The message that addiction is a disease makes substance users less likely to seek help
Research finds that people with substance-use problems who read a message describing addiction as a disease are less likely to report wanting to engage in effective therapies, compared to those who read a message that addiction behaviors are subject to change.
"When we began talking about addiction as a disease, the goal was to decrease stigma and encourage treatment," says Sarah Desmarais, coauthor of a paper on the work and an associate professor of psychology at North Carolina State University. "That worked, to an extent, but an unforeseen byproduct was that some people experiencing addiction felt like they had less agency; people with diseases have no control over them."
"Overall, our findings support moving away from messaging about addiction solely as a disease," Desmarais says. "It's more complicated than that. Instead, the finding suggests that it would be more helpful to talk about the many different reasons people become addicted."
"The findings also highlight the potential to use growth mindset (see image) interventions to help substance users engage in effective treatments," Burnette notes.
Have you used the growth mindset approach in your practice?
Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/r.../05/190528120324.htm
One change I would make to the diagram: the circles for Growth Mind-set are growing larger, an excellent visual point. I suspect the circles for the Fixed Mind-set should be shrinking, for bad habits become stronger unless addressed. There is an essential need for our Fixed Mind-set to be replaced with Growth Mind-set - not an easy process, especially where time and habit have led to fixed behaviours set in cement; and the hardening of that cement only makes the circles smaller as relationships decrease.
When people begin to see the potential they still have, the cement may start to crack and flake away, but that can be a long process requiring great patience, determination and perseverance on the part of all involved. The mental, emotional, physical and spiritual all need attention, and it is good to see progress being made as people start taking to heart the problems and outcomes of having a Fixed-Mind-set. Especially meaningful is the great goodness of God's love offering them a new life of growing in him in every area - a very different perspective affecting us at the deepest level of who we are!