Drug addiction is as resultant of habit formation that primarily impacts the social, biological as well as psychological aspects of the addict’s life. As a result, normal life undertakings are highly impaired. Different approaches to the management of addiction need to touch all of the above areas to be highly effective. The biopsychosocial model of addiction is hence the best tool to employ to ensure a satisfactory outcome. Two articles, ‘Brain disease or biopsychosocial model in addiction? Remembering the Vietnam Veteran Study’ and ‘The Biopsychosocial Model of Addiction’ gives a glimpse of what the model is and expound on different dynamics that are directly or indirectly related to it.
Monica C. Skewes and Vivian M. Gonzalez, in their article ‘The Biopsychosocial Model of Addiction’ cover an array of aspect about the model that touches on the three primary aspects of the model. In attempting to give a better understanding of best it can be utilized to deal with addictive behaviour, they first give an in depth description of what the model is. The authors assert that science points to the fact the interaction of biological, social as well as environmental factors interact to influence habit formation in a person who eventually becomes depended on the drugs they use. To put this into perspective, the authors first contrast the Biopsychosocial Model from the Biomedical Model. Here, the Biomedical Model differs from the latter in that it views addiction as an occurrence that results from biomedical aspects that are majorly related to a relapsing brain disease. Besides the above, an extensive analysis of the three aspects central to the Biopsychological Model is given. To begin with, biological factors are discussed. The authors point out the necessity of the right environment in interaction with biological factors to ensure the reinforcement of addictive behaviour. To exemplify this, the authors cite an experiment that was previously carried out to determine the likelihood of acquisition of alcohol consumption behaviour for children whose parents consume alcohol and children whose parents do not. Genetics plays a major role in this. The second component of the model as discussed by the authors is psychosocial factors. One of the most important aspects highlighted here is classical as well as operant conditioning. Getting a reward for a given behaviour, regardless of the type of reward is likely to directly or indirectly reinforce a behaviour. The authors also point out the fact that social factors such as family and peers are important addiction reinforcement agents. In the end, they propose either environmental related recovery avenues or the use of drugs( Skewes & Gonzalez, 2013) .
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The article by Becoña (2018 ) uses a case study of Vietnam Veterans to put into perspective substance addiction. This is by using the biopsychosocial model approach or by viewing it as a brain disease. The drug that could cause dependence that is analyzed by the author in the above case is Heroine. To begin, the author gives an overview of addiction as a brain disease. The main reason behind the conclusion is not only the impairment that is caused by drug use but most importantly habit formation and hence the relapsing to using the drug by the individuals affected. The author also points out that, in analyzing addiction as a brain disease, the author also points out that biological, social aspects, as well as neurodevelopmental issues, play a major role in concluding that addiction is a brain related issue. By highlighting the different dynamics that pertain the biopsychosocial model, the author gives a study of the use of heroin among North America soldiers deployed to Vietnam in 1971. The research conducted concluded that the pattern of heroin use was the same during the deployment period as well as after the home return by the soldiers. Alcohol consumption study resulted were however different from Heroine use. The study outcomes also concluded that alcohol addiction was as a result of influence by environmental as well as other social aspects. The author proceeds to question if the addiction problem could be better explained by the brain model. In analyzing the adequacy of the brain model in explaining addiction, the author gives an extensive literature review to prove otherwise. He asserts that addiction is not a neurological problem nor as a result of any brain-related injury. To conclude, the author deliberates on which model could better explain addiction( Becoña, 2018) .
Cognitive behavioural therapy treatment programs for substance use is one of the best treatment approaches that address the different elements of the biopsychosocial model. The program is chosen after the analysis of how such programs directly or indirectly deal with the biological, social and psychological aspects that influence addiction. The above approach best addresses the social and psychological aspects since it mainly focuses on changing one’s behavior ( McHugh et al., 2010) . Most approaches applied hence are directly as well as indirectly related to the above two components. It, however, does not majorly deals with the biological aspect. This is so because the best way that it can be viewed to include it is through the use of drugs in addition to behavioural therapy to improve the efficacy of behaviour management. This, hence, does not directly address the biological influence of drug addiction to a large extent.
References
Becoña, E. (2018). Brain disease or biopsychosocial model in addiction? Remembering the Vietnam Veteran Study. Psicothema , 30 (3), 270-275.
McHugh, R. K., Hearon, B. A., & Otto, M. W. (2010). Cognitive behavioral therapy for substance use disorders. Psychiatric Clinics , 33 (3), 511-525.
Skewes, M. C., & Gonzalez, V. M. (2013). The biopsychosocial model of addiction. Principles of addiction , 1 , 61-70.
