The self-medication hypothesis of addictive disorders derives primarily from clinical observations of patients with substance use disorders. Individuals discover that the specific actions or effects of each class of drugs relieve or change a range of painful affect states. Self-medication factors occur in a context of self-regulation vulnerabilities--primarily difficulties in regulating affects, self-esteem, relationships, and self-care. Persons with substance use disorders suffer in the extreme with their feelings, either being overwhelmed with painful affects or seeming not to feel their emotions at all. Substances of abuse help such individuals to relieve painful affects or to experience or control emotions when they are absent or confusing. Diagnostic studies provide evidence that variously supports and fails to support a self-medication hypothesis of addictive disorders. The cause-consequence controversy involving psychopathology and substance use/abuse is reviewed and critiqued. In contrast, clinical observations and empirical studies that focus on painful affects and subjective states of distress more consistently suggest that such states of suffering are important psychological determinants in using, becoming dependent upon, and relapsing to addictive substances. Subjective states of distress and suffering involved in motives to self-medicate with substances of abuse are considered with respect to nicotine dependence and to schizophrenia and posttraumatic stress disorder comorbid with a substance use disorder.

The Self-medication Hypothesis of Substance Use Disorders: A Reconsideration and Recent Applications

Motivational Interviewing: Preparing People for Change

The Psychology of Religion and Coping: Theory, Research, Practice

What does recovery mean to you? Lessons from the recovery experience for research and practice

http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbp/v35n1/v35n1a06.pdf

Religion as a protective factor against drug use among Brazilian university students: a national survey.

In this age of modern era, the use of internet must be maximized. Yeah, internet will help us very much not only for important thing but also for daily activities. Many people now, from any level can use internet. The sources of internet connection can also be enjoyed in many places. As one of the benefits is to get the on-line addiction and spirituality a multidisciplinary approach book, as the world window, as many people suggest.

Addiction and Spirituality: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Results are reported from a survey of counselor education programs approved by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The survey focused on counselor training in the addictions.

Graduate Training of Counselors in the Addictions: A Study of CACREP-Approved Programs

The present study examined the perceived need for CACREP-accredited counselor education programs to formalize curriculum standards for substance abuse counseling courses. The participants were university professors who are CACREP liaisons for currently accredited counselor education programs. A survey was conducted using questions constructed from a review of literature and subsequent feedback from counselor educators with substance abuse counseling and CACREP expertise. Results suggested that providing educational preparation for students aspiring to be substance abuse counselors should be implemented. More than half of those surveyed (56.6%) indicated that the establishment of such curriculum standards by CACREP is “important” (23.3%), “very important” (14.4%), or “extremely important” (18.9%).

Curriculum Standards for the Education of Professional Substance Abuse Counselors.

This descriptive qualitative pilot study explored like attributes of successful recovery among 13 alcoholics with six or more years of continuous sobriety. Seven subjects were current members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Six subjects were spontaneous remitters (SA) chosen through convenience sampling techniques; these persons achieved and maintain stable, long-term recovery without the assistance of a support group. Open-ended questions about attributes that contribute to successful recovery were posed to these participants. Common attributes and themes were identified as these recovering alcoholics: utilized the help of supportive people, accepted help from God or a Higher Power, had a strong desire to get well, strove to be honest with self and built self confidence, and remembered the negative consequences of their past alcohol abuse. Implications for treatment and further research are suggested. The spiritual attributes listed by both groups of participants as important for successful recove...

Pathways to Long-Term Recovery from Alcohol Dependence

This article reviews the prevalence of trauma, substance use disorders, and their co-occurrence in both clinical and community populations Deeper understanding of these phenomena is providing new and promising treatment modalities Spiritual development and growth complement these emerging treatments

Oliver J. Morgan

Papers

Addiction and Spirituality: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Graduate Training of Counselors in the Addictions: A Study of CACREP-Approved Programs

Curriculum Standards for the Education of Professional Substance Abuse Counselors.

Pathways to Long-Term Recovery from Alcohol Dependence

Thoughts on the Interaction of Trauma, Addiction, and Spirituality