addictive - modifying: aversion: overall

Question 1

effectiveness

Answer 1

P: treats symptoms and not underlying cause = not effective
E: The Office for Health Improvement & Disparities (OHID) UK reported that in 2022-2023, nearly half receiving treatment had problems with overlapping substance dependencies. 30% of individuals reported alcohol misuse in combination with drug misuse.
T: Therefore this is a weakness as although it may stop once addition, if underlying psychological or biological causes of addiction go untreated then the individual never becomes free of addiction. Rendering aversion therapy as only a temporary solution as the individual will just substitute their addictions with other ones, e.g. drinking becomes gambling

Question 2

ethical

Answer 2

P: There are other alternatives of aversion therapy that are less harmful = ethical
E; Tom Kraft presented a series of case studies highlighting the success of covert sensitisation (an approach that uses images of unpleasant stimuli rather than the direct physical stimuli). This suggests that aversion therapy doesn’t have to be as invasive and can still be effective/
T: Therefore this is a strength because it suggests the principles of aversion therapy are adaptable enough that ethical alternatives can be developed that are still effective and avoid the psychological and physical risk of harm whilst also working to change behaviour.
C: However, covert sensitization may not be a robust option for all individuals as critics suggest it may require more intense treatment to see results which is time consuming and not a viable option for those without proper time and resources for multiple sessions.

Question 3

social

Answer 3

P: One weakness of aversion therapy is its high financial cost, both in terms of the therapy itself and the long-term costs associated with it.
E: According to Devlin (2008) in The Telegraph, the NHS spent £2.25 million on Antabuse and related medications in 2008, an increase from £1.08 million in 1998. This represents a significant financial burden for public health services.
T: Therefore the financial cost of aversion therapy, specifically medications like Antabuse, has been increasing over time and the long-term use of such treatments may not be sustainable for health services, especially in a time of budget constraints. It’s a weakness because the resources could be allocated to other, potentially more cost-effective treatments or preventative measures for addiction.
Counter: However, some argue that investing in these therapies could reduce long-term costs by preventing the broader social and economic consequences of addiction, such as healthcare costs and loss of productivity.