The medical model

The medical model sees behaviour as the result of organic function. Maladaptive behaviour is understood as having its roots in organic dysfunction. Psychopathology is viewed as a phenomenon that occurs intrapsychically as a result of external agents having an effect on the individual. Social influences are mostly ignored on the cause of illness. Linear causality is a view that one or more causes lead to a specific effect. For example: A virus infects a person and that person becomes ill. We can see that the medical model operates from the paradigm of linear causality and that it sees addiction as the result of organic dysfunction. It seeks to find a cure for addiction through traditional medical methods, usually involving some medication.

It would appear that a medical treatment program is most effective when augmented by an appropriate behavioural therapeutic program. In application to a drug rehab center one would see that physicians help an addict to find physical health and make physical cravings manageable so that the patient can engage in the addiction treatment program to address his/her behaviour on a deeper scale. The first contact a patient in an addictions treatment unit has might well be with a doctor prescribing a detox regime to help ease the symptoms of withdrawal and start the healing process. Many of the psychoactive drugs of abuse have a negative impact on a persons cognitive and emotional functioning and the medical model is quite effective in diagnosing and assisting with prescribing medication to assist the individual in returning to function.

Additional resources

• Effective Medical Treatment of Heroin Addiction is a medical research book examining medical treatments for heroin addiction.
• Diagnosis and Treatment of Drug Abuse in Family Practice is a NIDA resource designed to help the family detect and intervene in substance abuse cases.
• Management of Withdrawal Syndromes is a guide for doctors.
• Clinician's Handbook of Preventive Services is a public health resource for doctors designed as a primary intervention.
• Merck Manual of Medical Information is a home version of the manual used by doctors as a diagnostic guideline.
• Naltrexone and Alcoholism Treatment is a review study of this drug that offers an indication of its efficacy.
• Pain Control After Surgery: A Patient's Guide is a resource to help patients decide on a pain reduction strategy.
• National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine is a resource focusing on "alternatives" healing techniques.
• Medical Education in Alcohol and Alcohol Problems provides a European outlook on how to intervene effectively in cases involving problem drinkers.
• Methadone Medical Maintenance is a manual for doctors detailing how to manage a methadone maintenance protocol.
• Detox Program contains information about detoxification from various substances.
• Guide to Clinical Preventive Services is a review study that makes recommendations for treatment and risk reduction policies.
• Finding Out About Hepatitis C is a FAQ published by American Academy of Family Physicians about this illness.
• Buprenorphine Update is a NIDA resource about this medication used to treat opiate dependence.
• Missed Opportunities: National Survey of Primary Care Physicians and Patients on Substance Abuse is a study outlining why substance abuse is often difficult to detect.
• Chronic Pain: Hope Through Research is an American review study of various treatment methods for pain.
• Medline Consumer Health provides an extensive resource list including a great deal of information about drugs. 11,000,000 articles are indexed by them!
• Systems of Care for HIV-Infected Injection Drug Users provides links to resources like HIV treatment programs from the AIDS knowledge base.