The Social Models of Addiction

The Social Models of Addiction

Introduction

The client is an old Caucasian male, 45 years of age, divorced with two children where the youngest, who is 18 years lives with the mother while the oldest who is 20 years stay outside home and is a student at a community college. The client has a school diploma and has served the military but is currently in the construction industry. The client lives in a modest apartment alone and dates random women he meets at the local bars. He maintains contact with his father and brother, who both have multiple DUIs but still hangs out and enjoy drinking. He also enjoys drinking with his workmates from the construction company and alcohol is involved in any social function that he attends. The client started drinking as a teenager with his friends, and his drinking problem escalated after he joined the military though it did not affect his performance at work. The construction industry tolerates drinking behavior, and that is why the client has not been sanctioned at work. The court ordered treatment for the client after his first DUI case three years ago and completed it successfully. However, he received a second DUI and the court-ordered to take part in a treatment plan after his jail term.

Application of the social model of addiction

The social model of addiction is one of the most common types of treatment used in rehabilitation today. In our scenario, mutual support groups might be essential to the client’s road to recovery. Mutual help groups are nonprofessional groups that comprise of members who have the same issue and voluntarily support the group members to recovery from the problem that they are facing (“An Introduction to Mutual Support Groups for Alcohol and Drug Abuse”, 2020). These groups would provide social and emotional support to the client through the process of recovery and will also help the client to take responsibility for his drinking problem. The family cannot be helpful in his treatment, and that is why I believe the mutual support group will be critical to his recovery.

Social Factors and Social Models

The family’s structure role and the system has been affecting the client’s drinking behavior since the brother and father both have the drinking problem. The client has been divorced with his wife and does not live with his children meaning that the client lacks family support to fight his addiction. The client cannot depend on the family for help because it is separated and that some of the members are also struggling with alcohol abuse. The client is also drinking with his workmates and in any social function that he attends. The bright side is that the community is trying to help individuals fighting alcohol and substance abuse, and this can be seen through social support groups. However, a supportive family structure, positive influence from the peers and community support may help the client with his recovery

Social-cultural factors and professional development

Race, economic status, education and neighborhood quality greatly affects the chances of one becoming addicted. The family structure, role and system also may affect the chances of one becoming addicted because they are the central force in a person’s life, and without providing support to the affected person, then chances of getting an addicted increase. The adoption of a social model of addiction does not affect the chances of an individual from getting employment because this model encourages a person to interact more with society. It is this interaction that builds trust and confidence, increasing the chances of one being employed.