Posts Tagged ‘substance abuse’
Question by denveryay: How is it possible to absolutely categorize Alcoholim as a disease and not an illness?
“Disease” is a very loosely defined term in many respects. There are multiple disorders, infenctions, and symptoms that can be typical of a definable disease. Also, a disease must have specific and constant cause(s), which in the case of Alcoholism is the CHOICE to drink ethyl-alcohol. The cause of the “disease” is the recurring and disregarding CHOICE to drink. A choice, however pathological or illogical, doesn’t seem to be appropriate as a cause or a condition of any disease. Despite the negative psychological, physiological, and other results of long-term alcohol abuse, it seems that it shouldn’t be classified as anything more than a treatable mental disorder.
“Illness, although often used to mean disease, can also refer to a person’s perception of their health, regardless of whether they in fact have a disease. A person without any disease may feel unhealthy and believe he has an illness. Another person may feel healthy and believe he does not have an illness even though he may have a disease” – Wikipedia on ‘Disease’
It is true that if some Alcoholics didn’t have a disease to blame for their disorder, they would not be able to stop drinking. It is also true that because of Alcholism-as-a-disease, many people who ABUSE alcohol are led into misperceptions about their drinking habits. In fact, it is only alcohol DEPENDENCE that could possibly even begin to be categorized as a disease.
An individual who is alcohol-dependent exhibits behavior indicitive of addiction. Drink-seeking, withdrawal and tolerance, and psychological malfunction among others are the results and symptoms of addiction. My father and friends have struggled with alchohol and drug addictions and I have seen the both successful and unsuccessful treatments implemented in their lives.
It seems that Alcoholism and drug addictions are psychological disorders that in a vast majority of instances could be cured by a conscious choice (however difficult) to STOP using the cause of the addiction. It has been proven in many instances that an addict can stop using the object of their addiction without any complications, as long as they are commited to quitting.
It seems that diseases should only be those such as Cancer, Diabetes, Hepatitis and the like. People who have these diseases cannot make a choice to simply stop a behavior to ease their pains. Whereas, although undoubtedly difficult, an addict can ease his or her addiction by making a powerful choice to stop using.
By allowing alcoholism to be categorized as a disease, it seems that negative stigma is removed from addicts’ behaviors and people who drink are given an excuse to justify their behavior. Instead of feeling like they’ve let themselves and their families down, they are able to blam their behavior on a cause outside of their control, which is simply not true.
“Neither the U.S. Veterans Administration nor the Social Security Administration makes payments to individuals, whose disabilities stem from substance abuse, including alcoholism.” – From Shoutwire
I am NOT pro- or anti- any of this I am looking for factual objective evidence and ideas that could lead to helping me understand why Alchoholism is given reprieve by its disease classification.
Best answer:
Answer by kentuckyredhead5353
Well about half way through I had a problem and I developed this question. What is the difference with what you were saying in comparison to a cigarette smoker for some it’s the habit and the motion and some get physically sick for the lack of nicotine is it not similar. emotional vs physical and different for different personality types? 🙂 Guess I could read on have a good one:-)
OK I’m finally done now i get it, it’s all in there head so all they have to do is get it out of their head and it will all go away. They just will it away. Take 2 aspirins have a sucker and call me in the morning:-)
oh excuse me revision: update-read the last part. it was taken out as a disease because social security was being drained by leagal alcoholics that the government makes good taxes off of. The only help and recourse for a recovering alcoholic, drug user, vet, is a mental health clinic because why did they drink in the first place. Now uncle sam pays for their drugs and kills them off with a lousy health plan. looks who is on all the class action suits that will never collect anything. Trust me I have done my homework on this subject. I know many vets and low income disabled people. Nothing has changed but the name of the disease.
Answer by vinnydamedic
The so called “holy bible” of the world of Psychology and Psychaitry classifies Alcoholism as an addiction, and a psychological disorder (call it illness, disease, whatnot). With it’s classification in the DSM-IVTR, it is now possible to use this disorder as reason for non-competence for crimes, permanent psychiatric disability and other medical claims.
Anoka Co. Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program Gets High Honors
An Anoka County drug and alcohol treatment program was recently honored for its work to help local women get their lives back on track. The county's Enhanced Treatment Program earned both the Achievement Award from the Association of Minnesota …
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Rock Doc: Old drug offers new hope for quitting alcohol
But there is still a long road to travel before gabapentin is considered by the Food and Drug Administration as a possible treatment for alcoholism. And even if the FDA took action today to approve gabapentin for such use, people who suffer from …
Read more on The Spokesman Review
A Pill to Cure Addiction?
In 2011, more than 21 million Americans needed treatment for a problem related to alcohol or drugs, according to the federal government's most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Many try to quit, but studies show 60% or more of alcoholics …
Read more on Wall Street Journal
Question by Amanda: What can Percocet abuse do to your baby during pregnancy?
A girl I know is due in August and has been abusing the pills before she found out and ever since she found out. She has been taking 5-8 a day. The doctor supposedly tells her everything looks/sounds good but I’m doubtful. Could something be wrong with her baby when it’s born? Thanks for any answers. She also has not told her doctor about her substance abuse.
Could the doctor be able to tell anything is wrong through listening to the heart beat? Or any ultrasounds? It’s not fair to make your baby suffer while you get high.
Best answer:
Answer by ladystang
birth defects up to death
Answer by Trustinno1
yea her baby could be born opiate dependent an have problem with brething heart rate an withdrawl plus if u live in the us she has a real chance of having here baby takin from her she need to try an get some help for her an her baby
Treatment courts seek to aid Mass. veterans with mental health, substance …
But that's exactly what he did recently as he made his weekly visit to the Norfolk Country Veterans Treatment Court in Dedham, where he and 25 other veterans are going through a program aimed at helping them deal with criminal charges, substance abuse …
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American College Of Physicians Urges Stricter Controls To Address Prescription …
Faced with the difficulty of preventing or reducing prescription drug abuse while preserving patient access to appropriate treatment, the Health and Public Policy Committee of ACP developed the position paper to provide proper guidance to medical …
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Question by Laura: What does the term “chronic addiction” mean to you? What images do you get when you hear this term?
If a doctor writes the term “chronic addiction” into a patient’s chart, what would you think of that patient? What sort of person do you think a person with a “chronic addiction” diagnosis might be? What impressions will other doctors get of the patient if they see this term in the chart?
Best answer:
Answer by PINKY
Chronic just means ongoing. A disease or illness that will continue without medical treatment. As far as what other doctors may think, well was it a chronic drug addiction? Is so they will probably never prescribe you drugs like those unless absolutely neccessary.
Answer by gaurdianangelic
because i am a psychology major the first thing i would have to cosider is where it is that i work but to anwer your question
if i saw chronic addiction i would think that this person is supseptible to becoming an addict to anything that would do with medications such as illegal pills, needles, or whether it is over the counter! and this can go in another way, chronic addiction could also mean that this person has a mental illness and they could ne addicted to sex! or burning themselves, or cutting themselves
In addiction, meditation is helpful when coupled with drug and cognitive therapies
Using a computational model of addiction, a literature review and an in silico experiment, theoretical computer scientist Yariv Levy and colleagues suggest in a new paper this week that rehabilitation strategies coupling meditation-like practices with …
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Breaking the Silence event targets substance abuse, addiction issues
She had a successful career as a health educator with a Positive Approach to Teen Health, or PATH. But her personal life was falling apart, as her son, Michael, 18, slipped deeper into drug addiction. Bauer and her son were among several families who …
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Larry Riley: May we quote you? Best lines of 2013
Muncie police Lt. Steve Cox, May 23, after a raid on a house in the 1900 block of East Butler and arrest of two “major players” in drug deals, confiscation of $ 25,000 worth of drugs and a “large assortment” of assault rifle ammunition. • “I don't want …
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Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment to expand in Two Harbors
The Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment will triple its efforts in Two Harbors next year, offering an intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment program for 12 hours a week along with the current six hours of outpatient treatment at Lake View …
Read more on Duluth News Tribune
After 25 years on the streets, man has a place to call home
Hartnett meets and exceeds that definition. He has spent more than half … When they are no longer struggling to stay alive, they can start addressing their substance-abuse problems and mental-health needs and eventually try to find work. Hartnett's …
Read more on Arizona Republic
Question by abnjim5: Is Alcoholics Anonymous more effective than Cognitve Behavioral Therapy?
Much debate exists about which model is more effective in treating the problem of drug addiction. Some say AA is the only treatment that “works” while others choose the more human friendly non-religious CBT. AA uses rigid spiritual concepts based on their 12 steps and conducts their AA meetings on strict formats that were written seven decades ago. In AA “labels” like alcoholic are used which still holds a high degree of social stigmatism. Cognitive Behaviour programs like SMART (self-management and rehab treatment) sees substance abuse as a behaviour that can be changed, not a disease. CBT self-help methods are solidly based in comtemporary science and open discussions are encouraged. AA tells it members and “newcomers” that they need to find a higher power or god and relying on “self will” is bad and will lead to relapse.
If you were having problems with drugs, which would you choose for help, AA or CBT?
Best answer:
Answer by synchronicity915
I think it depends on the person.
Answer by dinoduos
AA is a bunch of BULLSH!T its nothing but a bunch of drunks leaning on each other trading one crutch for another you dont need them or a “higher power”its like another form of brainwashing
Price of Addiction: New opioid treatment can work wonders but there are limits …
Methadone is the best-known treatment for managing opioid addiction, both to heroin and prescription painkillers. But it's not the only one or even the most effective for many addicts. Another drug therapy — buprenorphine, which goes under the brand …
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HOWLEY: de Blasio daughter's drug abuse video is what's wrong with young …
De Blasio's daughter Chiara, 19, whose problems were shielded during the campaign while her father cut a popular commercial with her brother, admitted to drug abuse in a cloying Christmastime video that evoked sympathy for her “depression. … “When I …
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Richland company offers drug test kits to parents
Hospitals, government agencies and other companies in the region also provide drug-testing services, whether it's for work place safety or to treat addiction. Chapman-Rosa's sister Shannon Davari works for her, and she routinely kept a test kit at home …
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Warming center looks to expand
Again this winter, Hope Through Christ Ministries in Baraboo is operating a warming center to keep homeless people safe from the cold overnight. People who arrive seeking a warm bed also are treated to meals, clothing, toiletries and shower access …
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Temple rehab center helps those with dependence
TEMPLE — Local agency Christian Farms Treehouse is a substance abuse facility that offers residential treatment for people suffering a drug or alcohol dependence. “It was founded because community members felt the need for substance abuse help,” said …
Read more on Killeen Daily Herald
Calendar of events 12/27
MOMS Club of North Murfreesboro meetings: 10:30 a.m., Moms Offering Moms Support (MOMS) support group for stay-at-home mothers, first Friday each month, First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, Thompson Lane. For more information, contact …
Read more on The Daily News Journal