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Models of Addiction and Alcoholism
Addiction and alcoholism, like any other chronic diseases, are multifactorial in nature. The role of how certain biological, social, and environmental factors interact is not completely understood. As a result of this cunning, baffling disease, several different models of addiction/alcoholism appear in the literature.
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (2006) 8 regards addiction as a lifelong disease involving biological, environmental, psychosocial and spiritual factors.
Table 5: Signs of Addiction |
Increased consumption with increased tolerance
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| Increased desire for persistent and regular use of the drug |
| Loss of control, attempts to stop result in inability to stop and/or withdrawal |
| Continued use despite physical, psychological, social and legal ramifications |
| Compulsive drug-seeking behavior |
| Social Isolation |
| Suicidal thoughts and attempts |
The factors that may play a role in making an individual susceptible to chemical dependency and addiction include:
Table 6: Incidence of Dependence and Abuse,
2005 National Survey of Drug Use and Health |
Substance Depended On or Abused
|
Number of People
|
| Alcohol |
14.8 million |
| Illicit Drugs |
3.8 million |
| Both Alcohol and Illicit Drugs |
3.1 million |
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Neuron
