The biopsychosocial model of addiction provides a multifaceted conceptualization of a SUD or AUD. Rather than trying to explain something as complex as addiction with just one factor, this model accounts for numerous biological, psychological, and social factors that can act as contributors to addiction. Biological Component of the Biopsychosocial Model There is no denying the role that biology plays in addiction. Biological factors like genes, stage of development, and even gender or ethnicity can affect a person's risk for developing a SUD (Bevilacqua & Goldman, 2009 as cited by NIDA, 2022). Scientists estimate that genes, including the effects of epigenetics or the environmental factors that alter a person's gene expression, accounts for a staggering 40 and 60 percent of a person's risk of addiction (Bevilacqua & Goldman, 2009 as cited by NIDA, 2022). The compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences are the hallmark of addiction. Substance use involves functional changes to the brain circuits involved in reward, stress, and self-control.Drug use over-activates the" reward circuits" in the basal ganglia, flooding the brain with neurotransmitters that produce the euphoria associated with initial drug use (Sher & Rutledge, 2007 as cited by NIDA, 2022). Psychological Component of the Biopsychosocial Model The second component of the biopsychosocial model is the psychological factors that can make a person more likely to try and become addicted to a substance. There is a correlation between a risk seeking personality type and addiction.This association of personality traits has also been seen in older children. If high novelty seeking and low harm avoidance are found in 11-year-olds, the boys had a 20-fold increase in the risk of alcohol abuse by age 27 (Cloniger et al., 1988 as cited by Moraites, 2014). 4
There also exists a link between mental illness and substance use. SAMHSA (n.d.) reports that 9.2 Americans living with a serious mental health conditions like depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, PTSD, schizophrenia, and personality disorders also experience a co- occurring substance use problem. With these staggering statistics, it is hard to deny that there must be a correlation between the two. Social Component of Biopsychosocial Model The social element of this model aims to identify and address factors like culture, community, environmental factors, and family systems that can either act as protective or risk factors to substance use (Doweiko, 2018). With consideration to the larger systems on the development of a SUD, the biopsychosocial model acknowledges that culture encourage drug use to alter one's perception of reality, expectations and context of use, and drug of choice (Doweiko, 2018). In short, the social perspective acknowledges the role that the larger social environment should also bear some responsibility in the development of addictions. Rationale for Use The biopsychosocial model of addiction encompasses all aspects of the individual and their environment as contributors to addiction. The biological components like genetics, brain functioning, and the role of neurotransmitters in the brain are interwoven with psychological factors likepersonality, cognitive functioning, history of trauma, etc. These work in tandem with a variety of social factors like social network, social interactions, culture, and community (Doweiko, 2018). The three factors collide into a "perfect storm" to become a substance use disorder in an individual. Strengths 5
Because the biopsychosocial model considers biological, psychological, and social contributors to addiction, the emphasis does not lie solely on medical or biological mutations in the human body as the cause. Instead, the emphasis is on the health or illness because of a combination of all three components acting in tandem. The model calls for treatment of the person as a whole and concentrates on treating of all three in the recovery process while some of the stigma and shame associated with the moral model can be eliminated. This model of addiction also takes the power of recovery and good health from the medical practitioner's control and empowers the client to actively participate in their own recovery (Blevins, 2014). While a medical practitioner should attend to the biological aspects of treatment, clients and their support system can work on psychological and social recovery components. With this collaboration, clients can feel in control of their recovery and not be forced to stand idly by waiting at the mercy of clinician's treatment plan without their input. Because this model also considers psychological and social components, it promotes better psychological conditions and better social interaction. With increased understanding, recovery can be community-based which fosters greater social support. In turn, this can affect the well-bein
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