Pros And Cons Of Addiction

In This Article I Discuss The Commonly Held View Of Addictions As Diseases Along With The Pros And Cons Of This View Including Its Effects On Progress In Treatment

The Pros and Cons of Addiction | Ottavio Ricciardelli | TEDxYouth@DubaiCollege

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes.

A commonly held view of addictions is that they are diseases. The view holds that if you are unlucky enough to be afflicted with such a disease, it will be with you for your life because it cannot be cured. Furthermore, because your addiction is a disease, you are unable to exert control over it. Acknowledging this lack of control or powerlessness is the basis of 12-step programs which are used to help people with addictions for issues such as alcohol and drug use, gambling and sexual activity by appealing to the help of a higher power.

In the following sections, I will examine the advantages and disadvantages of viewing addictions as diseases. I will then mention an alternative view of addictions which may be more conducive to clients making progress in therapy to address their addictions.

Greater Access For All

Telehealth can connect people from anywhere at any time. This has proven to be a great option for those who live in more rural areas. Studies have shown a positive impact for telehealth services reaching individuals in rural areas who might otherwise have to travel to receive the care they need.Leath, B. A., Dunn, L. W., Alsobrook, A., & Darden, M. L. . Enhancing Rural Population Health Care Access and Outcomes Through the Telehealth EcoSystem Model. Online journal of public Continue reading Access is key in supporting individuals on their path to recovery.

Telehealth also provides greater access for those who may have physical limitations, making it difficult to travel and get to one central location for care. The ability to access the care you need from home has proved immensely helpful to those in rural areas or who have physical limitations.

The 12 Steps To Recovery

The 12-step program has a religious or spiritual component and is strongly focused on rehabilitating a substance abuser via making amends and committing to help from a higher power. Per 12step.org, it is inclusive of the following tasks, in order of how they should be completed:

Admit that you are powerless in the face of your dependency and you can no longer manage your life because of it.

Accept that a higher power can provide you with the sanity and balance youve lost.

Take note of your morals without bias.

Admit to yourself, to your higher power, and to someone else you trust the wrongdoings youve committed.

Prepare yourself for the higher power to rid you of these character flaws.

Ask your higher power to take away the sins of your past.

Write a list of the people youve wronged and prepare to seek their forgiveness.

Set out to make amends with these people unless it would harm them to do so.

Remain vigilant of your shortcomings and take responsibility for wrongdoings as they occur.

Pray and meditate to elevate the relationship you have with your higher power and ask to be fulfilled with the intentions your higher power has for you.

Achieve spiritual enlightenment after the completion of these steps and walk through life with the intent of practicing and relaying the 12-step message to others dependent on drugs or alcohol.

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Addiction As A Disease: Understanding The Disadvantages

In the news media, the typical expert describes addiction as a disease. Often these experts work at addiction treatment facilities. It would be easy to conclude that experts agree that addiction is hereditary, incurable, and lifelong. In the addiction field, this view is referred to as the disease model. There is significant disagreement about the disease model, but the scientists and professionals who view addiction in other ways do not receive the same media coverage. Why alternatives to the disease model do not get more publicity is a story in itself. However, this article will focus on two reasons not to understand addiction as a disease.

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To Cons Of Inpatient Addiction Treatment

Though attending an inpatient addiction treatment is recommended, as with all treatment options, there are several cons of inpatient treatment. Below, we have outlined a number of the cons of inpatient addiction treatment.

Attending an inpatient addiction treatment sees individuals faced with a somewhat structured routine and programme. In some instances, the routine administered offers little room for flexibility.
Individuals who attend an inpatient addiction treatment will need to remain within the facility as they complete addiction treatment.
Inpatient addiction treatment requires complete focus and dedication. Those who attend an inpatient addiction treatment cannot continue to work or carry out their everyday tasks and responsibilities.
Completing an inpatient addiction treatment takes at least 28-days. However, as recovery specialists monitor progress at all times, some individuals are required to stay in rehab for longer.
Unlike outpatient addiction treatment, which is free of charge, inpatient addiction treatment can be quite costly. In some instances, taking advantage of inpatient addiction treatment costs more than£14,000 depending on the centre attended. Unfortunately, the costs associated with inpatient addiction treatment make it almost impossible for some individuals to attend inpatient rehab.

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Pros And Cons Of Mat For Fentanyl Addiction

Fentanyl is truly one of the most dangerous and addictive drugs currently circulating within the United States and abroad. Fortunately, there are a number of effective options when it comes to treatment for fentanyl addiction. One of these many forms of treatment is medication-assisted treatment, commonly abbreviated as MAT. However, like any other type of treatment, medication-assisted treatment for fentanyl addiction comes with a unique list of pros and cons, which can often help a person decide if it is a form of treatment that is worth pursuing.

How Can I Find The Help I Need

We can match you with safe, effective rehab programs all over the country that will benefit your current situation. In addition, we can answer any questions you may have about treatment and recovery, including which rehab programs will take your insurance plan. Call Who Answers? now and begin your recovery today.

Family Systems Therapy And The Genogram

Mental health professionals use a genogram to chart the roles of family members.

This is a pictorial representation of a familys medical history and interpersonal relationships.

It can display psychological factors, hereditary features, and other issues that may affect psychological health.

Bowen used genograms for assessment and treatment. He would first interview each family member to learn the familys history going back at least three generations.

Bowen used this information to assess any behavioral or mental health problems.

The Benefits Of This Treatment Option Include:

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Ability to schedule treatment and remain involved in work or school
Ability to get help as needed without committing to live in a facility for 30-days or more
You can still take care of your home or other personal matters while receiving treatment
Lower cost when compared to most residential treatment programs

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New Or Continuing Dependency

The first issue is that some patients are not able to use the drug to reduce their dependency. Instead, they use the drug to maintain a certain level of addiction. These patients have problems tapering off of the drug. As a result, thetreatment isnt as effective for them.

Patients need a level of self-control for replacement drug therapy to be effective. Some patients arent ready for this. Others may never be ready. However, this doesnt mean that those patients are hopeless. Instead, these patients need to use other methods of getting clean.

Benefits Of Telehealth For Addiction Recovery

Telehealth allows drug rehab facilities and other healthcare centers to administer the care and support that those in recovery need to stay on track and on the right path. Through telehealth, providers can offer advice, monitoring, therapy sessions, interventions, and, if necessary, admissions. Providers and patients alike have noticed significant benefits from using telehealth services.

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Goal Of Methadone Use In Drug Addiction Treatment

Ultimately, the goal for the person who chooses methadone maintenance is to return to a more normal life. Once they begin taking methadone under medical supervision, they may be able to benefit from substance abuse treatment, vocational counseling and educational assistance. As they begin feeling more healthy, they may self-refer to social service agencies so they can get back on their feet.

According to Harvard Medical School, approximately 25 percent of persons admitted to a methadone maintenance program will, over time, become abstinent from methadone if they choose to have themselves weaned. Another 25 percent will continue using methadone while the remainder will stop using methadone and resume its use when they enter another substance abuse treatment program.

Weighing Continued Drug Abuse Against Treatment

Pros, Cons of Returning to Work After Drug Addiction Treatment

Some people refuse to seek the treatment they need because they feel it will be a better solution for them to merely continue using drugs than to look for help. This myth exists for a number of reasons.

Belief: Treatment for addiction costs more than drug abuse.
Reality: Treatment is less expensive than continued use.
According to the NIDA, rehab is much more cost effective for the country than the other solutions for substance abuse, which include continued use and prison. But it is also cheaper the individual who seeks help than for the same person to feed a habit that can sometimes cost upwards of several hundred dollars a day.

Belief: Treatment doesnt work. I dont want to waste my time and money for nothing.

Reality: Addiction treatment has been found to be incredibly effective.

Evidence-based practices like medication and behavioral therapy have been used for almost fifty years to create a safe recovery model for individuals in treatment. In addition, new and holistic treatments have been increasing the benefits of rehab.

Belief: If I relapse, it means my treatment didnt work, and I wont be able to recover.

Reality: Relapse is often a part of recovery, but it doesnt mean treatment has failed.

Many people relapse at some point during their addiction recovery, but those who do must continue on their path and seek help when needed. This is the only way to create real change.

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Understanding Inpatient Addiction Treatment

Private rehabs across the United Kingdom provide inpatient addiction treatment. Requiring individuals to remain within their chosen rehab facility as they complete a treatment programme, inpatient addiction treatment combines detoxification, rehabilitation, therapy and several other treatment options.

Catering to the addiction recovery needs of each individual, inpatient addiction treatment can be obtained for a plethora of addictions such as drug addictions, alcohol addictions and behavioural addictions. Dual diagnosis treatment for co-existing addictions and mental health disorders is also available.

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The Pros Of Inpatient Addiction Treatment

Inpatient addiction treatment comes hand-in-hand with many benefits that essentially help individuals secure a long-term recovery and maintain their sobriety in the weeks, months and years that follow addiction treatment. However, the pros of inpatient addiction treatment are often overlooked as outpatient addiction treatment is favoured.

To help you understand the benefits of inpatient treatment, we have shared a number of pros of inpatient addiction treatment below.

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How Different Addiction Counselling Work

There are several addiction counselings that are available for you, and not a single one of these therapies are known to be better over the others. Likewise, not a single approach is catered for a single type of addiction. The right addiction counseling plan for you would be tailored to your addiction and your individual wants and needs.

Individual therapy

This therapy is right for you if you have a separate diagnosis from your addiction. This diagnosis could be depression bipolar disorder or other mental health problems.

Group therapy

In this therapy, youll be supported and challenged by people who have already gone through it or are going through your situation.

Outpatient treatment

This treatment will allow you to still go to work or school and go on with your daily life since its mostly a part-time program.

Residential treatment

This type of treatment will separate you from the environment that has caused you to become an addict.

Cognitive behavioral therapy

In this therapy, youll be taught on how to recognize and avoid thoughts, moods, or situations that might lead you to relapse.

Contingency management therapy

This type of therapy will help you receive incentives for your efforts of staying clean.

The Pros And Cons Of Addiction

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The Pros and Cons of Addiction

Addictions come in many forms and almost always involve a complex three-way interaction between the person, the object of the addiction , and the societal context of the addiction. This complex interaction raises a controversial social question: Is addiction always a bad thing? Although there is often a significant amount of social stigma attached to addictions, and popular media often focuses on the treatment and prevention of addiction, there may also be associated positive qualities of addictive substances and behaviors.

Initial post will be written on a specific substance that has addictive potential of your choice.

For this discussion, you must explain both the positive and negative potential of addiction to your chosen substance or behavior. Therefore, you must choose a substance or behavior that presents both positive and negative potential outcomes.

Research your substance or behavior providing at least two peer-reviewed resources to support any claims made. In your post, construct clear and concise arguments using evidence-based psychological concepts and theories to create a brief scenario or example of a situation in which your chosen addiction provides both positive and negative potential outcomes for a subject. Integrate concepts developed from different content domains to support your arguments.

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At The End Of The Day

Everything in this world has its positives and negatives. However, there are more negatives for your addiction than the therapy. The negatives that you encounter are just obstacles that youll face on your way to become a better and healthier you. Why not try looking for a counseling solution like Bridging The Barriers Addiction Counselling to help you get through your addiction.

About The Author:

Francesca Hart offers a unique take on her pieces, which can be seen with her pieces contributed to Bridging The Barriers Addiction Counselling. Her writing offers a refreshing and youthful vibe that isnt seen in a lot of places online. Whenever shes free, Francesca takes care of her succulents in her apartment.

Cons Of Addiction Counselling

A long process

Addiction counseling takes time its going to be a long and slow process. Youll need to have the patience and the will to get cured and become better than who you are now.

Costly

Addiction counseling can be expensive. You would need to shell out money in order to experience its benefits. Most of the time, its also not covered by insurance policies, which means that you need to spend your own money for this.

Backfiring

At times, you may conclude that all of the things happening to you during your therapy, especially the bad ones, are results of your lack of effort. This thought may lead to more depression and anxiety.

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Advantages Of Viewing Addictions As Diseases

There are several positive aspects to viewing addictions as diseases. One is that doing so removes a lot of the shame from having an addiction. On a related point, if you have hurt people close to you because of your addiction they are less likely to blame you and display anger toward you. Although they may not be happy with you for your actions, their believing that these actions were the result of a condition over which you have no control makes it less likely they will resent you.

Because there is less shame, blaming and anger when the addict and people in the addicts life view the addiction as a disease, having this view often makes it easier for the addict to admit that they have a problem. In turn, viewing their addiction as a disease may facilitate their taking steps to address their addiction.

Fhe Offers Outpatient Recovery Treatment

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If you are suffering from drug addiction, exploring your treatment options before you make your decisions and choosing the option that will work best for you may be the right course of action. You will be ensuring that you are going to be able to make the most out of your treatment and that you will be getting the long term tools that you need to move past your addiction and get back to the business of living your life. ContactFHE today for more information on outpatient addiction treatment options.

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Why Dont Some People Want To Seek Treatment

Drug abuse starts out as a voluntary action in most cases, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. But over time, it changes the way the brain works, causing a person to not be able to choose when they want to use and when they dont. Many individuals become addicts and experience problems in their lives that are caused by their inability to stop using or control their use of drugs. But by this point, they will often not want to stop because of how the drug has changed their brain, or if they do want to stop, they will not be able to on their own.

Drug addiction also makes a person lie: to themselves and to everyone else. Some people tell themselves they dont need treatment when they do or they start to feel that everyone is pushing against them and trying to force them to seek help when they dont really need it. It makes people avoid treatment and the pleas of their loved ones because they want to keep using.

As a result, many people dont seek help voluntarily until their substance abuse has become a real problem. But whenever an individual does decide to seek the treatment they need, weighing the pros and cons of drug abuse is usually part of the process.