Long Answer Questions Flashcards
(2 cards)
How does the medical model of drug use differ from the moral model? How are they similar? What are their strengths and weaknesses? What types of interventions do each lead to? Why do you think these two models continue to be influential?
The medical model of drug use differs from the moral model because it frames individual users as victims of drug dependence rather than being responsible for their drug dependence. These models are similar in that they both fail to address other factors that influence substance use such as sociocultural factors – they both remain individual rather than structurally focused.
The medical model is more humanitarian than the moral model, which can be seen as a strength. However, the medical model fails to remove feelings of shame and stigma by promoting anonymity in its interventions and it removes individual autonomy and self-confidence to change their situation.
The moral model acknowledges individual users as having autonomy and control over their situation which can be seen as a strength. However, it promotes fear and disdain for users and fails to address the underlying causes of substance use in its interventions.
The medical model leads to interventions such as treatment-based strategies (I.e., AA, rehab) whereas the moral model leads to interventions including criminalization and social sanctions.
I think these two models continue to be influential because they allow authorities control over disadvantaged populations and these authorities (I.e., doctors, government personnel, etc.) can remain in positions of power by continuing to promote such models.
Describe how the social learning theory explains substance use. Be sure to include the concepts of positive and negative reinforcement, imitation, and operant conditioning? Provide examples of each. Which do you personally find provides you with a better understanding of addiction and why?
The social learning theory explains substance use via operant conditioning and imitation.
Operant conditioning involves both positive and negative reinforcement as well as positive and negative punishment. Positive reinforcement strengthens substance use by the addition of a positive stimulus following use. For example, general feelings of pleasure that follow after using or increased sociability and acquisition of peers after using. Negative reinforcement also strengthens the likelihood of substance use by removing an undesirable consequence. For example, to avoid uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms an individual will continue to use the substance. Positive punishment involves adding an aversive consequence to decrease substance use (I.e., medication that makes one sick when they drink to treat alcohol dependency). Negative punishment involves taking away a reinforcing item (I.e., removing the individual from their social group).
Imitation refers to modelling the behaviors of others. For example, watching your peers use substances and then using substances yourself.
I think operant conditioning provides me with a better understanding of addiction because it includes several different aspects of how substance use can be maintained.
