Psy 622 Substance Use
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Substance Use
Ashtyn Freeman
College of Humanities and Social Sciences Grand Canyon University
PSY-622: Psychopathology of Crime
Instructor Bourne
December 6, 2023
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Substance Use
When defining substance use there are a variety of items that could be referenced
including alcohol, marijuana, drugs, tobacco products, and other substances that can be
consumed, inhaled, injected, or absorbed into the body with possible dependence or other effects.
Typically, when an individual utilizes a substance there is no issue, but when individuals abuse
that substance that is when an issue arises. This poses the question of when does it become
abuse? Many would say it becomes abuse when a significant amount is being taken; however, it
is not that simple. It all depends on the actual substance and how the individual is consuming the
substance. An everyday substance such as Tylenol can be abused if taken improperly, but that is
not the type of substance this paper will discuss. The importance of this paper is to analyze why
Americans have such an appetite for illegal drugs, how treatment may be different if these illegal
drugs were considered an ailment versus a choice, and if psychopathological theories explain
substance use.
Illegal Narcotics
In the United States (U.S.) individuals have always experienced issues involving illegal
narcotics. David Courtwright (1992) explained that within the past two decades American
narcotics policies has gone through four different major stages. Government involvement was
minimal in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as drug usage was predominantly a
personal matter as was drug treatment (Courtwright, 1992). There used to be a time when drugs
were a part of social interaction and considered “cool” or a norm, but nowadays there is a
negative stigma that comes with drug usage. The negativity towards drugs was the social aspect
revolved around usage and the government and federal law did not intervene until medical issues
started to emerge (Courtwright, 1992). The following four decades, from 1923 to 1965, might be
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described as the classic era of narcotic control (Courtwright, 1992). Few avenues of treatment
were available to addicts, and American narcotic policy was unprecedentedly strict and
disciplinary, compared to other Western countries and with what it has become over time. During
the 1960s the police approach was debated and gradually replaced by a hybrid approach,
integrating conventional law enforcement with new treatment strategies, including methadone
maintenance and therapeutic communities. Since 1965 drug abuse has been regarded as a
medicolegal issue, the likely pattern of the future, although there are signs that the pendulum is
beginning to swing back in the direction of strict law enforcement (Courtwright, 1992). As
society grows and expands more treatment options have become available but with the
availability of treatment centers there was also an increase in drug usage. According to (Hadland
et al., 2012) the incline in drug usage has been encouraged by the availability. In today’s world
doctors and pharmacists are more cautious and stricter when it comes to prescribing narcotics as
it did not used to be that way. Doctors were known to frequently overprescribe narcotics and
pharmacists would deliver drugs such as vitals of morphine to houses (Courtwright, 1992).
Although obtaining illegal drugs is not as easy it is still doable and individuals finding or selling
them is inevitable; however, looking at the price of drugs nowadays it can make it less
achievable. This can cause a shift from one drug to another, if one drug is more accessible and
affordable, more individuals are going to choose that drug over the more expensive and less
accessible drug. Additionally, curiosity is a factor when it comes individuals partaking in
substance use. This is one of the most common reasons individuals use drugs, especially
teenagers. Drugs have known to be popularized at social settings and when narcotics and alcohol
are involved it allows individuals to engage in their curiosity. One try can turn into many and that
is how an addiction begins.
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Treatment
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (2018), states that addiction is a chronic
illness where individuals pursue and use drugs that is regardless of the harmful consequences.
When an individual first makes the decision to use drugs it is voluntary (for most) but when it
becomes recurrent it can cause the brain to adjust which defies an addicted individual’s self-
control and can interfere with their ability to resist the urge (NIDA, 2018). This is why
individuals suffering from addiction recidivate. While in recovery they often find themselves
returning to drugs, even if they have been clean for years. According to Branch (2011) medical
providers consider addiction a behavioral disorder due to their choice of using the drug.
Referring to addiction as a behavior disorder rather than a disease it has caused issues with
individuals seeking treatment and it has caused a negative stigma on addiction (Branch, 2011).
Many individuals feel if it was a disease a remedy would be provided, and healthcare would be
producing medicines that could treat symptoms or side effects of addiction. If addiction were
treated as a disease, it may make individuals veer away from illegal narcotics and if substance
abuse were diagnosed as a disease more support groups and avenues would be created. An
important observation to mention is that individuals who endure addiction also suffer from
depression and anxiety (Branch, 2011). This demonstrates a correlation between mental illnesses
whether preexisting or not and addiction. If individuals believe addiction is an illness, a
behavioral change, or both it is beneficial to have a comprehensive assessment and dependent
plan of treatment to help individuals who experience addiction (Branch, 2011).
Theories of Psychopathology
Discussing the topic of addiction, psychopathological theories state that addiction
transpires from mental disorder that are preexisting in an individual (Maremmani et al., 2017).
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Many mental illnesses can be considered regarding addiction, but the two most prevalent are
mood changes and cognitive disorders. With that, the two illness coincide with one another
meaning that one may not exist without the other. Individuals who seek treatment for addiction
are also more likely to receive treatment for a mental illness along with their substance rehab.
According to Maremmani et al., (2017) psychopathology explains that with addiction an
individual may experience additive personalities which allows for the belief that there could be
an underlying personality disorder with substance abuse and addiction. The personality disorders
could include regulating emotions, impulse control, and denial (Maremmani et al., 2017). There
are doubts that the presence of a specific psychopathology is able to adequately explain
substance use because there has not been enough research to show evidence relating the two
(Maremmani et al., 2017). Thus, with minimal research and evidence to support it individuals
tend to lean towards substance use being an addiction rather than a mental illness. Psychologists
and psychiatrists are known to utilize psychotherapy as a part of their treatment process when
helping individuals in these situations and work towards figuring out the underlying
psychological issue that has led to addiction (Maremmani et al., 2017).
Conclusion
All in all, substance use is broken into two terms. First substance which can is normally
thought of as drugs or alcohol, second is use which is the way it is consumed. When discussing
substance use it is thought of as abuse; however, that is not always the case it is how and why
that substance is used to determine the definition of it. Throughout the history of the U.S.
narcotics have always been a topic of controversy and there are treatment options and theories of
mental illnesses to assist individuals who battle with addiction but more research needs to be
done and different approaches taken to tackle the war of drug related issues.
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References
Branch M. N. (2011). Drug addiction. Is it a disease or is it based on choice? A review of Gene
Heyman's
Addiction: A disorder of choice
.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of
Behavior
,
95
(2), 263–267.
https://doi.org/10.1901/jeab.2011.95-263
Courtwright T. D. (1992). A century of American narcotic policy. In: Institute of Medicine.
Treating Drug Problems: Volume 2
. Washington, DC: IOM, pp. 1-62.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK234755/
Hadland, S. E., Marshall, B. D. L., Kerr, T., Lai, C., Montaner, J. S., & Wood, E. (2012). Ready
Access to Illicit Drugs among Youth and Adult Users.
American Journal on
Addictions
,
21
(5), 488–490.
https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1111/j.1521-
0391.2012.00257.x
Maremmani, A. G. I., Pani, P. P., Rovai, L., Bacciardi, S., & Maremmani, I. (2017). Toward the
Identification of a Specific Psychopathology of Substance Use Disorders.
Frontiers in
psychiatry
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8
, 68.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00068
NIDA. (2018, June 6). Understanding Drug Use and Addiction.
DrugFacts
. Retrieved from
https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/understanding-drug-use-addiction
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