Addiction and Substance Abuse: Social Issue Analysis Essay

This essay examines addiction as a significant social issue, exploring various perspectives through an analysis of four relevant articles. The essay begins with an introduction to addiction, defining it as a chronic and complex disease affecting the brain and body, and highlighting its detrimental impact on individuals, families, and society. The paper then delves into discussions on the scientific definition of addiction from a psychiatric viewpoint, as presented by Aviel Goodman. It also explores the bio-psychological viewpoints of addiction, focusing on the incentive-sensitization theory proposed by Terry E. Robinson and Kent C. Berridge. Furthermore, the essay analyzes the potential for behavioral addiction to online social networking and its association with emotion regulation deficits, as discussed by Julia M. Hormes, Brianna Kearns, and C. Alex Timko. Finally, it considers the issue of internet sex addiction, as explored by Mark D. Griffiths. The conclusion summarizes the key arguments and findings presented in the essay, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of addiction and the importance of understanding different perspectives to address this complex social issue.

Running head: ADDICTION AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
ADDICTION AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

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Introduction
Addiction, which is a chronic and complex disease, affects operating faculties of body
and brain. Addiction can also cause harm to the society, family, neighborhood, relationship
and workplaces. The general symptoms are loss of self-control, engrossment with using and
failed to quit, extended use despite serious consequences, withdrawal.
The purpose of this essay is to analyze addiction as a social issue. The essay will also
show alternative views by exploring three relevant articles that posit diverse point of views.
Discussions
In the article ‘Addiction: Definition and Implication’ the author Aviel Goodman has
discussed the issue from the viewpoint of psychiatry. The scientific definition of addiction is
necessary and useful into the theory and practice of psychiatry as addiction is an integrated
subject to study. An integration of psychiatry and 12-step system (recovery treatment from
addiction) is important to the treatment and understanding of the addictive disorder. This
article has provided the basic for this integration (Goodman). The scientifically useful
definition of addiction will be the explanation of this integration.
In the article ‘The Psychology and Neurobiology of Addiction: An Incentive–
sensitization View’, the authors Terry E. Robinson and Kent C. Berridge has proposed the
bio-psychological viewpoints of addiction, which are critically analyzed based on ‘incentive
sensitization theory of addiction’. The bio-psychological views of addiction are related to
transformation of drug taking behavior to compulsive nature of drug-seeking behavioral
pattern, the incompetence to quit drug taking and the problem in relapse. However, four
major principles of incentive sensitization have been discussed in this article (Robinson and

2ADDICTION AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Kent). The incentive sensitization is implied for the progress in therapies and treatments of
addiction.
In the article, ‘Craving Face book? Behavioral Addiction to Online Social Networking
and its Association with Emotion Regulation Deficits’ the authors Julia M. Hormes, Brianna
Kearns and C. Alex Timko have suggested that involvement in particular online activities like
gambling, massaging and sexual preoccupation are potentially addictive than simple use of
internet. Addiction related problems have occurred due to overuse of social networking sites
such as Face book. The article aims at examining the association of Face book with
difficulties of emotion regulation and ways to escape from reality (Hormes, Brianna and C).
It directs to the problems such as stress and depression. The participants of this research are
the undergraduate students and the research has concluded with highly addictive nature of the
social networking.
In the article, ‘Internet Sex Addiction: A Review of Empirical Research’ the author
Mark D. Griffiths has proposed that internet is a medium caters sexual addition. The online
pornography and exchange of sexual content and other sexual behaviors are manifested in the
internet. The internet sex addiction is the first step to understand the psychological qualities
and the consequences of sexual features on internet (Griffiths).
Conclusion
It can be concluded by stating that addiction as a social issue has been addressed in
this paper and four related articles has been explored to provide different point of views on
this issue.

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References
Goodman, Aviel. "Addiction: definition and implications." Addiction 85.11 (2013): 1403-
1408.
Griffiths, Mark D. "Internet sex addiction: A review of empirical research." Addiction
Research & Theory 20.2 (2012): 111-124.
Hormes, Julia M., Brianna Kearns, and C. Alix Timko. "Craving Facebook? Behavioral
addiction to online social networking and its association with emotion regulation deficits."
Addiction 109.12 (2014): 2079-2088.
Robinson, Terry E., and Kent C. Berridge. "The psychology and neurobiology of addiction:
an incentive–sensitization view." Addiction 95.8s2 (2012): 91-117.