Substance_Abuse

The Medical Model of SUD states that the disorders that their origin in biological basis. The AMA has supported this model and declared alcoholism a disease. Doctors, researchers, and scientist have found biological differences in person with SUDs and persons without (Doweiko). The Psychosocial Models of SUD states that addiction is the result of learned behavior and inadequate psychological and social skills (Doweiko). dis·ease/diˈzēz/ - Noun: A disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, esp. one that produces specific signs or symptoms or that affects a... A particular quality, habit, or disposition regarded as adversely affecting a person or group of people. -WWW.Google.com Is addiction a disease' By the definition of disease addiction can be declared a disease. Somewhere something is broken or deformed or not functioning correctly whether it is physical or psychological or sociological. I have learned a lot about addiction but not all of it is accurate or even correct. As a child I learned that alcoholism was a moral failing. It was a simple lack of self-control or self-discipline. I no longer believe that it true. Can self-control or self-discipline affect addiction' I believe that it does have an important place in a person’s recovery but addiction does not result from a lack of self-control. I believe, probably, like most people, that addiction has its origins in both of these models. I have what I can only describe as a physical allergy to alcohol and opiates. I can drink one beer or one glass of wine without a large reaction but if I proceed beyond that I become violently ill. My body will react as if I binged including nausea, dizziness, and severe headaches. Accompanying this is a terrible skin rash that is hot, red and painful. If I can have such a physical reaction to these drugs then I must assume that other people can have equal and opposite reactions. I also learned as a child how to self-medicate and comfort myself with food. My family has struggle with weight issues our whole lives because of this learned behavior that has been passed down generation to generation. I know that learned behavior has had a dramatic impact on my life and believe that addiction can also have strong ties to learned behavior. Doweiko,H. Concepts of Chemical Dependency. Brooks/Cole, 2009