Substance Abuse Intervention

Paper Summary:

Substance abuse can be looked at in two distinctly different ways. One of these is a medical model, examining the physical aspects of a person?s biological make-up that compel or make it relatively easy for him or her to become psychologically and sometimes physically dependent upon some substance to the extent that the person is unable to manage their lives without the drug. The paper shows that often substance abuse is the same as substance dependence or addiction, when a person has a compulsion to take a drug in order to experience its psychological (or physical) effects. Addiction is a severe form of dependence, existing when the drug has produced physiological changes in the body, as evidenced by the development of tolerance and of a withdrawal syndrome after the drug's effects have worn off.
The paper shows that while this is a very useful model, it is not the one that is generally referred to when people speak of substance abuse. What is generally being referred to by that term is the psychological and social costs incurred by individuals ? and inflicted on their intimates and acquaintances ? when they are unable to use certain legal drugs wisely and in moderation and/or when they use certain illegal drugs at all. This paper examines two models of intervention for substance abuse offenders after a brief general discussion of the issue of substance abuse. The models discussed are (1) a total institution program that regulates every aspect of substance abusers lives to provide them with a community and norms that do not include substance abuse and, (2) the broadcasting of anti-drug messages on the television and other forms of media.

From the Paper:

"Other critics are also concerned that the anti-drug media messages aren't tough enough to reach kids who are already in trouble. In one study with four focus groups conducted early this year at various Department of Juvenile Justice facilities in Maryland, juvenile offenders were asked about the ads. Many said that they had seen the ads, but were not impressed by them, believing that the commercials were both overly dramatic and not true to life - presenting an image of drug use that looked as if it had been cooked up by government officials trying to scare children rather than by people who knew the realities of substance abuse (Teinowitz, 1999, p. 29)."

More papers on Substance Abuse Intervention:

• Descriptive Essay # 122373 : "Overcoming Substance Abuse"
• Article Review # 84655 : "Physicians and Substance Abuse"
• Research Paper # 93190 : "Nurses and Substance Abuse"

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