There is no consensus as to the etiology (cause), prevention, and treatment of addictive disorders. A United States government publication, "Theories on Drug Abuse: Selected Contemporary Perspectives," came up with no less than forty-three theories of chemical addiction and at least fifteen methods of treatment!
As an example of this confusion, many people consider addictive behaviours such as gambling and alcoholism as "diseases," but others consider them to be behaviours learnt in response to the complex interplay between heredity and environmental factors. Still others argue for a genetic cause. Some researchers point out that, unlike most common diseases such as tuberculosis, which has a definite cause (a microbe) and a definite treatment model to which everyone agrees, there is no conclusive cause or definite treatment method to which everyone agrees for most of the addictive behaviours.
This lack of agreement among experts causes problems with prevention and treatment approaches for many addictive behaviours. Professionals debate whether total abstinence or controlled and moderate use of a substance (such as alcohol) or activity (such as gambling) is effective. Others debate whether or not a medication is a desirable treatment method. In the area of addiction to food or exercise, of course, few advocate total abstinence as a solution .Though the theories for the causes of addictive behaviours and their treatment are numerous, various types of therapy can help a person who has an addictive behaviour.
If you think you, or a family member, might be addicted to a substance, activity, object, or behaviour, please talk to your family physician, clergy person, counsellor, or seek out a support group for the problem. Do it today!
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