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Models of Addictive Behaviour: To understand the biological, cognitive and learning models of addiction, including explanations for initiation, maintenance & relapse To understand explanations for specific addictions, including smoking and gambling Factors affecting addictive behaviour: To understand the factors affecting vulnerability to addiction, including self-esteem, attributions for addiction, and the social context of addiction To understand the role of the media in addiction Reducing addictive behaviour: To understand models of prevention, including the theories of reasoned action and theories of planned behaviour To explore types of intervention, including biological, psychological, public health interventions and legislation, and explore their effectiveness.

“Addiction is a state of periodic or chronic intoxication produced by repeated consumption of a drug, natural or synthetic” World Health Organisation (1957)

There are other behaviours, e.g. gambling, overeating, sex, exercise, playing computer games etc, that are now accepted as being addictive “a repetitive habit pattern that increases the risk of disease and/or associated personal and social problems. Addictive behaviours are often experienced subjectively as ‘loss of control’ – the behaviour [continues] to occur despite [willing] attempts to abstain or moderate use. These habit patterns are typically characterised by immediate gratification (short-term reward), often coupled with delayed deleterious effects (long terms costs). Attempts to change an addictive behaviour (via treatment or self-initiation) are typically marked with high relapse rates.” Marlatt et al. (1988)

There are other behaviours, e.g. gambling, overeating, sex, exercise, playing computer games etc, that are now accepted as being addictive

The WHO prefer the term ‘dependence’ to addiction. Dependence is characterised by continuous or intermittent craving for the substance to avoid feelings of anxiety or guilt (a dysphoric state), a strong desire to take the substance & neglect of other forms of satisfaction, as well as tolerance and withdrawal. The most importantly, it is different to the term ‘abuse’

InitiationMaintenance Cessation (quitting) as a process: Pre-contemplation Contemplation Action Maintenance Relapse Clinical intervention: Disease perspective (e.g. nicotine replacement) Social learning perspective (e.g. aversion therapy, contracts, cue exposure, self-management) Beliefs: Susceptibility Seriousness Costs Benefits Expectancies Social factors: Parental behaviour Parental beliefs Peer group pressure Public health interventions: Doctor’s advice Community approaches Government policy Self-help Relapse prevention: Coping Expectancies Attributions

frequent association