Drug addicts are insensitive to the future effects of their substance seeking behavior. Drug addiction is a learning disorder that seems to overvalue pleasure, fail to learn from mistakes, and undervalue risk related to the use of drugs (Szalavitz para. 3). Besides, drug addiction has a severe impact on individual, families, and society such misuse of resources, antisocial behavior, criminal activities, reduced productivity, and use dysfunctional families. Therefore, recognizing addition as a learning disorder can help in finding a practical approach to treat and manage the condition. The society should treat victims of opiate addicts as clinically disabled individuals and work together with professionals to combat addiction. Opiate addiction is on the rise because the drug is legally available as a painkiller.
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The policymakers can address the problem by seeking alternative pain management alternatives. On the other side, addicts are on denial, and they are unable to make informed or rational decision to quit substance abuse. In other words, addicts require love and support to motivate behavior change by unlearning the rewards associated with a drug. Thus, addicts require support from family and professionals to overcome substance addiction. The existing drug prevention laws have increased the number of inmates related to drug use or trade. For example, the opiate crisis is associated with accessibility of drugs over the counter and on the black market. Addicts do not respond to negative consequences related to a drug; therefore, punishment and incarceration are not effective in combating addiction. A positive approach motivates behavior change and enables an individual to avoid relapse after inpatient treatment.
Addiction is a learning disorder and society should treat opioid addicts as clinically disabled individuals in need of professional help to overcome the antisocial behavior by motivating change.
Addiction is a learning disorder that occurs through unconscious brain processes that overvalue pleasure, fail to learn from mistakes and undervalue the risk associated with substance abuse. An individual learns that a drug such as opioid and others makes them feel better and continue using the substance to cope (Szalavitz para. 4). Addiction occurs when a person falls in love with a drug; love requires persistence despite the adverse outcomes. The learning process occurs in the “parts of the brain that controls basic life-sustaining and functions” (Maté para. 5). In this case, life-sustaining needs and brain functions that influence the learning process in addicts to include motivation and motivation to use the drug, regulation of stress, and emotional and physical pain relief. A person associates himself/herself with a drug through positive experiences even when they are aware of the risk or dangers related to the use of the substance. The learning process occurs under a nurturing environment in the early stages in life. Likewise, the rewards associated with a drug motivate an individual to use the substance for an extended period with less concern about the consequences. Also, addiction is a learning disorder just like developmental disorders such as autism and dyslexia that begins in childhood and continue to adulthood. Many addicts learn deviant behaviors during their teens and 20s, especially for individuals who experienced childhood trauma. The risk factors that increase expose teens to opioid and other drugs use include peer pressure, untreated mental disorder, and abuse of other drugs. Young people learn from peers or other people around them. Therefore, a child growing up in families or community with high cases of drugs are more likely to become addicts in adulthood.
The society should treat victims of opiate crisis as clinically disabled and work together with professionals to combat addition. Opiate addicts require clinical treatment and the use of alternative pain management drugs to avoid further complications. Addicts are unable to make rational decisions due to impaired judgment and denial. Addiction has a severe impact on individuals, family, and society in general. Thus, combating addition involves professionals, family, and society. Rozzano (12) argues that no amount nagging, controlling, or yelling can help in treating addiction. Besides, parents should act as role models to their children and create awareness about the lifelong consequences of addiction. Therefore, if an individual resists assistance, it is recommendable to involve professionals.
Clinicians provides treatment and information to help patients to live drug-free life. Thus, addiction is a treatable condition through motivation to change. For example, peer groups can help to help individuals during the recovering process through sharing experience with other people who overcame similar challenges. The opioid crisis requires an effective treatment program to increase access to treatment and recovery services, creating awareness about the epidemic, and the introduction of better pain management practices. The good news is that what is learned can be unlearned similarly with the way people get over breakups with their loved ones. Drug addicts can shift their experiences to overcome addiction with the help of clinicians, family members, and society. Studies show that almost half of drug addicts reforms be the age 30 except tobacco users. Misunderstanding of the causes and ways of fighting addiction is the major challenge in addressing antisocial behavior. Thus, family, friends, and society can help in combating drug addiction like any other learning disorder instead of criminalizing the addiction. According to Szalavitz (para. 4), addiction is characterized by a lack of response to adverse outcomes; thus, punishment may not yield positive results in combating substance abuse.
Addiction is a learning disorder that overvalues pleasure, fails to learn from negative outcomes and undervalue risk or danger related to addiction. An individual develops into addicts through a learning process from early childhood to early adulthood. People who experience childhood trauma are more likely to engage in substance abuse to connect or fit in society during their teens and early 20s. Therefore, creating a positive environment motivate children to learn the dangers related to addiction. Children learn from peers and older people during their developmental stages. The society should treat victims of opiate crisis as clinically disabled and work together with professionals to combat addition. Everybody has a role in combating addiction by offering the required to create a positive environment to motivate change. Addiction is a learning disorder and addicts can unlearn the behavior to avoid consequences such as health issues, incarceration, and social disorders. Policymakers should focus on motivating behaviors and allow addicts to reform instead of punishment. The existing drug prevention policies do not recognize or support the benefits of motivating behavior change leading to the imprisonment of many drug addicts. Medical detox helps in recovery of opiate addiction. Patients should also receive regular psychotherapy as individuals and in groups to motivate change. Addicts require aftercare monitoring after clinical treatment to avoid relapse by offering necessary support.
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Works Cited
Maté, Daniel. In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction. 2019. 28 March 2019. <https://drgabormate.com/book/in-the-realm-of-hungry-ghosts/>.
Rozzano, Lorelie. “Is Addiction A Disease? Or A Choice?” Addiction Campus (2018). <https://www.addictioncampuses.com/blog/is-addiction-a-disease-or-a-choice/>.
Szalavitz, Maia. “Drug addiction should be treated like a learning disorder – not a crime.” The Guardian (2016). <https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/apr/05/drug-addiction-treatment-learning-disorders>.