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Theories of Drug Abuse

In: Social Issues

Submitted By winbur78
Words 432
Pages 2
Anderson University

Essay Three

BY

Steven Winburn

Hartsville, SC

February 15, 2014

Drug and alcohol abuse is certainly a demon that has been battled for many years and the fight continues on. In order to treat and help rehabilitate, it is very helpful to understand what causes these addictions. In a perfect world, there would be one theory that would explain addiction. The text indicates that there have been many theoretical models that have sought to give an understanding of this problem, but there are three prevalent models that are identified by Inaba and Cohen (2004). These are: the Addictive disease model, the Behavioral/environmental model, and the Academic model (Martin, 2014). The addictive disease model proposes that addiction is a medical condition much like any other medical disorder. This model teaches that addiction has identifiable symptoms and a course that can be predicted. It also proposes that there are genetic factors that play a role. Like any other disease, addiction will continue to worsen without treatment (Martin, 2014). The behavioral/environmental model uses six stages to describe the possible progression of substance use. These stages are: 1. Abstinence 2. Experimentation 3. Social/recreational use 4. Habituation 5. Abuse 6. Addiction. This model seeks to show that factors in one’s environment can lead one from one stage to the next (Martin, 2014). The academic model discusses the changes that occur in the body over time as one uses drugs. The changes take place at the cellular level in the body and so as more substance is used, the body builds a tolerance. When these changes cause an increased tolerance, more substance is needed to receive the desired affect of the drug. Tissue dependence takes place when the body needs the drug to function normally.

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