Excessive alcohol consumption of alcohol is currently a public issue around the globe. The alcohol abuse accounts close to 7 percent in the developed nations. Alcohol is the causal of 50 medical conditions that result in long-term health issues (Hassan & Shiu, 2007). Alcohol consumption is most prevalent on the young adult population. Many students account for risky drinking behavior. Different journal issues generate interest on issues concerning binge drinking among the students. The facts and statistics question on the best way to educate the young people especially students to ensure they are within safe drinking limits. This paper will investigate how a disease model of alcoholism will inadvertently create barriers to treatment to reinforce cultural idealization. The paper will present and discuss three different arguments that include (1) elevation of human behavior to rest on the following cultural constructs science-as-positivism, individual-as-scientist, and alcohol-as-disease. (2) Naïve scientist problem drinkers interpret the construction entail measures of central tendency, prediction, and objectivity. (3) Alcoholism theory and treatment advances when researchers and problem drinkers that challenge assumptions concerning science and the disease model.
The advantages of an alcoholism disease model are clear while the disadvantages of the same receive little attention. The model’s dominance forestalls consideration of alternative and potential valuable theories. The theory reinforces the value of normality to depict alcoholics as deviant in the society. One can trace the disadvantages using narrowly construed scientific discourses that include alcoholism-as-disease, individual-as-scientist, and science-as-positivism. In summary, the problem drinkers ponder the diagnosis of alcoholism to emphasize on the positivist concepts of objectivity, prediction, and central tendency. Positivism can reinforce the value of normality in the diagnosis of the disease to threaten a mark of identity as nonstandard. The continual to drink while changing the drinking variables symbolizes rationality (Glassman & Braun, 2010). The alcoholism theory can benefit when the researchers extend conceptualization beyond the disease model. The treatment of alcoholism can benefit when the experts in healthcare challenge the social norms to emphasize the subjectivity and determine the parameters of self-control.
According to Veer & Kilian (2011), many years have passed since a clinician first proposed conceptualizing compulsive alcohol consumption as a disease. In the present decade, alcoholism disease model gains a large acceptance in the medical field to manifest of a large cultural embrace of science, called positivism. The model has since been successful to forestall alternative conceptualizations of alcoholism.
The model of alcoholism has achieved immense success to a point public conflate the phenomenon and representation. A disease model in comparison to religious and criminal approaches to addiction presents benefits in research and treatment. A disease model advances alcoholism research to foster precise measurement and objective investigation. It also reduces treatment by reducing stigma attached to compulsive behavior. Glassman & Braun (2010) notes that physicians rarely address the disease model to undermine its treatment. (1) The disease model dominates popular discussions and experts concerning alcoholism to reinforce social privileges for a normal drinker. (2) The model reinforces the success of alternative conceptualization that the physicians rarely considered to relegate a deviant fringe. (3) The model will legitimate arguments of problem drinkers that apply objective diagnostic criteria. Thepitfallsthediseasemodeltraceculturalscience Science as a collection of social discourses in the social realm eclipses competing, flexible, and broad notions. The notions render as objective, positivism, and the value-free method to learn concerning world. Alcoholism rendered as a disease has an individual as a naïve scientist capable of objective categorization and observation.
1. Notation of the presenting problem to a drinker
Tipsy Tom is case that entails the subject, a middle manager of an engineering firm. The subject works in a stressful environment with strict deadlines and stiff competition from rivals in the industry. The senior executive is considering downsizing especially middle management of the workforce. Annette, the wife of Tom situation of illness has left her unemployed., The loss of her income strains the marriage and this has led Tom to devote many hours that make him sad.
Tom issue of drinking began while he was in university at that time it was not a problem since the subject could have a good time together with his friends. Tom’s mother and uncle were victims of drinking problems, and soon Tom was following in their steps. Tom started coming home late since he could have a drink at the restaurant before going home. That habit became routine, and the law has apprehended him with a Drinking under Influence and license suspended for 30 days (Bertelli & Richardson, 2008).
Normality attains elevation of scientific discourses in the cultural status owing to pervasive acceptance. Both words that represent a given phenomenon to the meanings attached to constant renegotiation to those that use a shared language. The negotiable nature of discourse in the elevation and will depict derogation privileges. The discourses of science and alcoholism assume authoritative meanings for common use of the scientific elite. Cultural value placed on normality traces specific meanings attached to the three concepts.
Spillane & Smith (2007) observes that problem drinkers and naïve scientists operate in social reality depicts strong influences in objectivity, control of outcomes, and central tendency. Positivism has an emphasis on the value of observation. Numerical representations of measurement provide diverse benefits of precision and reduction. Spillane & Smith (2007) provides information to reify once there are myriad data points reduced to a single measure of central tendency. Alcohol consumption has a single measurable reality idealized normally. The boundaries of normal drinking identify numerical average for alcohol consumption. The characteristics of normal and abnormal drinking have four different categories. (1) While a researcher tends to focus on the patterns and consequences of drinking, the popular alcohol discourse tends to focus on consumption.
A stimulus-response paradigm suggests an increase in the drinking stimulus that causes an increase in problematic behavior. The paradigm is still dominant as different researchers such as Akers et al. (2009), Andsager et al. (2006), and Neuwirth & Fredrick (2004) contend that the drinking pattern is an accurate predictor of acute alcohol issues than the quantity consumed. (2) It is possible to map the consumption quantities and patterns in a continuum that has both reified and consensual representations to translate different categories that include alcoholic, abstainer, and a normal drinker. A Normal drinker consumes less than seven drinks in every week, as the normal identity reinforces discursively at the cultural level.(3)Alcohol consumption centers on male appellation reinforces masculine as the cultural default for gender, the Western popular culture socially stigmatizes an abstainer and alcoholic as a social deviant. The populace regards abstainers than problem drinkers in society. The abstainers account for beverage choices. () Says that the literal representations acknowledge nondrinking behavior while in people take for granted normal drinking. Problem drinkers define a problem as a behavioral tendency since they have high motivations. Alcoholic behavior and identity are terms that have a distinction since one can determine the identity through interpersonally as the individual bid for normality succeeds upon confirmation.
Alcoholics that fail in their control attempts have three choices to resolve the issue (1) problem drinkers can choose deviance of abstinence that require an accounting(2) they can choose deviance from drunkenness. That entails surrendering to compulsion while risking social penalty (3) they can attempt to exercise control to enable sustains intoxication as they cultivate a normality perception. Repeated attempts and failures to drink normally compares with the endurance in the society’s and the individual lack of control. Neuwirth & Fredrick (2004) observes that most alcoholics adapt the second choice of selecting deviance from drunkenness. That strategy enables them to isolate themselves as they mitigate the social censure. Such strategic behavior indicates an awareness of the norms given the physical and social challenges posed by abstinence to constitute a rational response.
2. Statement of the counseling the theory
Foregoing analysis on the scientific discourses influences alcohol and alcoholics perceptions. Some of the drawbacks in the disease model include neglect of the alternative conceptions of alcoholism that has an overemphasis on normality to deter the problem drinkers from seeking treatment. The rationale for future problem drinkers to continue with experiments is likely to end in to achieve the intended results. Researchers could enhance the understanding of alcoholism to expand beyond the disease model. The treatment healthcare professionalism can enhance their work to challenge the social norms, validate clients’ subjective experiences, and determine the limits of client self-control.
Future research should attempt to identify and manipulate the effects of clinical words such as disease, normal, and disorder on both professionals and masses. A micro-focused medical research contrasts the macro-focused medical research that influences the social system in the use of alcohol and the reciprocal influence of alcohol on the social systems. The theory does not have a connection between the medical and social aspect. In most scenarios, the populace learnt terminology and findings through clinicians and medical professionals. The problem drinkers will readily accept a diagnosis of alcoholism as those that attempt to supplement a disease model with alternative discourses to depict the mutable nature of norms. Researchers should evaluate the efficacy to introduce additional discourses to the type of positivism that dominates social representations. Some of the suggestions of incorporation include cognitive0behavioral therapy, Alcoholics Anonymous, and motivational interviewing. Each of the approaches details a problematic relationship between individual and alcohol to establish a relationship on a healthy note.
Challenge the social norms
Problem drinkers seeking help can compromise their identity as they assume deviance of an alcoholism diagnosis. Alcoholism masses can re-frame the perception to note how others share deviance and emphasize on norms that vary drastically. A problem drinker, unlike alcoholism worker, has little exposure and high alcohol consumption in the societal change. The social media channels reinforce the deviance for the normal drinker.
Emphasize the validity of subjectivity
The operation of a positivist discourse challenges misconception on alcoholism workers in the durability of norms. An overemphasis on positivism leads to problem drinkers to neglect subjective experiences in relationships with alcohol. Drinking theorists are theorists that adjust their behavior and thinking behavior to match an identity perceived as normal. Problem drinkers can suspect alcoholism workers and members of the social network that has personal, professional, and financial interests to influence the diagnostic objectivity. Clinicians should encourage problem drinkers to evaluate objectively the disordered relationship with alcohol and the failed attempts to correct it. The most treatment approaches entail an explicit rationale.
3. Major constructs of the theory
Science-as-positivism- Since 1800s Western science documents the struggles of individuals and groups to depict dominance in the strategy of knowledge acquisition. The resultant polarized discourses framed in a mutually exclusive and antagonistic way (Young, 2011). The theory compares science versus religion, realism versus nominalism, empiricism versus rationalism. In a nuanced appreciation of diversity of different approaches, pertain to sub-disciplines in the elite contexts elevated to the detriment of others. At the popular discourse, a nuance of alternative approaches to science elevates a deductive-nomological model.
Different researchers arrive in a personal and social identity since all knowledge and ideas circulate in the mass media in a scientific origin. At the individual and cultural, level the objective measurement and classification to serve as default criteria to evaluate the experience. Young (2011) believes that the disease model of alcoholism is a prototype for scientific explanations on the host of individual experiences. Most behaviors formerly discussed by masses have scientific rhetoric of disorder and diagnosis. A scientific concept pervades consensual representation to forestall the consideration of alternative possibilities. The greater extent of the representation of the world shares with other people to make the humanity existence autonomous. Masses invoke scientific rationales that cause problems from a personal identity. Scientific rationales take on a life and censor alternative theories. The scientific discourse forces problem drinkers in a stark choice between normality and disease in alcoholism.
Alcoholism-as-disease
Deductive-nomological model stresses on causal explanation that defines science as a complex paradigm to represent multiple-causality. The popular discourse of the narrative has dramatic conflict in the independent variable. Medical science acknowledges the causes of alcoholism through sophisticated and linear recourse. The popular disease narrative is one that has individual biology as the proximal cause. Consensual universe has different causal narratives that persist muted terms in the present day. The moral narrative identifies cause as a spiritual deficiency.
The public health narrative identifies the cause of the liquor industry. Presently, disease narratives tend to dominate alcoholism gene to apply narrative terms. An alcoholic cast as a patient has a sympathetic and less stigmatized role. Gastil (2000) frames disease alcoholism to a chronic and the irreversible ailment. Any disease narrative require subject to surrender to a degree of personal agency. Disease limits the range of volitional behaviors where a subject can perform social, mental, and physical consequence. Disease attributes are a recipe to stigmatize the personal identity.
Disease discourse from reified scientific representation to consensual social representation to as a . Alternative discourses acknowledge the cultural to preserve personal agency and interpersonal contexts that give meaning to alcohol use and misuse illustrate that applying alcohol to the human body as a simple stimulus-response that lead to a predictable outcome. Disease discourse leads to neglect of ignorance of alternative alcoholism discourses to mitigate stigma.
Individual-as-scientist
The disease model fails to eradicate problem drinker’s agency since it concentrates it in the pre-diagnosis phase. The science-as-positivism discourse provides the individual as an investigator. Akers et al. (2009) note that the scientific accrual of knowledge is a process that relate to particular findings to central paradigms. Human-as-scientists have the training to enable them observe, document and measure in an accumulative constructive process. Constructive alternativism permit individuals to generate grand theories where some are provisional based, and others are life based on experience.
Akers et al. (2009) state that many people proceeds in the early stages with the assumption they are not alcoholic. The consensual discourse of science teaches alcoholics to assume a naïve role. Scientist formulates assumptions, tests them, and rejects those that are false. The form of amateur science leads to false conclusions concerning a self-diagnosis of alcoholism. (1) Normal drinking patterns precede alcoholic drinking. Problem drinkers can operate from outdated theory that they still drink normally. (2) Alcohol affects cognitive processing, problem drinkers’ observations of self. (3) Problem drinkers are unable to observe all the effects of alcohol since direct comparisons of experience are speculative and prone to distortion.
The result of the attribution error has varied willful attempts to alter the drinking pattern where a subject drinks specific types of alcohol, at certain times, with certain people, and at certain places. The attempts to preserve a theory as a normal drinker restricts the conditions where the theory holds true. The alternative of the theory entails accepting the alcoholic identity perceived as a permanent stigma. The two perceptions have the influence of scientific discourses to facilitate the acceptance of identity to deviate from normal drinker ideal.
4. Integration of the problem with a Christian theistic view
The Bible does not provide instruction for abstinence while it teaches temperance as it condemns excessive drinking. In the Bible Book of Proverbs 20: 1”Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever has the intoxication is not wise.” As all problems have a spiritual solution, the increasing problem of alcoholism has a God-aligned path for escape. The Book of 1 Corinthians 10:31 state that, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with every temptation, God will make a way to escape that you may bear it. Proverbs 23:20, Galatians 5:19 and Ephesians state that drunkenness is among the works of the flesh that prevent eternal salvation. The Bible mentions very little-concerning addiction. It treats alcoholism as a moral choice rather than an issue addressed through counseling and medicine. Currently, beer distiller manufacturers participate in a multibillion-dollar campaign in advertising. Christians should serve as role models in this era ensuring that other followers follow the right path by avoiding the alcoholic grave. In the Book of 1 Corinthians 8:9 the bible states that, “But take care that this liberty does not somehow become a stumbling block for the weak,”
Rehabilitation is a long and difficult exercise that requires immense hope. It is good for a counselor to start offering hope to the subject by praying for them since it is possible to do more than pray after you have prayed. In the Book of Ephesians, Paul the author informs the Church at Ephesus that believers face a spiritual warfare and for that reason, it is good to pray for an alcoholic having faith in God’s faith. The counselor should get the alcoholic to admit they need help.
The use of a well-developed system of rationalization will address the needs of the family..
In conclusion, the disease model of alcoholism supersedes moral and public health narratives that frame alcoholism as a spiritual and social menace to stigmatize those that struggle with the chemical dependence. The positive discourse uses a scientific elite elevated in the circulation within the Western societies. The model is ironical in nature since it attempts to destigmatize alcoholism by framing it in a treatable condition.. Additionally, the disease model, appear progressive and has incurable properties of most stigmatized diseases. The advances brought by the disease model, complicates diagnosis since it threatens the privileged normal identity with irrevocable deviance.
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