Problem: I already did the discussion post; I just need to do the responses.
First, introduce yourself to the class. Include your major and anything you would like to share about yourself. Then address the prompt below.
Compare the 1960 disease model by Jellinek to one of the seven models discussed in your book.
The seven models you can choose from:
- Moral model
- Psychological model
- Family model
- Disease model
- Biological model
- Sociocultural model
- Multi-causal model
Include the following in your discussion:
Provide a statement of your personal definition of addiction (This is just how you see addiction and does not have to have any models of addiction to support it.).
Include a brief overview of the 1960 disease model by Jellinek and the model you selected.
Compare and contrast the 1960 disease model by Jellinek and the model you selected for their definition of addiction. Need Assignment Help?
Respond to two of your peers' definitions. How does your peer's definition differ from your own? How is it similar?
Post 1:
Hi everyone!
In my opinion, addiction is when someone becomes so dependent on a substance or behavior that it's difficult to stop, even when they know it's hurting them. I don't think addiction means someone is weak. I think it's something that can happen for many different reasons, and people deserve support instead of judgment.
I decided to compare Jellinek's 1960 disease model with the sociocultural model. Jellinek viewed addiction as a disease that gets worse over time and causes a person to lose control over their substance use, meaning treatment and lifelong recovery are often needed. The sociocultural model looks at addiction differently by focusing on outside influences like family, friends, culture, stress, and a person's environment. While both models recognize addiction as a serious issue, Jellinek's model focuses on the disease itself, whereas the sociocultural model focuses on the circumstances that may lead someone to develop an addiction. I think both models are useful, but the sociocultural model stands out to me because people's environments can have a huge impact on the choices they make.
Post 2:
Hello everyone!
My personal definition of addiction comes from my own experience. To me, addiction is a disease that changes the way a person thinks, feels, and makes decisions. It takes away the ability to simply "choose" to stop, even when the consequences are devastating. I know my opinion may be a little biased because I was taught the disease model of addiction during my own recovery. When I first heard that addiction was considered a disease, it was actually a relief. It helped me understand why I couldn't just stop using drugs, even though I desperately wanted to go home to my kids and be the mother I knew I was meant to be. Learning that addiction was more than a lack of willpower gave me hope that recovery was possible.
The model I chose to compare with Jellinek's 1960 disease model is the biological model. Jellinek's disease model was one of the first to describe alcoholism as a disease instead of a moral failure or lack of self-control. He believed addiction was progressive, meaning it gets worse over time if it is left untreated, and that people often need ongoing treatment and support to recover. The biological model also views addiction as a medical condition, but it focuses more on genetics, brain chemistry, and how the brain changes with repeated substance use. According to this model, some people may have a greater biological risk of developing an addiction than others.
These two models have a lot in common because they both reject the idea that addiction is simply a choice or a character flaw. They both recognize that addiction affects the brain and that treatment is often necessary. The biggest difference is that Jellinek focused on the progression of addiction and the pattern of the disease, while the biological model focuses more on the physical and genetic causes that may make someone vulnerable to addiction in the first place.
Personally, I connect more with Jellinek's disease model because it reflects my own recovery journey. Understanding addiction as a disease didn't excuse my behavior or remove my responsibility for getting better, but it did help me stop believing I was simply a bad person. Instead, it helped me realize that I had an illness that required treatment, support, and a willingness to change. That change in perspective gave me the hope I needed to begin my recovery, and it is still the way I understand addiction today.