Why the pervasive addiction myth is still believed
Why the pervasive addiction myth is still believed
复制标题
DOI：
10.1080/16066350290001687
复制
发表时间：
2002-02-01
影响因子：
2.9
通讯作者：
Reid, M
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Hammersley, R;Reid, M
本文描述了成瘾的神话，并认为社会机制，可能会维持这种话语的物质使用问题，在面对反证。错误的说法是，物质使用的典型特征是成瘾，这是一种主要由药物的生物效应引起的严重、危险和慢性疾病。这个神话是有弹性的，并已被应用于不同的物质。在可能维持这一神话的简单社会机制中，有一个是它为毒品问题提供了一个明确的答案，它对广泛的社会群体具有社会功能（Davies，1992年）。成瘾的神话阅读，哈伍德。本文简要回顾了有关神话和传说的性质和功能的文献，以表明成瘾神话就是这种形式。就像传说中经常发生的那样，神话在一定程度上说明了如何不去做。它还描述了自我控制的问题，这可能是西方文化的核心关注。通过成瘾失去控制相比，通过拥有神或精神，这是最普遍的替代来源的“失去控制”的控制，并围绕这两种现象的社会机制进行了描述。也有人认为，不成瘾可能是社会认同的一个方面。它的结论是，有必要重新考虑物质使用作为正常行为的社会原因，而不是永久的无益的道德和不成功的解决方案所建议的神话。
This paper characterises the myth of addiction and considers social mechanisms that may sustain this discourse about substance use problems in the face of counter-evidence. The myth is that substance use is typified by addiction, which is a dramatic, dangerous and chronic condition primarily caused by the biological effects of drugs. This myth is resilient and has been applied to different substances. Among the simple social mechanisms that may sustain the myth are that it provides a clear answer to drug problems and that it is socially-functional for a wide range of social groups (Davies, 1992. The Myth of Addiction. Reading, Harwood.). The literature on the nature and functions of myths and legends is briefly reviewed to show that the myth of addiction is of this form. As often with legends, the myth is partly an illustration of how not to behave. It also depicts issues of self-control that may be of central concern to western cultures. Loss of control through addiction is compared with loss of control through possession by deities or spirits, which is the most prevalent alternative source of 'loss of control', and the social mechanisms that surround both phenomena are described. It is also suggested that non-addiction can be an aspect of social identity. It is concluded that there is a need to reconsider substance use as normal behaviour with social causes, without perpetuating the unhelpful morality and unsuccessful solutions suggested by the myth.