The origins, vicissitudes and limitations of the disease concept amd medical model of drug use are examined. It is proposed that the disease concept is a reaction to the moralism or neglect of previous times. However the concept omits the human element.
‘Way of life’—a model taking into account the interaction between drug, person and environment—is proposed, drug dependence being present when drug use, as a way of life, is given a high priority.
Persons with drug dependence may find themselves in a ‘predicament’ and may need help to get their ways of life in balance again.
Various implications of this proposed model are explored.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BeanMargaret1984Clinical implications of models for recovery from alcoholism. Advances in Alcohol and Substance Abuse3(1/2):91–104.
2.
BoothWilliam1890In darkest England and the way out. London, McCorguodale.
3.
CooperStewart1983Survey of studies on alcoholism. International Journal of the Addictions18(7):971–985.
4.
DeanJamesPorembaGregory1983The alcoholic stigma and the disease concept. International Journal of the Addictions18(5):739–751.
5.
DrewLeslie1968Alcoholism as a self-limiting disease. Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol29(4):956–967.
6.
EdwardsGriffithGrossMilton1976Alcohol dependence: Provisional description of a clinical syndrome. British Medical Journal1068–1061.
7.
EdwardsG.ArifA.HodgsonR.1981Nomenclature and classification of drug- and alcohol-related problems: A WHO memorandum. Bulletin of the World Health Organization59(2):225–242.
8.
EriksonE.H.1950Childhood and Society. Penguin.
9.
FingaretteHerbert1983Philosophical and legal aspects of the disease concept of alcoholism, in SmartR.G. (eds.) Research Advances in Alcohol and Drug Problems. New York, Plenum.
10.
FingaretteHerbert1984Reconceiving alcoholism. Paper presented at I.C.A.A., Epidemiology Section, Athens, Greece.
11.
KellerMark1983The disease concept of alcoholism briefly revisited. Alcoholism July/August 16.
12.
LevineHarry1984What is an alcohol-related problem? (or, what are people talking about when they refer to alcohol problems?). Journal of Drug Issues14(1):45–60.
13.
LevinsonValerie1985The compatibility of the disease concept with a psychodynamic approach in the treatment of alcoholism. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly2(1):7–24.
14.
MarwickCharles1984National policy, attitudes undergo some changes in regard to drinking. Journal American Medical Association252(14):1829–1831.
15.
MossJeffNicholsonSusan1983The doctoring of addiction. New Doctor30:20–23.
16.
O'NeillPat1976Alconfrontation. Australian Journal of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence3(2):43–45.
17.
PeeleStanton1985How can addiction occur with other than drug involvement?British Journal of Addictions80:23–25.
18.
SaleebyDennis1985A social psychological perspective on addictions: Theme and disharmonies. Journal of Drug Issues15(1):17–28.
19.
SmithDavidMilkmanHarveySunderwithStanley1985Addictive disease: Concept and controversy, in MilkmanHarveyShafferHoward (eds.) The Addictions: Multidisciplinary Perspectives and Treatments. Lexington, Lexington Books.
20.
TaylorDavid1985The sick child's predicament. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry19(2):130–137.
21.
TournierRobert1985The medicalization of alcoholism: Discontinuities in ideologies of deviance. Journal of Drug Issues15(1):39–49.
22.
WardDavid1985Conceptions of the nature and treatment of alcoholism. Journal of Drug Issues15(1):3–16.
23.
WattsThomas1981The uneasy triumph of a concept: The ‘disease’ conception of alcoholism. Journal of Drug Issues11(4):451–460.
24.
WilsonGeorge1985Intervention by the clinician to motivate the alcoholic. Australian Alcohol/Drug Review4(1):94–100.
