Substance Related Psychological Disorders

Description

This guide explains that substance abuse refers to a maladaptive pattern of drug use that leads to repeated negative consequences in a person’s legal, social, occupational, or academic life. Substance dependence, however, involves the continued use of a substance despite clear and persistent physical or psychological harm. To support readers, this book includes academic references and a set of validated tools designed to assess the severity and patterns of substance misuse.

The guide introduces three major frameworks that help readers understand how addiction develops and why it persists:

The Disease Model
This model views addiction as a medical condition that requires clinical treatment, including pharmacological and therapeutic interventions.

The Learning Model
This perspective suggests that addiction develops as a learned behaviour — a coping strategy formed in response to stress, emotional distress, or environmental pressures.

The Genetic Model
This model proposes that biological and hereditary factors contribute to an individual’s vulnerability to substance dependence, highlighting the role of genetic predisposition.