Models of Substance Abuse Disorders
Substance abuse has been a growing problem for thousands of years and
plays a large role in history. Substances have been solely responsible for: wars,
stricter laws, division of nations, and even death. Despite these circumstances, it
continues to be a problem. Continuous usage leads to Substance Abuse Disorders
(SUD’s) and Alcohol Abuse Disorders (AUD’s). Over the years, many different
approaches and avenues to address these issues have been attempted through: the
medical field, in treatment, educational classes, and even prison. There are so many
different conflicting views and stances that continue to divide people. One thing that
everyone can agree on though, are the financial, physical, and social tolls that SUD’s
and AUD’s cause to society. In this paper, I am going to discuss two different
treatment models concerning SUD’s.
The first treatment model I am going to discuss is the medical model of SUDs.
The cornerstone of the model reflects the belief that SUD is a disease that is the
result of biology, and the molecular level. The population that believes in this model
treats SUD as they would with cancer or any other life threatening diseases. It is
postulated that it carries through families because of a ‘genetic predisposition’.
Genetic and Environmental forces work together to predispose a person to
Substances rather than one specific drug. As stated before though, there are critics
of this model and some of the challenges that it holds.
The Genetic Inheritance Theory is the one that holds that there is
potentially a genetic predisposition. There is some evidence though that this
could be a possibility. In order to identify what this is, we are going to have to
go to the smallest component of the human, DNA. In the DNA lies a gene
called slo-1. It controls the activity of proteins that form the ion channels in
the neural wall. When an alcohol or substance molecule binds at the receptor
site, it forces the channel to remain open longer and slows the neuron-firing
rate. It is also thought that this gene be involved in the development of AUDs
and SUDs. Additional evidence lies in the neurochemical (*delta)FosB. This is
involved in the pleasure and rewards system in the brain. It is believed that
this is the chemical that encourages a person’s drug abuse. A little of this
chemical is produced every time a drug is used. It alters the response to
dopamine. With certain people who have genetic predispositions in the
family, some of these people are more susceptible and sensitive to the
rewarding effects of both compounds. In conducting animal research studies,
they have noticed that monkeys behave in the same way and have different
tolerances and symptoms associated with pleasure when given alcohol. Even
though all of these different theories and ideas could substantiate the claims
that there is a clear genetic predisposition, it is not always concrete in
forming diagnoses. There is not a clear “disease model” because there are so
many broad and unproven theories. This is the main reason that it has so
many challenges and critics.
There have been many research studies done on individuals that have
SUD’s that come from families that also have SUD’s. In these individuals, the
above chemicals and genes are present and act in the described ways.
However, studies have not been done to see if there are individuals that have
the above characteristics that do not have SUD’s or family members with
SUD’s. So, this research can be seen as specifically targeted. Critics believe
that, just because individuals with family history have these characteristics is
not sufficient enough to support this medical and state that Addiction is a
voluntary disease. Some of these individuals come to terms with their SUD
