title: The advantages of the disease model.
abstract: Health care professionals are interested in practical definitions that provide solutions to problems. There are many advantages to defining chemical dependence as a disease. This paper gives a health care professional clear directions regarding identifying the problem of chemical dependence and specifying a specific treatment plan for patients. We review the issues of personal responsibility, the moral model of addictions, and the neuropharmacology of the disease process, and advocate for the disease model as an effective, practical method for treating alcoholism and drug dependence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009014:Morals; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy