Views and models about addiction: differences between treatments for alcohol-dependent people and for illicit drug consumers in Italy.
Treatment of people who are alcohol-dependent and treatment of users of illicit drugs differ remarkably in Italy, in keeping with the perception of the general public that drinking alcoholic beverages is a time-honored behavior, while consumption of illicit drugs is a deviant behavior. From a clinical perspective, the treatment for alcoholism essentially stands on the principle of free choice, motivation to change, and a family approach, while the treatment of people who are illicit drug users is characterized by control, pharmacotherapy, and individual therapy approaches. From a socio-political viewpoint both were established in the 1970s, the former being a "bottom-up" movement that started as "spontaneous" responses that mutual help groups and a few clinicians and institutions gave to alcoholics and their families; while the latter was provided "top-down" as a political response of the Government confronting the increase of illegal drug consumption among youngsters.
Allamani
Allaman
A
Centro Alcologico, Gruppo Prevenzione e Ricerca, Florence Health Agency, Florence, Italy. allamana@gmail.com
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000628:therapy*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D007558:Italy; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011639:Public Opinion; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000458:organization & administration; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy*
D013287:Illicit Drugs