Many explanations for the abuse of a substance can point towards external cues or a form of classical conditioning. One example of an external or social cue is being in a pub with a drink. The instinct is to then light up a cigarette, because the cigarette is associated with a drink.
Social learning threory suggests the copying of a family member or a parental figure is another reason for substance abuse. Children whose parents smoke are far more likely to start smoking than those whose parents do not.
Cognitive explanations for addictions such as nicotine in cigarettes are those such as the altering of ones self image. Resorting to smoking cigarettes or taking on the addiction to nicotine is also a method people use as a coping mechanism or for solving personal problems. An article published by Natasha Plowright (Life Health) describes her experiences as a smoker. Her conformity led her to believe that cigarettes were “a requisite emblem of rebellion, of sophistication, of having a life” Her psychological dependence, clearly led her emotions to believe that if she did not smoke, then she would not fit in with the crowd of smokers at her sixth form college. This may be seen as abusing the substance merely to alter her self image. She then goes on to talk about her relapse experience and “despite several attempts to give up” and the fact that she knew “all the health risks” after three years of not smoking, her wanting to “shirk the responsibilities of motherhood” caused her to suddenly start smoking again. This means she may have experienced overpowering emotions where she felt life was impossible unless she continued to use the drug. With some drugs a user may become physically dependent. This means their body experiences unpleasant physical symptoms if they suddenly stop using the drug. Both physical and psychological dependence can occur with many drugs. As a result of either or both of these dependencies the abuser may experience relapse. Although they have been able to stop taking the substance, through their belief that the substance is better for their well being, they may start taking the drug again, despite knowing the negative effects on their health.
Evaluate psychological explanations of substance abuse.
When looking at the reasons for individuals continuing to take part in an addictive behaviour, it can be said that the user would prefer to not face the symptoms which would arise when they try to break the addiction. The symptoms or sickness that would arise from giving up, were brought to attention in the early biochemical explanations of addiction. These findings however related to addictions involving users of opium or morphine and therefore may not be generalised when applied to addictions involving other substances such as nicotine
The Biomedical exclamation for addiction would simply suggest that there is a problem with the body itself and that an addiction must be broken from inside the body in a medical way. Addictions to substances such as nicotine in cigarettes however are not so easily stopped, as the addiction plays strongly upon psychological elements. Social cues are likely to become less apparent and influential and the addictive behaviour, in the case of smoking, may become a second nature and therefore require no subtle prompts from the surrounding environments.
Social learning threory has a rather simplistic explanation, as some substance abuse may occur due to other reasons, therefore it ignores the biochemical explanations, and Cognitive explanations for substance abuse. Also it my be true that substance abuse can be learned through role models such as parents, however if there was strong evidance for this, it should be simple to make an individual give up smoking through using role models, but there is little evidence for this.
Cognitive explanations tend to ignore the social factors involved with substance abuse, however, it does give a realistic explanation as to why substance abuse and addiction occurs, this is also supported by the contemporary example of Natasha Plowright.
An island of people who have never seen a cigarette has been discovered. Suggest one technique that will help to prevent them from starting to smoke cigarettes. Give reasons for you answer
As the population of the island have never seen a cigarette, one possible method of preventing them from beginning to smoke would be to use Anti-smoking campaigns designed to prevent young people from beginning to smoke.
Introducing smoking to young people is a similar scenario to that of introducing it to people who have never seen cigarettes before. There would exist the same common features such as the idea of risk-taking or being rebellious, trying something and new peer pressure between those who wouldn't have tried it and those who had, and a certain amount of misconception towards the issue as a result of being misinformed.
Flora and Thoresen suggested that methods used in successful campaigns designed for adolescents ensured strong peer pressure resistance, through the use of role-playing therefore eliminating peer pressure as being a problem which would lead towards individuals beginning to smoke.
A final way to prevent the inhabitants from starting smoking would be to introduce them to the direct opposite of informing them about the risks of smoking, but instead aim to instruct and inform them about good health. In this case, the educational model could be introduced.