Drug Addiction Theories
There are many controversial opinions about drug addiction…
It is surprising to know that a lot of qualified people who study and try to understand the nature of addiction disagree with their colleagues’ opinions.
There are many questions unanswered on drug addiction theories; questions as to whether it happens in an effort to overcome certain physical and emotional pains, whether it is genetic, or an effect of socio-economic conditions, etc. However, most people agree to the fact that people become dependent on some kinds of drugs because of the pleasure they get out of them. In this article are three basic models or drug addiction theories that have become accepted.
I. The Disease Theory.
This first theory is known as the Disease Model, and one drawback with this theory is it does not clearly state the reasons as to why an individual becomes dependent on or addicted to certain drugs. In the past, society used to treat drug addicts as criminals and evil-minded people. This public opinion made those in authority impose strict punishments on the people who used such dangerous substances. Drug addicts at that time could only receive help if the courts pitied them, or any religious outfit, such as churches, offered assistance.
"With this theory’s solid determinants, recovery is possible and you can beat your addiction. Get help today!"
By the end of the 19th century, however, many medical professionals came up with drug addiction theories, and started classifying drug addiction as a disease. So slowly people started believing that it is not possible for drug addicts to control themselves, and that they deserved medical treatment rather than severe punishments.
II. The Physical Dependency Theory.
The first theory has led to the next drug addiction theory, which is called Physical Dependency. This model states that it is very difficult for the drug addicts to cease using addictive drugs after repeated exposure to them because of the painful withdrawal symptoms that occur, such as agitation, anxiety, depression, stress, pain, and other health problems. However, there are some drugs, such as cocaine—considered by most as the most addictive substance—whose withdrawal symptoms are fairly tolerable. It must be noted that there are, however, some addicts who endure the withdrawal symptoms to some extent in order to reduce their tolerance levels towards those drugs only to lessen the dosage so that they can spend less money on them.
* Further note that these two drug addiction theories do not state the reasons for the initiation of the problem, hence, the near impossibility to provide a solution.
III. The Positive Reinforcement Theory.
The third theory that goes into the reasons why people become drug addicts is known as the Positive Reinforcement Model. Addictive drugs become positive reinforcement; in other words, the more you take, the more you seek. Such drugs cause certain physical changes to the neurons of the brain cells, which culminates into affirmative, emotional feelings in the individuals. The reasons people start using addictive drugs could be because of stress, lack of love, etc. * With this theory’s solid determinants as to how the addiction started in the first place, recovery should not be a problem. *
