Question

How do morals and values come into play with regard to substance use/abuse and recovery?

Answer 1

Morals and values shape societal perceptions and treatment of substance use, abuse, and recovery. Recovery programs often integrate moral frameworks to foster responsible behaviors, while health professionals balance education on risks with respect for individual beliefs.

Step-by-step explanation:

Morals, Values, and Substance Use

Morals and values have a significant impact on the way society views and addresses issues related to substance use, abuse, and recovery. Morality is a social construct that guides how individuals interact with one another and dictates the beliefs and behaviors considered acceptable. Substance use and abuse are often viewed through the lens of morality, and societal values can heavily influence the perceptions, judgments, and responses to these behaviors. Ethical principles suggest that as future health professionals, understanding and respecting the moral compass of patients is vital while promoting health and preventing disease.

In the context of recovery, moral frameworks can inform the rehabilitative approaches used by counselors and therapists. Anthropologist Summerson Carr noted the importance of language and 'healthy talk' in an addiction treatment program. Learning to communicate progress through culturally acceptable narratives allows patients to navigate their paths to recovery within a societal context. This touches on the larger conversation surrounding morality, in which moral realists argue for objective moral truths, while moral skeptics question the existence of absolute moral values.

Recovery from substance abuse is often challenged by the societal stigma related to drug addiction, which can be tied to moral judgments. Historical views suggest that a lack of a strong moral compass was believed to result in issues like addiction. Consequently, approaches to recovery have sometimes involved moral or religious overtones, aiming to uplift individuals morally to facilitate change. A compassionate health professional's role in recovery balances educating patients about risks and behaviors associated with substance use while respecting the patients' cultural and moral values.

Answer 2

When drug or alcohol abuse consumes a person’s life, one of the first things to go is the person’s ability to make rational, moral choices. He (or she) can no longer make the kind of simple judgments that the unaddicted can make easily. The addict will feel that getting and using drugs is more important than caring for his or her children, holding a job or being a responsible citizen. That is the kind of domination that addictive drug cravings have over the addict. It’s like the addict is in prison with no possibility of escape.