Addiction is a very complex diagnoses to treat. There is debate over whether addiction is a disease or mental condition. By definition, addiction is a disease and there is evidence to support the claim. Disease can be defined briefly as a disorder that effects the function of a human, animal, or plant that is typically distinguished by signs and symptoms according to the Meriam dictionary. Another reliable claim could be that addiction starts out as a mental disorder and then over time becomes a disease. Then there are questions of whether any of this is genetically related or if treatment at an earlier time would have prevented the disease of addiction in an individual.
In treating addiction, …show more content…
The same treatment is not going to work for everyone. For example, a 12-step program may work for one individual and that person may maintain his/her sobriety for years to come. Whereas another individual may relapse soon after beginning the program. However, the individual that relapsed may have more success in a program that focuses on people, places, and things not involving a 12-step program. In any case, early identification and intervention is a key element in treatment success and in most cases, reduces the dropout and relapse rate. Along with the early identification, continued monitoring and support once treatment is complete is very important for the client to maintain sobriety. Again, much of this links back to people, places, and …show more content…
One of the issues is within research and clinical practice. Research needs to integrate all areas of medicine to develop effective treatments. Included would be the treatment for addiction and mental health issues. This could allow insurance coverage for these issues. Since the 1990s, evidence-based practices have been transitioning into addiction and mental health fields and is a somewhat standard practice in today’s society. This has helped the aforementioned issues and more coverage is now available.
Another concern is that researches and clinicians have not been know to work together in many cases. In many cases, clinicians or practitioners do not have an appreciation for scientific based studies. There may be argument over who is right and who is wrong or create a case that the study was/is