The Disease ModelThe Disease Model

Tiffy Lux

Substance Abuse Treatment I: PSY482 UB

Argosy University

September 24, 2011

What is itWhat is it

The disease model describes addiction, as a chronic, and treatable, disease; the primary focus of the disease model is biological and medical factors (Argosy, 2011).

Case ExampleCase Example

A 34-year-old woman has a three-year history of heroin use. For the past one year, she has been using intranasal heroin every day. She has undergone detoxification four times at a local opioid-treatment center but each time began using heroin within three days of her discharge. She has heard of opioid replacement treatment but fears that she will lose her job if she is seen coming to the clinic.

The Disease Model ExplanationThe Disease Model Explanation

Since the client has a habitual use of heroin, the disease will not allow her to be a social drug user, as she once probably started out to be.

She will have loss of control over the disease The substance abuse becomes an obsession

(Disease Model of Addiction, 2011)

The Medical Model ExplanationThe Medical Model Explanation

The medical history, physical examination and diagnostic tests will be the focus of the client

The biological and physical symptoms related to the disease will be what is treated, and not the addiction

Treated by doctors, physicians, nurses—not psychologists/psychotherapists

(Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2008)

Behavior Modification Model Behavior Modification Model ExplanationExplanation

The behavior, drug use, will be the focus of the client

The behavior is caused by poor socialization, modeling and/or coping mechanisms/skill deficits

Use of positive and negative reinforcements to retrain the behavior of her substance abuse

(Hawkins, Catalano, & Miller, 1992)

Biophysical Model Biophysical Model ExplanationExplanation

The physical effects the client is experiencing will first be addressed, and then the emotional/psychological issues will be addressed without the use of medications/replacement drugs

By first addressing her physical effects she has suffered from the substance abuse, her physical health will be in better shape to then help the mental health be in better shape

(Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2008)

The Disease Model + 3The Disease Model + 3

The disease itself needs to be treated (disease model) with the help of the medical model (doctors, physicians) + the use of behavior modification + addressing the physical and psychological effects the substance abuse has caused.

Utilizing all four models will allow for a total treatment program, and the client will not have to worry about replacement drugs and/or losing her job

ReferenceReference

Argosy. (2011). Substance Abuse Treatment I: Module 3 Overview. Retrieved September 24, 2011 from http://www.myeclassonline.com

Capuzzi, D., & Stauffer, M. (2008). Foundations of Addiction in Counseling. Pearson Publishing.

Disease Model of Addiction. (2011). Drug and Alcohol Information: Disease Model of Addiction. Retrieved September 24, 2011 from http://www.egetgoing.com/drug_addiction/addiction_disease_model.asp

Hawkins, J., Catalano, R., Miller, J. (1992). Risk and protective factors for alcohol and other drug problems in adolescence and early adulthood: Implications for substance abuse prevention. Psychological Bulletin, 112(1), Jul 1992, 64-105. doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.112.1.64