The Faces Interactive website describes what it is like to be living with a substance abuse disorder. Also, it goes into detail about the differences between “substance intoxication,” “substance withdrawal,” and “substance dependence.” Substance intoxication takes place when one is under the influence of a substance and is experiencing mood and behavior altering affects. Substance withdrawal is when one is experiencing an uncomfortable occurrence that results when one is not taking a substance. Substance dependence occurs when a substance is consuming one’s life. Faces Interactive gives a very precise definition of what happens, “… a diagnosis of ‘substance dependence’ refers to situations where individuals (1) experience a tolerance to the
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The medical model stresses that addiction is a disease, and one should abstain from any use of a substance. However, as mentioned on the website this model does have it’s drawbacks if one experiences a relapse, “Unfortunately, if an individual violates this ultimatum they may attribute their failure to a weakness in their will power, and then quickly return to their previous patterns of drinking” (McGrawHill Higher Education, 2007, Treatment Strategy). In contrast, the harm-reduction model focuses on addiction as a behavioral pattern caused by psychological practices, and it does not consider addiction as a disease. It mentions, “The softer prohibition of the harm-reduction model may enable people to have more frequent relapses, but it also makes it easier for them to return to sobriety” (McGrawHill Higher Education, 2007, Treatment Strategy). In my opinion, these two strategies are very helpful, but if I had to choose which one I think is the most effective, I would choose the medical model. This model allows individuals to believe that they should not partake in substance abuse any longer, and even though one may relapse they are able to start fresh. Also, I personally believe that addiction is a …show more content…
Methadone can be very beneficial because it allows a heroin addict to withdraw from the drug safely. Also, it can potentially safe an addicts life because when one withdraws from heroin on their own, also known as cold turkey, it can be very dangerous. “Research suggests that methadone treatment does help addicts withdraw from heroin and lead more productive lives” (McGrawHill Higher Education, 2007, Treatment Strategy). However, there is a disadvantage to consuming this drug. Methadone is known to be very addictive as well, which in turn could lead to a new dependency of this drug. I believe that methadone should be a way of treatment for heroin addicts because it gives them the chance to potentially become sober. Even though there are consequences, for example becoming addicted to it, I still feel as though the opportunities, such as becoming sober, outweigh
The medical model stresses that addiction is a disease, and one should abstain from any use of a substance. However, as mentioned on the website this model does have it’s drawbacks if one experiences a relapse, “Unfortunately, if an individual violates this ultimatum they may attribute their failure to a weakness in their will power, and then quickly return to their previous patterns of drinking” (McGrawHill Higher Education, 2007, Treatment Strategy). In contrast, the harm-reduction model focuses on addiction as a behavioral pattern caused by psychological practices, and it does not consider addiction as a disease. It mentions, “The softer prohibition of the harm-reduction model may enable people to have more frequent relapses, but it also makes it easier for them to return to sobriety” (McGrawHill Higher Education, 2007, Treatment Strategy). In my opinion, these two strategies are very helpful, but if I had to choose which one I think is the most effective, I would choose the medical model. This model allows individuals to believe that they should not partake in substance abuse any longer, and even though one may relapse they are able to start fresh. Also, I personally believe that addiction is a …show more content…
Methadone can be very beneficial because it allows a heroin addict to withdraw from the drug safely. Also, it can potentially safe an addicts life because when one withdraws from heroin on their own, also known as cold turkey, it can be very dangerous. “Research suggests that methadone treatment does help addicts withdraw from heroin and lead more productive lives” (McGrawHill Higher Education, 2007, Treatment Strategy). However, there is a disadvantage to consuming this drug. Methadone is known to be very addictive as well, which in turn could lead to a new dependency of this drug. I believe that methadone should be a way of treatment for heroin addicts because it gives them the chance to potentially become sober. Even though there are consequences, for example becoming addicted to it, I still feel as though the opportunities, such as becoming sober, outweigh