The Biopsychosocial Model Of Addiction

750 Words2 Pages

There are various factors that influence addiction. These factors were broadly categorized into environmental and biological factors. Biological is mainly based on someone’s genetic makeup. Life experiences are considered to be environmental. When we consider these two categories, we find that there are some causes that fall in neither category. There was need for a better way to classify addictions. In 1977, George L. Engel, a psychiatrist at the University of Rochester come up with the Biopsychosocial Model of Addiction (Fisher 2009). According to them, addiction may be due to biological, social or psychological effects. We categorize addiction into these three groups so that we are able to clearly understand the addictions properly.
Initially, …show more content…

This was the basis of biological model of addiction. When a substance is regularly consumed there is a likelihood that it will alter the metabolism of the body. The substance therefore has to be taken regularly to maintain the newly adjusted metabolism. Lack of the substance will lead to withdrawal symptoms. Their research failed to prove their hypothesis. Sunderwirth and Milkman did not restrain themselves to the study of addiction of narcotics (Miller 2013). They deduced that addiction may be result of self-induced neurotransmission. Where there were more neurotransmitters there was some sort of hyper mood among cocaine users. This is actually a psychological effect rather than …show more content…

The number one leading cause of addiction is stress. You find that maybe someone has been looking for work for a period of time without success. When they abuse substances, they tend to forget what they are going through. They do this over and over and in the end become addicts. Another way people become addicts is the need to fit in. take an example whereby your group of friends are alcoholics. If you spend most time with them, you will be tempted to drink. This will happen several times. Continuous consumption will lead to addiction. This is an example of a psychological mode of

Show More
Related

  • Substance Abuse: Compaing the Medical/Disease Model and the Social Model

    1790 Words  | 4 Pages

    Many people dislike the term ‘addiction’ in relation to drugs or other substances, particularly as it infers that a person is powerless over their use of a particular drug or in some circumstances, a number of substances. Whilst others maintain it is this powerlessness that is the foundation of diagnosis and treatment – that treatment is not possible without recognition of addiction itself as the ‘problem’ being addressed. The professional and public perception of addiction is complicated. There are many approaches and models to explain addiction, the role of the addict, and their environment. This essay will compare and contrast two of these approaches, the medical/disease and the social model. Initially this essay will describe the origins of each model, and follow by explaining their respective strengths and weaknesses, and finish with an overview of the key differences between them. This essay will conclude by demonstrating that a holistic approach, and a cross-pollination of these models is the most successful approach to treating addicts. As is the case for all diseases, there are multiple treatment options, and as ever person is different, the results in each individual cannot be predicted.

    Read More

  • A Comparison of Psychoanalytic Formulations of Addiction and Cognitive Models of Addiction

    661 Words  | 2 Pages

    In this paper I will be comparing and contrasting the Psychoanalytic formulations of addiction and the Cognitive models of addiction. According to Dennis L. Thombs, “people tend to get psychoanalysis and psychotherapy mixed up. Psychotherapy is a more general term describing professional services aimed at helping individuals or groups overcome emotional, behavioral or relationship problem” (119). According to Thombs and Osborn, “Cognitive refers to the covert mental process that are described by a number of diverse terms, including thinking, self-talk, internal dialogue, expectations , beliefs, schemas and so much more” (160). I believe these two factors play a major part in an individual’s life that has an addiction.

    Read More

  • Neil Levy's Article: Addiction Is A Brain Disease?

    1019 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to Leshner, drug addiction is a chronic brain disease that is expressed in the form of compulsive behaviors (Leshner, 2001). He believes that drug addiction is influence by both biological, and behavioral factors, and to solve this addiction problem we need to focus on these same factors. On the other hand, Neil Levy argues that addiction is not a brain disease rather it is a behavioral disorder embedded in social context (Levy, 2013). I believe, drug addiction is a recurring brain disease that can be healed when we alter and eliminate all the factors that are reinforcing drug addiction.

    Read More

  • The Con-Artist Named Addiction By Sally Satel

    962 Words  | 2 Pages

    Sally Satel, author of “Addiction Doesn’t Discriminate? Wrong,” leads us down a harrowing path of the causes and effects that lead people to addiction. It can be a choice, possibly subconscious, or a condition that leads a person left fighting a lifelong battle they did not intend to sign up for. Mental and emotional health/conditions, personality traits, attitudes, values, behaviors, choices, and perceived rewards are just a few of the supposed causes of becoming an addict.

    Read More

  • The BPS Model Of Addiction

    1768 Words  | 4 Pages

    Before giving a broad overview on the definition of the Biopsychosocial (BPS) Model of Addiction, it must be understood that there is no simple unified theory of addiction that is universally accepted in the health world. This makes the definition of the BPS Model of Addiction not just a simple, one to two sentence definition of what this is, but rather a description of the components within the BPS model of addiction. In a broad sense, this model takes the stand that biological, psychological, and social aspects all contribute to the understanding of addiction. In short, the BPS model of addiction is an attempt to further explain addiction – how it occurs, and how it is maintained. Below is an image (Basic Representation of the BPS Model, 2017) representing this model

    Read More

  • The Biopsychosocial Model and Research in Mental Health

    1009 Words  | 3 Pages

    Toates, F. (2010) ‘The nature of addictions: scientific evidence and personal accounts’ in SDK228 The science of the mind: investigating mental health, Book 3, Addictions, Milton Keynes, The Open University, pp. 1-30.

    Read More

  • MDMA

    629 Words  | 2 Pages

    Several studies have been done to try to determine what makes someone go from using a drug once experimentally to becoming a drug addict. One of the most popular theories was created by Inaba and Cohen that is called the Biopsychosocial Theory. This theory takes many different factors in hand to try to explain further how a drug addiction has been influenced using three different factors, heredity, environment, and the use of psychoactive drugs (Inaba and Cohen 75). It has been found that the “intial structure and chemistry of the nervous system” is passed down through many generations and that “behaviors seem to have an inheritable component (Inaba and Cohen 76). This shows that certain actions that are associated with drugs, gambeling, etc can be influenced by addictive behaviors that were prevalent generations ago. Environment plays a huge factor in determining how drug addiction will affect a person, family dynamics, age, race, peer pressure, and tragedy are reasons someone may feel compelled to use which could lead to later continual drug abuse. Lastly, the use of psychoactive drugs plays an essential part in turning an experimental phase into a full blown drug addiction.

    Read More

  • Biopsychosocial Model Essay

    1028 Words  | 3 Pages

    The biopsychosocial model of addiction theorizes that crossing biological, psychological and social and systemic properties are essential features of health and

    Read More

  • Addiction Is A Problem Of Addiction

    791 Words  | 2 Pages

    In 2010, an estimated 23.5 million Americans were addicted to alcohol and/or drugs and needed treatment or supportive services (Partnership for drug free kids). Most people make the assumption that those that are addicted to a substance are just making poor choices. I will have to admit that I was one of those people that thought that it should be easy to quit something so toxic. It wasn 't until I did the research myself that I found addiction is actually a disease. It takes a lot more then willpower to just stop using something that a person 's brain has become so accustomed to. With all of the advances in science we now have a better idea of what leads to addiction. This doesn 't mean that poor choices and life decisions don 't attribute to addiction, but these causes increase the likelihood of an individual becoming addicted to a substance. The majority of individuals that abuse drugs or alcohol will admit to having a history of childhood trauma, alcoholics in the family, or drug use in their social circle.

    Read More

  • Drug Addiction: A Brain Disease?

    746 Words  | 2 Pages

    George F. Koob defines addiction as a compulsion to take a drug without control over the intake and a chronic relapse disorder (1). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association defined "substance dependence" as a syndrome basically equivalent to addiction, and the diagnostic criteria used to describe the symptoms of substance dependence to a large extent define compulsion and loss of control of drug intake (1). Considering drug addiction as a disorder implies that there are some biological factors as well as social factors.

    Read More

  • Is Addiction A Disease Or A Choice Essay

    1474 Words  | 3 Pages

    Addiction, like other diseases, has the tendency to be genetic. “Addictive drugs induce adaptive changes in gene expression in the brain’s reward regions” (Bevilacqua and Goldman 359–361). The disease is also influenced by environmental conditions and behavior. Addiction genes can be passed down through family members of many generations. If one has addiction in their genes tries a drug and someone who does not have addiction in their genes and tries the same drug, it is more likely that the person with the gene will become addicted over the one without. Environmental conditions can also be a factor because someone’s lifestyle could contribute to addiction. Factors such as stress and peer pressure can influence drug or alcohol abuse. Behavior can also contribute to addiction because if a person’s attitude is obsessive and they have an addictive personality, they could become addicted to a substance. In “Addiction is Not a Disease” Daniel Akst explains actual diseases are Alzheimer’s and Schizophrenia, not addiction. For example, Akst mentions that “addicts tend to quit when the going gets hard” (Akst.) He also clarifies that addicts have the choice to have that extra drink or those extra pills every

    Read More

  • Summary Of Addiction: Choice Or Compulsion?

    536 Words  | 2 Pages

    A summary of the article “Addiction: Choice or Compulsion” will explain the theories and models of addictive behavior. The moral model shows addiction as a voluntary act, which the addict can control. The medical model portrays addiction as a disease and compulsive behavior that the addict has no control over. The introduction of the third model will suggest that it is neither compulsive nor voluntary (Henden, Melberg, & Rogeberg, 2013).

    Read More

  • The Myths Of Addictions : Addiction

    1385 Words  | 3 Pages

    So, it is clear that addiction is all around us and can attack anyone of us at any given time. Even studies conducted show that people neglect to speak around their dependency for two primary reasons. Foremost, because people do not comprehend, or they bear a total misconception to their addiction, that they do not realize that addictions can be critical to their overall wellness. Moreover, second, many people believe being an addict will never happen to them, but, in reality, most addictions start off as simple little habits. Such as starting with one drink after dinner and before you know it you are drinking several drinks a day. However, one does not opt to be addicted to a substance, because addictions are physical defects in the brain, a disease, and not one’s choice.

    Read More

  • Theory of Alcohol Addiction: Case Study

    834 Words  | 2 Pages

    There are many assumptions of why an individual may use different substances and perhaps go from a “social” user to becoming addicted. Understanding the different theories models of addiction many help in the process of treatment for the addict. Although people in general vary in their own ideologies of addiction when working as a clinician one must set aside their own person beliefs. Typically as a clinician it is best for the client to define how they view their addiction and their view may encompass more than one of the five theories. Some theories suggest genetic and other biological factors whiles others emphasize personality or social factors. In this study three theories are defined and given to three different people with different cultural backgrounds, different ideologies, different experiences, and most importantly different reference point of addiction.

    Read More

  • Effects of Drugs on Consciousness

    1057 Words  | 3 Pages

    Without contrast, the primary reason for drug abuse in individuals comes from the conscious state of addiction. According to Webster’s, addiction is described as “the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity (Hacker, 2011).” Sure, human nature’s desire to conform to peer pressure might cause one to first try a certain drug, but the euphoric mental states found in drugs mentally trap many individuals into becoming dependent upon these sensations. With that being said, these sensations vary depending on the type of drug used.

    Read More

More about The Biopsychosocial Model Of Addiction

Open Document