Theory of Addiction
Robert West, Jamie Brown
- English
- ePUB (apto para móviles)
- Disponible en iOS y Android
Theory of Addiction
Robert West, Jamie Brown
Información del libro
The word 'addiction' these days is used to refer to a chronic condition where there is an
unhealthily powerful motivation to engage in a particular behaviour. This can be driven by
many different factors – physiological, psychological, environmental and social. If we say that it
is all about X, we miss V, W, Y and Z. So, some people think addicts are using drugs to escape
from unhappy lives, feelings of anxiety and so on; many are. Some people think drugs become
addictive because they alter the brain chemistry to create powerful urges; that is often true.
Others think that drug taking is about seeking after pleasure; often it is. Some take the view that
addiction is a choice – addicts weigh up the pros and cons of doing what they do and decide
the former outweigh the latter. Yet others believe that addicts suffer from poor impulse control;
that is often true… And so it goes on.
When you look at the evidence, you see that all these positions capture important aspects of
the problem – but they are not complete explanations. Neuroscience can help us delve more
deeply into some of these explanations, while the behavioural and social sciences are better at
exploring others. We need a model that puts all this together in a way that can help us decide
what to do in different cases. Should we prescribe a drug, give the person some 'tender loving
care', put them in prison or what? Theory of Addiction provides this synthesis.
The first edition was well received:
'Throughout the book the reader is exposed to a vast number of useful observations...The
theoretical aims are timely, refreshing, ambitious and above all challenging. It opens up a new
way of looking at addiction and has the potential to move the field of addiction a considerable
leap forward. Thus we wholeheartedly would like to recommend the book for students as well
as scholars. Read and learn!' Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
'The book provides a comprehensive review of existing theories - over 30 in all - and this
synthesis of theories constitutes an important contribution in and of itself... West is to be
commended for his synthesis of addiction theories that span neurobiology, psychology and
social science and for his insights into what remains unexplained.' Addiction
This new edition of Theory of Addiction builds on the first, including additional theories in
the field, a more developed specification of PRIME theory and analysis of the expanding
evidence base.
With this important new information, Theory of Addiction will continue to be essential reading
for all those working in addiction, from student to experienced practitioner – as urged above,
Read and learn!
Preguntas frecuentes
Información
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION: JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF ADDICTION
This book aims to take you on a journey. The starting point is the simplest possible common-sense theory of addiction and the destination will be a theory that accounts for the available evidence on how addiction develops, who becomes addicted, what they become addicted to and how some of them recover. The path is traced by exploring with successive versions of the theory how it needs to be extended or changed to take account of the available evidence. The goal is to arrive at a theory that is comprehensive yet parsimonious, coherent, and above all useful. It aims to stimulate research and to guide clinicians and policy makers in coming up with better ways of tackling this global scourge. This is a continuing journey. As new evidence emerges and better ways of explaining the evidence are brought to light, the theory will need updating.
Preparing for the journey
Many theories but not much progress
Theory and observation
Need for a synthetic theory
A guiding principle
‘addiction … is best defined by repeated failures to refrain from drug use despite prior resolutions to do so. This definition is consistent with views of addiction that see decision-making, ambivalence and conflict as central features of the addict's behaviour and experience. On this basis, a three-level framework of required explanation is (needed) consisting of (1) the level of neuroadaptation, (2) the level of desire for drugs and (3) the level of “akrasia” or failures of resolve … explanatory concepts used at the “lower” levels in this framework can never be held to be sufficient as explanations at higher levels, i.e. the postulation of additional determinants is always required at Levels 2 and 3. In particular, it is a failure to address problems at the highest level in the framework that marks the inadequacy of most existing theories of addiction.’ (p. 3)