What exactly feeds addiction and can it truly be treated? Is addiction a clinical disease, or simply a lack of control? The Johnson Model of Addiction explains the concepts of addiction, what it stems from, and how to treat the addict. Dr. Vernon Johnson, nicknamed the Father of Intervention, was the founder and president emeritus of the Johnson Institute located in Minneapolis. After recovering from alcoholism himself and leading others towards the same path as an Episcopal priest, Johnson designed the institute to provide early intervention to addicts, and help employers deal with drinking issues in the workplace. Having observed many addicted individuals, along with the effects of these addictions on those surrounding the addict, Johnson …show more content…
Personally, I take several drugs in an effort to stay far away from pain, and more towards feelings of normalcy or euphoria. I am prescribed Prozac (fluoxetine) and Ritalin (methylphenidate) to treat anxiety, depression, and ADHD, and take OTC Benadryl to sleep. According to Johnson, I am addicted to each of these, and I’d say I’d have to agree. After all, I take them to reduce my feelings of anxiety, pain, distractions, and insomnia, in order to move more towards feelings of normalcy. The more I take the substances, the higher my tolerance gets, resulting in me feeling even more pain when I don’t have the drugs in my system. In fact, my Prozac is actually where my insomnia started from. My dependence to substances was especially evident to me when I had complications transferring files, and wasn’t able to get my Prozac. This resulted in me going far down on the pleasure scale and experience extreme feelings of depression. I could see how some people give up on their battle against depression and life when they are cut off from their drug instead of weaned off. However, I don’t see it personally as substance abuse in my case because I didn’t start “normal” on the scale (aside from for insomnia/sleep). Due to genetics and life experiences, I’ve always lived more towards pain, and taking these drugs allow me to feel normal. Additionally, I wouldn’t say I have unnaturally high levels of euphoria. Being able to relate personally with this model of addiction shows me how the continuum of pain and pleasure introduced by Johnson really can be used in a variety of situations for a variety of individuals with different addictions, and is the reason why I found this model so interesting and
Scalise, E. (2009). The addictive cycle. Addiction and recovery. American Association of Christian Counselors. Retrieved from http://learn.liberty.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=/webapps/blackboard/execute/courseMain?course_id=_98206_1
Opioids, such as Vicodin, Oxycodone Percocet relieve pain, but are known to be physically addictive. Dependence is often accompanied by tolerance, or the need to take higher doses of a medication to get the same effect says the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIH). When tolerance occurs, it becomes difficult for a physician to determine whether a patient is developing a drug problem, or has a real medical need for higher doses to control their pain.
The disease model of addiction rests on three primary assumptions predisposition to use a drug, loss of control over use, and progression (Krivanek, 1988, p.202). These physiological alterations cause an undeniable desire to take more drugs (McNeece & DiNitto, 2012). Addicts are viewed as individuals with an incurable disease with drug addiction as the symptom. The disease model argues users cannot be held accountable for their addictions (Kirvanek, 1988).
In the book, Addiction & Grace: Love and Spirituality in the Healing of Addictions, May explores how addiction develops and can be treated from a psychological, physiological, and spiritual standpoint. This theme is clearly shown through out the text as it shows addiction from a whole person view. The book covers the development of addiction from desire through the experience of addiction. The key focus on looking at the matter of addiction from multiple stand points in then broken down by explaining how addiction is an issue psychologically, physiologically, and spiritually. By focusing on these three areas the author is able to present the reader with a clear understanding of addiction from all sides of the problem. This is then
“Substance use disorders” or “substance-related disorders” are intended synonymously and are used interchangeably when referring to the broad category of addiction to psychoactive substances. Additionally, the word “drug” should be considered in the context in which it appears and can refer to alcohol specifically and/or other psychoactive substances such as cocaine or heroin etc. Again, this is because of the large overlap within the broader category of substance use and the high prevalence of polysubstance use. For the sake of clarity, “drug” as used in North America to generally refer to any illicit or controlled substance has been avoided. Instead, “medication” will be used to denote a prescribed substance used to treat physical symptoms. However, many legally prescribed medications (such as morphine) can and are abused and have addictive quality, making them just as devastating as “street drugs” or alcohol (Compton & Volkow, 2006).
From beginning to end, Benoit Denizet-Lewis makes this apparent in his tales about the eight addicts, and even in his own experiences with addiction. The book has the potential to change the way the public thinks about the issue of addiction in America. At the end of the book, I learned about who had succeeded or relapsed. In a statement I wholeheartedly agree with, "Where are the millions of addicts in this country who are sober and have turned around their lives? They need to be on the front lines of this war," Denizet-Lewis mentions, encouraging other recovering addicts to join and make both a political and public stand on the awareness of
Addiction is has been around for a long time. The fear of people becoming addicted to certain substances has lead to policies changes. However, there has not been a major federal law passed that dealt with addiction in over forty years. In 2016, President Obama signed a law that covered all the major points of addiction and recovery. This topic this important to me because some of my loved ones are addicts. I may also have clients that are addicts.This paper will take a look at that law. First, we have to define a few key terms.
The counseling student attended two AA meetings as an observer in order to understand the dynamics of the AA culture and to experience the possibilities of working in the field of addictions. The purpose of this essay is to discuss the various behavioral patterns of use described in the AA meetings (e. g., intensity, frequency, length of time and attempts to quit). This paper also identifies other necessary information required for proper assessment and diagnosis. This essay concludes with a synthesis of the information gathered from personal observation and this course’s texts assignments.
It is believed that certain individuals are predisposed or vulnerable to addiction based on biological, psychological and social influences. The euphoric high produced by many addictive substances is the result of overstimulation of the “pleasure center” of the brain. This is the same area that controls emotions, fear, self-control and overall feelings of wellness. The presence of these foreign chemicals creates a response that the brain will crave as soon as it fades. The brain’s chemistry works against its own health, as it rewires its decision making faculties around the primary goal of finding and taking more of the drug” (1). Many people mistakenly believe that psychological addiction is somehow less serious or real than physical addiction. The psychological aspects of addiction are much more challenging to repair and recover from than the physical addiction. Psychological addiction can last for years or even a lifetime.
Addressing the people exposed to opioids may reduce the number of people starting and continuing to abuse drugs in the long term. In addition to this suggestion, data found from 2006-2015, the duration of opioids increased by a third suggesting fewer patients choose to start using opioids for pain management, however, patients already on medication continue to do so. This is because once long term opioid users, even when taking their medication as directed by their doctor, eventually develop a tolerance to the drug. A tolerance to pain medication can cause patients to up their dose or take too many medications in a small time frame in order to alleviate the same amount of pain that a smaller dose would have fixed in the past. The risk of developing tolerance is an important conversation to have with a health care professional because in addiction to pain, patients go on to develop a physical dependence to the drug. Physically patients feel pain, illness, and other symptoms; in some cases they are unable to give up the drug. This is when their dependence is classified as an
Addiction is everywhere, from celebrity tabloids, to television, and possibly to a family member or close friend. There is alcoholism, drug abuse, and gambling addiction; the effects of such are devastating. For example, the following excerpt is from the harrowing Leaving Dirty Jersey: A Crystal Meth Memoir by James Salant:
Sub details-Addiction many times reaches a point in which addicts are not only harmful to themselves but others around them as well.
Addiction is all around us. It may be that cup of coffee in the morning for the caffeine stimulation, the cigarette that is smoked for the nicotine, or an alcoholic drink used to relieve a stressful day or situation. For some, the addiction may not be to a substance, but to compulsive behaviors such as gambling, playing video games, or shopping. Consequences to addictions can impact an addict’s physical or mental state. Addiction can also have detrimental impact on the people that surround them. Watching a relationship fall apart because a person has an addiction to drugs, alcohol, or another addictive behavior is a sad thing to happen to anyone. Unfortunately, those with addictions usually won’t admit they even
A person’s body, in almost every aspect of its being, is addicted when one is a mild to chronic user and abuser. The nervous system, brain, and muscle tissue are all living in anticipation of the next high. So, for the addict, it is crucial that the cycle of behavior, is broken. The addict needs to pull up the anchor that keeps them from moving forward. This means changing environments, patterns and even sometimes friends and social associates.
Drug addiction is a complex problem in society today. Addiction is a condition that extremely affects the person’s mind and body. Addiction also has wide sweeping effects on that person’s social connection and functioning. Unfortunately, many addicts don’t realize the social influence of their addiction until much of their functioning has greatly deteriorated.