Abstract
This paper explains that it is important to recognize how the more known and dangerous drugs influence neurochemistry. For example, heroin increases the release of dopamine by increasing the firing of dopamine neurons. The postsynaptic neuronal receptors are then inundated to levels far higher than normal; therefore, heroin usage is associated with the feelings of mood elevation and euphoria. The author points out that drug and alcohol metabolites, which are residual substances of drugs that remain during the drug and alcohol metabolism that takes place in the liver, are implicated in problems during withdrawal, remission, and craving. The paper recommends that treatment modalities should include pharmacotherapeutic as well as psychological and emotional support structures, including family involvement and 12-step programs such as AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), NA (Narcotics Anonymous) and CA (Cocaine Anonymous).

From the Paper
"From the above therefore, a new motivational perspective of drug abuse emerges. It can be classified as two fold: extreme motivational strength and extreme motivational toxicity. Motivational strength is associated with the extent to which addiction can replace other basic motivations such as food, sex and the need to maintain a career. Motivational strength is also associated with to what lengths an addict will go to procure drugs. The psychosocial ramifications (as mentioned above) are a consequence of motivational strength. Motivational toxicity, on the other hand, can be defined by how it can be disruptive. Cocaine affects the user differently than heroin and methamphetamines. Typically, addiction can be towards anything. Most people are addicted to mild sedatives, cigarettes (though some aver that it is more addictive than cocaine), coffee, shopping, chocolate and gambling. Any of these addictions can be measured based on motivational strength and motivational toxicity."

Tags:dopamine, tolerance, metabolites, motivational, twelve-step

Abstract
Dante's "The Inferno" paints an incredibly vivid picture of what Hell is like. The journey Dante undertakes in order to progress pass his "lost" stage and escape Hell can be likened to the 12-Step Program a recovering alcoholic must complete in order to finally escape from the clutches of drinking to excess. This paper explores Dante's journey through the perspective of this 12-Step Program. By going through each step, one can witness the introspective and emotional self-examination Dante goes through, with a little help from his support group, in order to get out of Hell.

From the Paper
"The first step that every recovering alcoholic must take involves the process of admitting his or her problem. Alcoholics must acknowledge that they are helpless when battling their addiction and they must admit that this addiction to drink has wreaked havoc on their lives to the point where they have lost control (Alcoholic Anonymous, 1955, 59). Dante's predicament is no different to that of an alcoholic struggling to regain control over his or her life. At the beginning of the poem, Dante is portrayed as having gotten lost on the path of life and trying to get back on the right path. Using imagery, Dante recalls that "in the middle of his life, he [finds] himself lost in a dark forest, having lost the right path while half asleep." "

Tags:alcohol, alchoholics, anonymous, support, group, inferno, addiction

Abstract
This paper discusses the problems of alcohol abuse and the high rates of alcohol consumption in China. It discusses the introduction of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) in China and describes the 12 step program that they utilize. Original sources are included with the paper.

Table of Contents:
Introducing Alcohol Facts and Myths
Contrary to Myths
Romanticizing Alcohol
12-Step Treatment
In China or Any Other Country...
AA Contentions
Appendix

From the Paper
"In time, to address problems relating to alcoholism Alcoholics Anonymous meetings were initiated in China. Although these meetings were run similar to meetings held in the U.S., the psychiatrist who translated AA literature indicated the majority of China reportedly "do not believe in God and therefore use higher power in the third step". While a variety of definitions for higher power exist, it appears AA's spirituality proves more applicable to current Chinese society and philosophy than a Western-style religion. AA's focus and traditions have permitted the acceptance of AA in China, while it helps suffering alcoholics achieve and maintain sobriety. (Smith, 2004, p. 3)"

Tags:AA addiction, substance abuse

Abstract
This paper outlines the experiences and observations of the writer during attendance at three 12-Step self-help groups: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), a Cocaine Users Anonymous (CA) and a Shoppers Anonymous (SA) group. The 12-step abstinence based method pioneered by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is one of the most widely used form of addiction treatment. It describes the groups, their demographics, their activities, the relations of these activities to the course and the reactions of the writer.

From the Paper
"Interestingly, several members stated that this was their second, third, or even fourth time of being "in" AA. As Miller (1995) has commented, many individuals who participate in AA and other 12-Step groups drop in and out of attendance and membership, remaining "clean and sober" for a period of time and then relapsing into alcohol use or other addictive behaviors. This group was no exception; five people with whom I spoke said they had earned their "100 day chips" only to relapse and begin all over again. Most members stated that they attended an average of 3 meetings per week, but it was recommended that a daily meeting was associated with an enhanced potential for remaining "clean and sober." "

Tags:cocaine, alcoholics, anonymous, shoppers, addiction, treatment

Abstract
This paper uses Alcoholism Anonymous (AA) as an example to explore group techniques in operation. It examines how it is one of the 12-step programs that has become popular for dealing with addictions and other human problems and how there are currently AA meetings in all large cities and in many small towns. Through a combination of personal observations and a literature review, it analyzes the social and group dynamics that make the program so successful.

Outline
Introduction
Personal Observation
Group Dynamics
Minority Groups
Theory in Psychotherapy

From the Paper
"Studies have shown, however, that there is widespread acceptance of, and belief in, AA in minority communities. For example, Caetano (1993) looked at both Hispanic and African-American communities, noting that large majorities of his subjects favored AA affiliation for substance abuse problems. However, Caetano also noted that prevalence estimates varied widely on the extent to which Hispanic clients or African-American clients would actually choose attendance at AA to deal with their substance abuse problems. Caetano indicated that Hispanics were actually more likely than either European-American or African-Americans to choose AA for dealing with their problems. In the AA membership survey itself, in 1996, membership was predominantly white, with only 4 percent of members identified as Hispanic and 5 percent identified as African-American (Alcoholics Anonymous, 1997)."

Tags:psycotherapy, dynamics, minorities, addiction

Abstract
In his poem, "Beds", Charlie Smith charts his journey through addiction, through a catalog or 'heaping figure' of beds he has known throughout his life. The paper examines this technique and the importance of metaphor as tool for raking through challenging subject matter.

From the Paper
"Whatever one chooses to call the technique, Smith's handling of it is masterly. He takes an everyday object and uses it as a vehicle through which to explore a situation and its accompanying emotions. He continually implodes the object through constant re-inspection, "heaping" one kind of bed upon the other, exhausts it, turning it over and over, examining it ever closer until it ceases to be merely a bed and becomes a metaphor for each step of his journey. Smith's catalog of beds are the landmarks of his recovery."

Tags:aa, alcoholism, confessional, heroin, imagery, metaphor

Abstract
The paper covers the different methods used for treating alcoholism. It shows that before beginning any treatment, the alcoholic must pass the critical phase of accepting that he has an addiction - without which no treatment will be successful. The paper investigates various methods from the most popular - Alcoholics Anonymous- through to antabuse, the "quick-fix" drug used to interfere with the way the body takes in alcohol, and touches on alternative methods such as meditation and hypnosis.

From the Paper
"Individuals who have become dependent upon alcohol will inevitably suffer conflicts and problems which require psychological treatment. Individual psychotherapy has become increasingly popular as a treatment of alcoholism, and is designed to assist the alcoholic to come to terms with, and understand, the causes of their dependency and to identify behaviors which may require modification. The commonest causes of seeking solace from a bottle include, work related stress, conflict within personal relationships, or financial problems, and individual psychotherapy aims to enable the alcoholic to understand and deal with these issues, without resorting to drink. The long-term objective of this treatment is to bring about changes in thought processes and behavior, which will provide the alcoholic with an insight into their presently distorted thoughts and attitudes, and allow them to address these issues."

Tags:dependency, Yale, Plan, Clinics, AA, Alateen

Abstract
This paper explains that AA has grown to be the single most influential organization in history that specializes in helping alcoholics recover from alcoholism; there are over 1 million alcoholic members in different groups in the United States and other parts of the world. The author experienced an AA meeting, which she thought was positive and hopeful because many people had been through very difficult times and needed the support and acceptance of the other people in the room. The paper concludes that learning more about AA gives, not only a deeper understanding of what works in treating addiction, but also additional insight into the inner workings of the addicted mind.

Table of Contents
Introduction
The History of Alcoholics Anonymous and the 12-Step Program
Some Reasons for Success
Some Reasons for Failure
Significant Meeting Events
Thoughts and Feelings
Incorporating the Knowledge

From the Paper
"There were several significant events at the AA meeting. It is quite common knowledge that members introduce themselves, but it is another thing to see the people with the courage to stand up and say, "My name is Bud and I'm a grateful recovering alcoholic." Several people told their personal stories, which also took great courage. Later, I found they called these stories drunkalogs, and some of them were quite depressing and eye opening, like the mother who used to be so drunk when her children came home from school that they had to make their own dinner, and they were embarrassed to bring friends over to the house."

Tags:drunkalogs, meeting, support, resource, treatment

Abstract
This paper focuses on advance criminal profiling as illustrated in the science fiction short story "The Minority Report" by Philip K. Dick, takes place in a future where violent crime has become almost non-existent. The paper explains that psychic humans called precogs are kept in an eternal dream world while their visions about violent crimes are transferred to computers that translate the dreams, and dispatch officers to arrest the suspects. What is striking about this story, the paper asserts, is that this sort of crime prevention is available to us today, to a lesser extent, with criminal profiling. After aa creative exploration of the topic, the paper notes that while most people think of criminal profiling as something done after a crime has happened to figure out who committed it, effective crime prevention is possible by using these same profiling techniques. However, the paper concludes, paying attention to what reduces crime, both in this country and in others, and then duplicating it until crime is reduced is a better answer. This paper contains a graph.

Table of Contents:
Introduction 3
Current Reactive Crime Prevention 3
Figure 1. The population of incarcerated people in the United States from 1980-1994. 4
The Nature of Punishment 5
The Nature of Crime 6
Free Will 7
Profiling 8
Notable Formative Events 9
The Perfect Storm 11
Inability to Compete in the US Job Market 11
Biology 13
Decriminalization of Drug Addiction and Prostitution 15
Why We Should Care 16
Conclusion 17
Annotated Bibliography 18
Books 18
Newspaper and Journal Articles 19
Web Pages 19

From the Paper
"All crime is natural. Every crime is a gathering of circumstances, memories, history, biology, and chance that has to form a "perfect storm" in order for a crime to happen. Some crimes seem inexplicable. How could a man beat his wife of twenty-years with a baseball bat? Just because we don't know why, doesn't mean there is not a reason. What is true is that if anyone else were in his shoes, they would do the same thing. How do we know that? Because he did it and no supernatural forces were working against him. If someone else were in his shoes then he would have the same biology, the same history, the same memories, and be in the same circumstance, therefore he would do the same thing."

Tags:prison, US, exceptionalism, punishment, incarceration, injustice

Abstract
This paper presents a model for the development of a substance abuse treatment program for substance abuse in a middle class community located in an urban environment. The paper also incorporates the local drug court prevention program into the treatment.

Outline:
Introduction
The Court
The Treatment Program
Population
Drug Court
In Patient
Aftercare Program
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The inpatient program will consist of an inpatient program with a duration of 28 days. The first week will be referred to as a "Black out" week during which time the participant can have no contact with family or friends."
"This black out period is to help the client adjust to the new surroundings, adapt to the program regime, get started in the various groups and therapies and reduce the chance of contacting an enabler that might interfere with the treatment plan."
"Following the black out week the client will be allowed one visit per week by immediate family members only and it will last one hour.
While the client is in the inpatient program his or her family members will be invited and encouraged to attend the family sessions that will be held each week for three hours that the client is at the center."

Tags:counselors, addiction, tools, habits, AA, NA, behavior, modification, therapies