PCN 501 Comparison of Theories Paper

PCN 501 Grand Canyon Week 1 Discussion 2

This week you studied various theories of addiction and learned about the human body’s reaction to substances. With all the scientific knowledge we now have about addiction, why is there more than one etiology of addiction? Provide an explanation in your response.

PCN 501 Grand Canyon Week 1 Assignment

Comparison of Theories Paper

Details:

It is widely understood that there is a bio psychosocial model of addiction. Within the bio psychosocial model, there are multiple psychological theories and biological theories.

Choose one psychological theory of addiction and one biological theory of addiction

Write a 500-750 word paper which explains how research supports and refutes each theory. Your paper must include the following:

1- A summary of each theory of addiction.

2- A discussion of whether or not you would use the theories in your future practice and why.

Include at least one scholarly reference that supports each theory, and one scholarly reference that refutes each theory.

Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.

Effects of Substance Use Paper

Details:

• Choose one of the following substances
• Alcohol
• Benzodiazepines
• Central Nervous System Stimulants
• Cocaine
• Marijuana
• Opioids

Write a 500- to 750-word summary describing the following:

1-    How the substance is consumed

2-    The pharmacology of the substance

3-    The physiological effects of the substance on the human body

Include at least two scholarly references in addition to the textbook in your paper.

Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

Theories of addiction and the human body’s reaction to substances

Introduction

There are many theories of addiction, but none more popular than the disease model. This model suggests that addiction is caused by genetic factors and the brain’s reaction to substances. But what does this mean? And how can you tell if your loved one has a substance use disorder (SUD)?

The pleasure principle

The pleasure principle is a psychological theory that explains a person’s actions in terms of the motivation to avoid pain and seek pleasure. This theory states that human beings are primarily motivated by the desire for positive emotions (pleasure), and will do whatever it takes to achieve these feelings.

The pleasure principle can be applied to many aspects of human behavior, including eating, drinking, having sex and experiencing success at work or school. When you think about your favorite food or drink (or perhaps even what you would rather do with your time), you probably realize that these things give you pleasure—and they may also provide some kind of social benefit as well! In other words: we learn over time that certain things give us pleasure while others don’t; our brains begin associating certain experiences with positive outcomes so we can repeat them again down the road when something similar comes along again (which might happen quite often!).

The disease model

The disease model of addiction is the most common, but it’s not the only one. Other theories include:

• The behavioral model (also known as the choice model) holds that people choose to use drugs or alcohol because they want to feel good and don’t see any other reason why they should use them. This view suggests that addiction can be reduced or eliminated through willpower alone—it doesn’t require treatment or other interventions. However, this view has been challenged by recent research showing that people who struggle with substance abuse tend to have less self-control than those who do not use substances at all.

• The moral failure model holds that substance abuse occurs when individuals fail in their responsibilities as parents, spouses and community members; therefore these individuals should be held accountable for their actions instead of blaming themselves for being caught up in a cycle of addiction over time

Genetics and addiction

Genetics play a role in addiction. While genetics may be a risk factor, it can also be protective. For example, people who have one of the genes for alcoholism are more likely to develop an addiction than those without this gene. However, some people will be genetically predisposed to addiction while others will not be at all vulnerable to it.

The body’s reaction to substances is highly dependent on how much you use them and whether your body has developed any tolerance or resistance toward them (i.e., if you become tolerant).

The brain disease model of addiction

The brain disease model of addiction is a theory that addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease of the brain. It was developed by Dr. Russell Johnson, who first proposed it in 1980 and has been supported by many other researchers since then. The idea behind this theory is that people with addictions are not weak-willed or immoral—they’re simply suffering from an illness like Parkinson’s disease or schizophrenia.

The pleasure principle means that people will tend to do things that exhibit pleasure and avoid those which are painful; however, due to their addiction (or other mental health issues), they may not be able to tell the difference between what feels good and what hurts them emotionally or physically.

Takeaway:

Addiction is a disease, just like diabetes or heart disease. It’s not something you can control or fight against. In fact, it’s not even your fault when you become addicted to drugs and alcohol. The only way to recover from addiction is by getting help from a professional—a doctor who specializes in treating addicts or someone who has been trained in rehabilitation programs like AA (an organization focused on helping people with substance abuse issues).

Conclusion

It’s important to remember that addiction is not a moral failing or the result of bad character. There are many factors at play, with genetics being one of them. Addressing these aspects can help us understand why some people are more prone than others to develop substance abuse disorders, but it doesn’t mean we have to give up on helping those who struggle with addiction in any way we can