Conceptualizing Addiction
Angel Salinas
University of Phoenix
BHSH 455
April 3, 2016
Conceptualizing Addiction
Clinical helping professionals have developed a number of psychological, socio-cultural, and biological explanations of the causes associated with different sorts of substance abuse over-dependence on substances. Several models have been developed to conceptualize addiction. But in this regard it can be said that, till date there is no universal model to explain the reasons behind addiction and different models have provided different explanations even though sharing some similarities in approach among each other. To satisfy the need of learning more about the differences and similarities between different models of conceptualizing addiction two particular models can be taken into consideration – the moral model and the disease model.
The crucial difference that can be found existing between the moral and disease models is that, while the former describes addiction as exclusively a matter of choice, the latter interprets it “as something wholly beyond the control of the individual” (“The Etiology of addiction: A Comparison of Theoretical Models”, 2012). But a primary similarity can also be found existing between these two models. The similarity lies in the fact that, “neither model offers a viable way to illustrate addiction as something that the larger society must be aware of and actively involved in eliminating” (“The Etiology of addiction: A Comparison of Theoretical Models”, 2012). The moral model conceptualizes addiction as a matter of individual weakness and as a sin but the disease model, even though releases the moral stigma related to addiction, tends to justify addiction from a disease perspective.Although this might be treated as a difference between the concerned models, a similarity exists in this respect. It is to be noted that, “in much the same way that public interests are not served by overlooking...