Treating Substance Abuse

Running Head : TREATING SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Treating Substance Abuse

A Discussion of Two Prominent Methods

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Affiliation

Treating Substance Abuse : A Discussion of Two Prominent Methods

It is an alarming fact that around the world , substance abuse is a major health problem and social problem . Research has led to the identification of many factors involved in addictive behavior . Many organizations and facilities exist offering treatment through various methods and with different success rates . Two of these methods are presented and personally evaluated in this

The 12-Step Treatment

Alcoholics

Anonymous is the main proponent of this method and although there are other groups and facilities that have also adopted or modified the 12-Step or integrated it into their other treatment methods , the 12-Step treatment as employed by AA will serve as the primary source in outlining what it is and how it works

Historically , AA and the 12-Step evolved from the recovery experience of Bill Wilson , an alcoholic in the 1930 's who found spiritual methods he learned from a Christian group to be effective . He also received subsequent treatment from a doctor who espoused the concept of alcohol abuse as a disease . He also encountered first hand the effect of a fellow alcoholic 's support . All of these practical experiences led him to establish AA

Theoretical or Clinical Concepts

Treatment the AA way does not make direct or formal reference to a precise body of scientific data from any of the disciplines involved in the study of substance addiction and its subsequent remedy . However , by inferring from the language in its reading materials and meetings , one picks up a variety of concepts that adhere to theories of behavior from the biological , psychological and sociological perspectives . In addition , it also incorporates the spiritual aspect in both causes and remedies for alcohol abuse

A concept which comprehensively describes how the AA regards alcoholism , its effects and treatment is the biopsychosocialspiritual consequences or maintenance model . This model presupposes that alcoholism or addiction for that matter is multi-determined and is a cumulative product of one 's biological , environmental and spiritual conditions as opposed to the medical consequences model which points to one 's physiological state as the sole origin of alcoholism (Rotgers Morgenstern Walters , 2003

Moreover , as alcoholism brings about detrimental effects to one 's physical health and psychological well-being , the effects also extend to one 's social relationships and spiritual condition . As negative effects boomerang , the anguished person goes back to his addiction to obtain relief and as Rotgers , Morgenstern Walters state , a vicious cycle is established that maintains excessive drug and alcohol abuse (Rotgers Morgenstern Walters 2003 ,

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The maintenance model as derived from the informal AA treatment process also provides expediency in that it allows the simultaneous treatment of substance abuse from its various dimensions

Interventions /Technique the AA Way and Effectiveness

Unlike treatment facilities that treat alcoholics in a more scientific setting , gather the objective biological , psychological and /or social conditions of the person as bases for prescribing treatment...