Addiction 101 - WCA Conference

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Presented by Jason Schwartz at the Washtenaw Counseling Association Spring Conference in March 2009.

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ADDICTION 101

A primer on addiction

Definition of addiction“Alcoholism is a primary, chronic

disease with genetic, psychosocial and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal.

It is characterized by continuous or periodic impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial.”

(National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. 2/3/90)

What is a disease?

The causal model:

1. cell, organ or system

2. defect or injury

3. measurable symptoms

A broken leg?

The causal model:

1. bone

2. defect?

3. symptoms?

4. treatment?

Diabetes?

The causal model:

1. pancreas

2. defect?

3. symptoms?

4. treatment?

Alcoholism?

The causal model:

1. brain? liver?

2. defect?

3. symptoms?

4. treatment?

The causal model works for easy diagnosis

• The model favors simple organs.

– Addiction?

– Brain disease? Liver disease?

• In the absence of easy causality, what models work?

– Moral

– Personality

– Environment

Learning to drink

priming

early experimentation

being adult

designated driver

The mathematics of drinking

priming

early experimentation

building trust

reliable effect

learning how to use

signature experience

More is better

priming

early experimentation

building trust

reliable effect

learning how to use

signature experience

The rules of drinking

priming

early experimentation

building trust

reliable effect

learning how to use

signature experience

How alcoholism develops

priming

early experimentation

building trust

reliable effect

learning how to use

signature experience

THE HIJACKED BRAIN

The Hijacked Brain

The limbic system

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Self Actualization

Esteem

Belonging

Safety

Physiological(Food, air, water)

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs(Revised by addiction)

Self Actualization

Esteem

Belonging

Safety

Physiological

(Food, air, water & DRUGS)

HOW POWERFUL IS THIS?

Here’s your number

0239

or

0923489

We’d like to thank you!

AN IMPERFECT ANALOGY

I’m concerned about you, but…

HOW HAVE WE RESPONDED?

Souce: (Mark & Coffey, 2004. Health

Affairs 23:6)

Length of Stay

28 daysto 7 days (in 1998)

Source: NAPHS

Type of Care

Outpatient

Inpatient

The other winner

Treatment and Prevention Spending

Federal prison inmates whose most serious conviction was a drug crime rose from 4,749 in 1980 to 77,867 in 2004. (1540%)Source: Maguire, Kathleen and Ann L.Pastore, eds. Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics [Online]. Available: http://www.albany.edu/sourcebook/ [7/3/05].

State prison inmates whose most serious conviction was a drug crime rose from 19,000 in 1980 to 246,100 in 2001. (1195%)Source: Prisoners in 2002 & Prisoners in 1994, Bureau of Justice Statistics [Online]. Available: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pubalp2.htm#Prisoners [7/3/05]

Jail inmates whose most serious charge was a drug crime rose from 20,420 in 1983 to 155,249 in 2002. (660%)Source: Maguire, Kathleen and Ann L.Pastore, eds. Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics [Online]. Available: http://www.albany.edu/sourcebook/ [7/3/05].

From 1986 to 1999 the average term drug offenders entering prison could expect to serve rose from an average 30 months to 66 months. (120%)Source: Federal Drug Offenders, 1999 with Trends, 1984-99, Bureau of Justice Statistics [Online]. Available: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/fdo99.htm [7/3/05]

Think We’re Immune?

“Our clientsare not your

typical irresponsible alcoholics”

“Some of these people will never get better. The most humane thing that we can do for them is provide hospice care.”

Local hospital cabs woman to detox in nothing but a hospital gown.

G

O

M

E

R

et

ut of

y

mergency

oom

ARE WE VIEWING ADDICTION TREATMENT APPROPRIATELY?

Treatment for Hypertension:Did Treatment Work?

Treatment Status Over Time

Blo

od

Pre

ssu

re:

mm

Hg

No Tx Tx Tx Tx No Tx

Treatment Status Over Time

Alc

oh

ol C

on

sum

pti

on

No Tx Tx Tx Tx No Tx

Treatment for Alcoholism:Did Treatment Work?

IS ADDICTION TREATMENT

AS EFFECTIVE AS

TREATMENT FOR OTHER

HEALTH PROBLEMS?

How does

asthma compare?

Medication compliance: 30%

Relapse Rate: 60 to 80%

How does

hypertension

compare?

Medication

And Diet

Compliance: 30%

Relapse Rate: 60-80%

How does

diabetes compare?

Medication, diet

and foot care

Compliance: <50%

Relapse: 30-50%

Alcoholism?

Compliance: 30-50%

Relapse: 50%

Opiates?

Compliance: 30-50%

Relapse: 40%

Tobacco?

Compliance: 30-50%

Relapse: 70%

Cocaine?

Compliance: 30-50%

Relapse: 45%

Dr. Jekyll: Real person is the sober self; addiction is about goodness corrupted by sickness

Is the addicted person viewed as…

Mr. Hyde: Real person revealed by

intoxication and disinhibition;

addiction is the revelation of badness(White, 2004)

“If you want to treat an illness that has no easy cure, first of all,

treat them with hope”

George Vaillant

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