Substance Abuse

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how substance abuse is a problem which has significant effects for both individuals and the societies within which they live. The paper relates that the destructive nature of substance abuse causes many people to wonder why it is that some people are drawn to the practice. The paper looks at the social learning theory that developed out of efforts to fit knowledge about stimulus and response with developing ideas regarding human psychological development.

From the Paper:

"Social Learning Theory evolved into some basic principles to explain why people do what they do. First, Social Learning Theory acknowledges that stimulus and response can change human behavior. Second, Social Learning Theory recognizes that human behavior can be affected in other ways as well, and specifically, that humans can learn new behavior by observation, or what is called "vicarious learning." Third, people tend to notice that they are more similar to some people than others, and individuals are more likely to imitate or model behavior they observe in those people they perceive as "like themselves." People also tend to form emotional ties to people they connect with in this way (Tracy & Whittaker, 1989, p. 47)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Carroll, Kathleen M.; Keller, Daniels S.; and Rounsaville, Bruce J. 1997. "Relapse Prevention Strategies for the Treatment of Cocaine Abuse." American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Vol. 17.
• Gallione, Peter; Hawke, Josephine M.; and Hennen, Joseph. 2005. "Correlates of Therapeutic Involvement among Adolescents in Residential Drug Treatment." American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Vol. 31.
• Kandel, Denise B. Stages and Pathways of Drug Involvement: Examining the Gateway Hypothesis. Cambridge University Press: 2002.
• SAMHSA. 2003. "Overview of Findings from the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health." Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services. Accessed via the Internet 8/4/06. <http://www.samhsa.gov/index.aspx>
• Tracy, Elizabeth M., Whittaker, James K. Social Treatment: An Introduction to Interpersonal Helping in Social Work Practice. Aldine de Gruyter: 1989.

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