the biological theories. This is because the theory does not explain why some people are heavy drug users while others are moderate users. The biological theory of addiction also does not explain why different people react differently to their addiction Physiological theory is the second essential theory of addiction. According to the theory drug and substance, addiction is a destructive behavior in a society. The theory suggests that an addict uses a drug to achieve psychological satisfaction. The theory suggests that people use drug as a form of enjoyment. According to the theory, addicts are more concerned with the immediate satisfaction that they derive from consuming a certain drug than the resultant consequences. The theory also suggests that addicts live for the enjoyment that they derive from the drug (Oxford, 2006). This implies that people achieve satisfaction from different things. The theory relates the difference in satisfaction among people as the cause of addiction. According to the theory drug, addiction is purely a thing of the mind. This implies that addicts consume a substance with anticipation of achieving mental consolation. Addiction can also results from personal desire to mask an underlying psychological problem. In such case, people consider drugs to have therapeutic effects (Goldstein, 2000). Using drugs for therapeutic function is also a method of achieving satisfaction of the mind. This indicates that addicts rely on drugs and alcohol to achieve their personal satisfaction. Physiological theory is based on personal choice and this suggests that individuals indulge themselves with drugs out of personal choice. Such individual will choose when and how to consume a substance (West, 2006). The existence of rational choice within the theory indicates that addicts have mental capabilities similar to that of non-addicts. This nullifies the common belief that addicts are abnormal people. The theory also suggests that individuals make decisions based on expected returns or benefits. This indicates that getting involved into drugs and substance abuse is an involvement similar to any other involvements made by a rational minded person. The psychological theory is a critical theory in explaining drug usage and addiction. Like other addiction theories, the theory links drug addiction with human mind. The theory suggests that drug addiction results from desires that are established within the mind. The theory acknowledges human desires as the main factor that contributes to drug addiction. Psychological addiction theory also link addiction and human psychology by suggesting that addiction is a chosen behavior. This relation makes the psychological theory sufficient in explaining the formation of behavior among addicts. Drug and substance abuse develop from a mere condition into psychological behavior. Addiction behavior is the most evident aspect of drug addiction. This implies that drug addicts are categorized according to their addictive behavior or level of their addiction (Miller, 2005). The theory is therefore capable of explaining formation of behavior resulting from addiction. People form behavior for what they consider as enjoyment and, this justifies addiction. This implies that addicts develop their behavior as a response towards an expected enjoyment. Psychological theory of addiction is an important theory in studies involving addiction and reasons why people indulge themselves with drug addiction. However, the theory is insufficient since it does not explain various key factors related to addiction. Psychological theory of addiction relates drug addiction to rational choice and therefore it does not explain drug addiction resulting from mental disorders (Drummond, 2001). The theory does not explain why people get involved in drug and substance abuse due to social influences. This factor makes the theory to be insufficient in explaining all problems resulting from drug abuse. Unlike the biological theories of addiction, psychological theory tackles addiction based on rational choice made by the addict. The theory suggests that drug addiction is a rational choice. That means that people makes choices on whether to consume a certain drugs based on a rational decision. This implies that addicts are aware of the negative consequences resulting from their habit (Teesson, 2002). Addicts are aware of the negativity of drug abuse but most people make a choice to use a specific kind of drug based on expectations and enjoyments. The theory suggests that people consumes drugs after comparing the costs and gains resulting from a certain action. A decision to consume a certain drug will therefore be based on benefits that exceed costs. Such benefits will be determined by the level of enjoyments or satisfaction resulting from drug consumption. Biological theories on the other hand suggest that individuals may or may not have a chance of determining their addiction or drug dependency (Koob, 2006). This is the case when addiction results from genetic factors. In such cases, an individual has little or no control on his/her addiction. The biological theory of addiction also explains addiction basing on physiological factors such as bodily metabolism (Dawkins, & Powell, 2006). Such processes are beyond the control of an individual. This is because people only have control of things getting into their bodies and little or no control over the resultant effects. The ability to control things getting into a person’s body indicates that an addict respond by consuming a particular drug in order to suppress their feelings. Biological theory of addiction considers addiction to be an abnormality. This indicates that addicts get involved with drug use out of choice. Physiological theory treats addiction as an acquired behavior that depends on the choice made by an individual. Physiological theories of addiction suggest that addicts and non-addicts are only differentiated by their choice concerning drugs. Drug addiction being an abnormality indicates that individuals have no choice over their condition. This also implies that every person is a potential drug addict regardless of his or her social background. This implication is different from the implication made by psychological addiction theory. Psychological addiction theory asserts that addicts and non-addicts are differentiated by their personal choices. The two theories have different views towards awareness of negative consequences resulting from drug addiction. According to the psychological addiction, theory addicts are aware of any negative consequence that might result from their behavior (Koob, 2006). The theory suggests that drug addict make a choice to use a certain substance based on the expected gains. Biological theory of addiction suggests that drug addiction is a biological problem. This implies that people have no control over their habit. This also suggests that drug users have little or no consideration of the negative effects caused by addiction. The two theories therefore contradict on issues or factors related to expectations or aftermath of drug use. The biological theory indicates the aspect of regret that is related to drug addiction while the psychological theory does not indicate such factor. This is because the theory assumes that individuals get involved with drugs after making the appropriate consideration. This assumption is because addicts are rational decision makers and therefore any of their decision is based on choice. Biological theory of addiction explains the different cycles of highness and lowness as experienced by a drug addict. The theory assumes that these cycles are the main forces behind addiction. On the other hand, the psychological theory of addiction assumes that addiction is fully dependent on personal choice. This implies that an individual experiencing addiction as a psychological factor will not respond to experiences of highness or lowness. Responding to the cycles of highness and lowness leads to formation of habits among addicts. The biological theory assumes that formation of habits is the main cause of addiction. This statement contradicts psychological theory’s assumptions on addiction. According to psychological theorists, addiction is purely by choice and hence independent of habits. This indicates that a person can become an addict without forming a habit. According to most psychology scholars, this assumption seems to contradict the essence of addiction. This is because addiction is more of a habit than a behavior. Psychologists consider a habit to be a long-term accumulation of behaviors. This is because habits are formed over a long duration of time. Behaviors on the other hand are people’s attitude and reactions to various situations. Addiction is therefore, a habit not a behavior as implied by the psychological theory of addiction. Both psychological and biological theories of addiction share similar views that addiction originate from the mind (Gossop, 2007). The two theories also consider addiction as a form of self-therapy that people apply to cover themselves from confronting certain real life situation. The two theories also consider addiction as a long-term problem that cannot be eliminated easily from most addicts. Both the biological and psychological theories of addiction assume that drug addicts respond to their desires as a way to achieve satisfaction. This confirms that drug users achieve a certain kind of satisfaction from the usage of drugs. The two theories also recognize that the difference between addicts and non-addicts depend on their levels of drug dependency. Conclusion Biological and psychological theories of addiction are two critical theories in studies involving drug abuse and addiction. ‘Biological theories of addiction attempt to explain why people indulge on drug abuse based on biological factors. On the other hand, psychological theories of addiction are developed from human reasoning and decision-making. Although the two theories tackle a similar problem, they apply different approaches in order to analyze addiction. Biological theory approaches the subject by assuming that addict and non-addicts are biologically different. The theory claims that addiction is a form of abnormality in the human body. The psychological theory assumes that addiction is based on personal choice. The difference between an addict and a non-addict is the choice that they have made concerning drugs. The two theories however share similar opinion concerning satisfaction derived from drug addiction. References Drummond, D.C. (2001). 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