Chemical Abuse Theories

Paper Summary:

This paper reviews several factors that help to modify individual's substance-use pattern including the physical reinforcement value of the drugs being abused, the social reinforcement value, cultural rules that govern recreational chemical use and the individuals life goals. The author points out that the medical or disease model of addiction plays an important role in the treatment of substance abuse. The paper relates that most recently, drawing on medicine's growing understanding of human genetics, scientists have attempted to identify the genetic basis for alcoholism and the other forms of drug addiction.

Table of Contents:
Factors That Influence Recreational Drug Use
The Process of Becoming a Drug Abuser
Biological/Physiological Theories of Substance Abuse
The Medical Model of Drug Addiction
The Biological Differences Theories
The Physical Reward Potential
Sociological/Cultural Theories of Substance Abuse
The Social Learning Components of Drug Use
Cultural/Social Influences on Chemical Use Patterns
Relationship between Different Social Groups and the Parent Culture
Social Feedback Mechanisms and Drug Use
Personality/ Individual Theories of Substance Abuse
Individual Expectations as a Component of Drug Use
Individuals' Life Goals as Helping to Shape Chemical Use
The Chemical Use of Decision-Making Process
The Personality Predisposition Theories of Substance Abuse
Ego State and Drug of Choice
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"In support of the psychoanalytic model of addictions, an impressive body of evidence suggests that certain personality traits do seem to predispose the individual to specific forms of drug abuse. When forces conspired to limit the amount and quality of heroin available in Australia's capital territory, heroin addicts did not appear to switch their drug of choice in large numbers, suggesting that the particular drug played a specific role in their lives that could not be fulfilled by other chemicals. ... found that heroin-dependent people demonstrated higher scores for the traits of novelty-seeking and self-directedness on the Cloninger TCI personality test than did alcohol-dependent people..."

Sample of Sources Used:

• American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed. -Text Revision). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association.
• Bierut, L. J., Dinwiddie, S.H., Begleiter, H., Crowe, R. R., Heselbrock, V., Nurmberger, J. I., Porjesz, B., Schuckit, M. A., & Reich, T. (1998) Famililial transmission of substance abuse dependence: Alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and habitual smoking. Archives of General Psychiatry, 55, 982-988.
• Bradshaw, J. (1998a). Bradshaw on : The Family. Deeerfield Beach, FL: Health Communivcations, Inc.
• Budney, A. J., Moore, B. A., Brandrey, R.G., & Hughes, J.R. (2003). The time course and significance of cannabis withdrawal. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 112, 393-402.
• Budney, A.J., Sigmon, S. C., & Higgins, S. T., (2003) Contingency management in the substance treatement clinic. In Treating substance abuse: Theory and technique (2nd ed.) (Rotgers, F., Morgenstern, J., & Walters, S.T., eds.). New York: Guilford.

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