Describe how you carried out your practical investigation
- As out key issue is ‘can drug abuse be treated?’ I sourced two newspaper articles from ‘The Guardian’ and ‘Daily Mail’ websites, focusing on treatments with a psychological rather than biological basis
- Both of the articles made claims about two conflicting treatment methods for substance misuse – use of rewards to encourage abstinence and use of treatments to involve whole family
- As both of the articles made claims based on secondary data about research carried out by other parties which may be bias in their opinion, I checked validity of the data by carrying out further research into the primary data used to support the claims
- Having read the articles, I highlighted key points which focussed on any evidence of the treatments being effective and any evidence to refute these claims
- Once I had drawn out the main ideas, I summarised the main findings and drew conclusions using my understanding of the biological and learning explanations of substance misuse and effectiveness of drug and psychological treatments for misuse
Describe how you analysed the information you gathered
- Both of the articles focused on treatments that could be explained by the learning approach
- To analyse the effectiveness of treatments provided, I analysed the information using the social learning theories and operant conditioning concepts of why people misuse substances
- As misuse can also have a biological basis, I also analysed how effective the treatment would be in managing both physical and psychological dependency
- Throughout the analysis, I considered the evaluative strengths and weaknesses of both drug treatments and aversion therapy, plus any evidence from supporting studies e.g. Blattler et al and Stacy et al
Outline the conclusions that you drew from your practical investigation
- The treatment of addict with rewards is based on the operant conditioning principles which is supported by several studies e.g. Skinner’s Box. These principles suggest that positive reinforcement can lead to an increase in a desired behaviour i.e. abstinence from the drug. However, although this may treat psychological dependency in the short term, it doesn’t address the user’s physical dependence.
- Relapse rates are likely to be high due to the addictive nature of the drugs being used
- More funding should be targeted at policing and increasing law enforcement, rather than the treatment – Blattler et al suggests that treatment in itself will reduce the associated criminal and illegal activities associated with misuse
- Use of treatments which support the whole family take a holistic approach and based on the social learning theory, could lead to increased effectiveness of treatment. Parents and family members act as immediate role models, especially for young, vulnerable individuals
- If intervention targets the immediate support network of the user, role model changing behaviours i.e. reducing own drug intake, may start to impact on the user as they will observe and imitate this if they see it being positively rewarded
- Inclusion of the family can also be used to target some of the reasons why people start to take drugs and this would decrease the chance of relapse following treatment programmes
- Suggested that early intervention is crucial which is supported by Stacy et al. who states that alcohol use in adolescence and personality factors are long term predictors of alcohol abuse later in life. With early treatment and support from social networks this could impact on the success and life chances of individuals into adulthood.
Mail Online – Drug addicts told to ‘kick habit and win an iPod’
Learning approach
- Positive reinforcement – “addicts who kick their habit are to be rewarded with iPods” – giving a reward for stopping use
- Tries to get people to stop taking drugs by giving them rewards e.g. iPods, televisions, and shopping vouchers
- NICE said it is more cost effective compared to other treatments
Who’s involved?
- Drug addicts – 50,000
- NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence)
Evidence
- Not working – “If you just rely on rewards for abstinence and you’re not treating people’s complex problems, you are not going to change the behaviour” – not treating physical or psychological dependency
- Token economy programmes generally have high relapse rates – when reward is taken away, the motivation goes
Conclusion
- Based on psychological treatment, operant conditioning – tested by Skinner
- Ethical issue – tax payer’s money to help people who have made bad choices in life – should be spent on Alzheimer’s etc.
- Token economy – high relapse rates
The Guardian – Drug treatment for young people ‘should involve whole family’
Social approach
- Including family members as role models to reduce drug abuse
- Role models with training to support family members
Who’s involved?
- Addict and their family – “involve their whole family”
- Project workers – “Project workers provided intense, specific support for the drug user, combined with involving their family and carers in the treatment programme”
Evidence
- Successful – “92% of the young people made positive changes to their lives and 82% either reduced or stabilised their substance misuse” – doesn’t say what positive changes
Conclusion
- Bandura – same sex role models works very well
- Spend lots of money training family – may as well use professionals who are already trained
- Successful but in some cases, the role models may be the cause of the problem