Question

Discuss Stigma and how labels and stigma can affect a person both in becoming addicted and being able to get out of the addictive cycle. Will defining addictive behaviors as a brain disorder increase or diminish society’s tolerance of these behaviors? Are there problems associated with classifying addictions as a brain disorder?

Compare individual, societal/community, and family responsibilities in creating, sustaining, and supporting addictive thinking patterns. Is one more important than the others? Define each role in your opinion.

Compare the religious vs. forensic view of responsibility for addictive behavior. Include the ideas of being a free agent and of personal accountability. Is mandated treatment an effective allocation of resources, especially when tax dollars are being used?

Answer 1

It would be a long stretch to classify addiction as a brain disorder, but it can be a product of brain workings. Their are certain neurotransmitters that work in the rewards system of the brain only to strengthen and reinforce certain behaviors within an individual, such as: GABA, serotonin, and dopamine. These are prevalent in high doses during substance abuse such as cannabis and alcohol, and so on.

Of course, environmental, societal and familial pressures do push a person towards these habits as well, For instance, if an individuals coping mechanism is weak and is not string enough to soothe a persons troubled mind, external coping mechanism are used as crutches to alleviate the certain pressures. Coming from a dysfunctional family can push an individual towards the edge, abuse too. Professional and adult life stressors are add ons and can lead to frustration and thus eventual addiction.

Although there exists conflict within the religious texts, such as the bible propagating wine in certain contexts, there is also a great responsibility that is put onto the shoulder of an individual with respect to free will and morality by Jeudo Christian texts. They speak that it is an onus on a person to practice free will that abstains from harming self and others. Personal accountability is held in high regard.

The forensic and legal perspective believe that the addiction is an intentionalist act, and they believe in mens rea (guilty mind) with respect to alcoholism. Addictive behavior is seldom given leeway within the legal system and is seldom considered defensible. Participant perspective is thrown light at within the forensic perspective that speaks about behavior being a product of free will.

Mandated treatment is of effective use as it is an onus of the government to not only help with societal restructuring in terms of infrastructure (with tax money) but also in terms of restructuring and helping its members.