Alcoholism
I diverted a discussion over on MsRowen's livejournal because of my concern over alcoholism. I implied a biological component to alcoholism (or more accurately disagreed that alcoholics "desire" alcohol) and she replied with this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat_Park.
This experiment shows that rats do not become addicted to morphine as a result of taking large doses of morphine.
What was interesting to me is that I never thought that WAS the biological model of addiction. I thought the biological model of addiction is that some people inherit a genetic trait that makes it more difficult to stop using a addictive substance. I thought the model was that there are some people who can choose to stop, and others whose bodies make it more difficult to stop.
I've heard people talk, especially around youth addiction, about people "becoming alcoholics". But I always thought that was just an misunderstanding of the biological model.
Am I confused? Are there three models out there? (Or four, I suppose, if you separate pyschological from moral.)
What do you think addiction to substances is about?
Besides your opinions, do you know of supporting research?
This experiment shows that rats do not become addicted to morphine as a result of taking large doses of morphine.
What was interesting to me is that I never thought that WAS the biological model of addiction. I thought the biological model of addiction is that some people inherit a genetic trait that makes it more difficult to stop using a addictive substance. I thought the model was that there are some people who can choose to stop, and others whose bodies make it more difficult to stop.
I've heard people talk, especially around youth addiction, about people "becoming alcoholics". But I always thought that was just an misunderstanding of the biological model.
Am I confused? Are there three models out there? (Or four, I suppose, if you separate pyschological from moral.)
What do you think addiction to substances is about?
Besides your opinions, do you know of supporting research?