DSM-IV Criteria For Substance Use Disorders

An alcoholic falls into a hole. A therapists walks by and tries to help talk the alcoholic out of the hole, but to no avail, the alcoholic stays in the hole. A psychiatrist walks by the hole and throws some pills down into the hole but that doesn’t help at all. The alcoholic stays in the hole looking at the pills. A cop, a judge, and a prosecutor walk by the hole and order the alcoholic out but the alcoholic still stays stuck in the hole. A priest passes by and prays for the alcoholic to get out of the hole, but the alcoholic is still stays stuck. Another alcoholic passes by the hole sees the alcoholic and jumps in the hole with him. The first alcoholic turns to the second and says, “Why did you do that, now we are both stuck!” The second alcoholic

Keen Ph.D. defines the criteria for substance use disorder in her journal article, DSM-IV Criteria for Substance Use Disorders as, “the use or abuse of a substance that leads to impaired control, social impairment, risky behaviors, and/or pharmacological dependence”(Keen). To receive a diagnosis of substance use disorder, two out of eleven criteria must be met, the more criteria that are met the higher the severity of the disorder. Each of the eleven criteria are divided into four categories, impaired control, social impairment, risky use, and pharmacological dependence. A precipitating event of some relevance must have occurred to receive this diagnosis, if this diagnosis is received at

Self-perception theory states, that when an individual is unsure of their emotional state or attitude they refer to their own behavior. An individual suffering from substance abuse disorder by definition will engage in harmful behaviors. Social comparison theory states that in order to have an accurate view of ourselves, we compare ourselves to others. In the study, Maladaptive Social Self-Beliefs in Alcohol Dependence: A specific bias toward excessive High Standards, Pierre Marurage et al, argues that those suffering from Alcohol-dependence lack “emotional intelligence and empathy…”these emotional deficits increase the social problems frequently observed in alcohol dependence and favors social isolation. Alcohol consumption is then often augmented to cope with these poor interpersonal relationships initiating a vicious circle”. Alcoholism is a self-perpetuating stigmatized disease which affects every area of the substance dependent person’s life. Most alcoholics and addicts are the last ones to know they have a problem because substance dependence initiates a downward biopsychosocial spiral. Men and women do not go to a twelve step program because their emotional, mental, and physical heath is in perfect condition. An introduction to 12 step programs is often a result of engaging in behaviors others see as