• Defined by tolerance and withdrawal
• The degree to which a drug is reinforcing (capable of causing an increase in the behaviors associated with its use) is accepted as a measure of a drug's addictive properties
• Inability to stop using the drug and negative impact on one's life are also part of the diagnostic criteria of drug addiction
• These symptoms need to be apparent in the same 12 month period

• Defined in terms of recurrent social, legal, personal or family problems which result from drug use
• Symptoms must be present within the same 12 month period

• There is no empirical support for an addictive personality
• Some traits (such as impulsiveness and extraversion) are associated with addiction

• Sees addiction as a biologically based, stand-alone disorder
• Strives to separate the addiction from the addict
• Asserts that the addict has no direct control over addiction
• Downplays the behavioral component

some common family patterns of an addict...

• Enabling
• Codependency

Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA) is a movement to explain why some personality characteristics tend to develop as a result of this influence

• Expands the view of addiction to consider the interaction of biological, personality, family, and social influences on addiction
• Asserts that each of these areas need assessment with intervention designed accordingly

• The Disease Model (AA/NA) strive for abstinence as the only viable goal for the addict (AA was founded by Bill W. and Dr. Bob in 1934)

• Popularized by Marlatt, and the RAND Corp. study conducted by the Sobells
• Study found that many non-addicted drinkers could be taught controlled drinking (they used shocks to associate intoxication with pain)
• Candidates for controlled drinking training are younger drinkers (20 - 40) with no history of physical addiction, and no significant legal or social trouble as a result of drinking

• Learning to note signs of intoxication
• Pacing drinks (2 the first hour, one each following hour for a maximum of 3 - 4)
• Scheduling drinking (not drinking everyday)
• Developing alternative coping skills

• Marlatt identifed "High Risk" situations that invite relapse:
• negative emotional states
• interpersonal conflict
• social pressure
• Treatment focuses on helping the addict developing coping skills to face high risk situations

• Based on early Therapeutic Communities which required the addict to become a resident of a treatment program for several months
• Program strives to remove the addict from the environment, explore and change character defects, and teach new coping skills
• Current inpatient programs tend to be brief (10 - 28 days), not shame based like TC's, and psychoeducational in nature