Reducing addiction

Ash is talking to a friend about why he plays online computer games all the time.

“I always feel stressed and everything is a lot better if I join an online gaming session. It just takes my mind off things and everything improves if I can escape into a good game. I live on my own and work from home, so it’s boring at night. When online friends suggest a gaming session, it’s great to play for an evening and have fun competing. We all join in because nobody wants to spoil the party or be left out.”

Discuss cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) as a way of reducing addiction. Refer to Ash’s comments in your answer.

Asa plays internet poker when he is alone in the evening, losing large sums of money. Sometimes he goes to casinos for the extra thrill of being around other gamblers. He talks about all the times he has won and how skilled he is at placing bets. If people point out that he could lose, Asa just ignores them.

Asa goes to a therapist for help with problem gambling. The therapist focuses on changing how Asa thinks about gambling and making the casino much less attractive.

Discuss one or more ways of reducing addiction. Refer to Asa in your answer.

Warren is addicted to gambling. In the evening he plays poker on the computer. He has recently started to attend Bettsoff gambling recovery centre. At the centre, staff aim to change how people think about their addictive behaviour. They also promote coping skills and alternative ways of behaving so addicts are less likely to fall back into their gambling habit.

Which therapy for addiction relies on changing the way the person thinks about his or her addictive behaviour?

Referring to your answer to Question 36, describe what the staff at the centre might do to help Warren’s gambling addiction.

Outline one limitation of the way of reducing addiction you have described in your answer to Question 37.

Bertie is talking about his addiction to chocolate.

Bertie says, “I can’t stop eating chocolate. I just need more and more. Eating chocolate gives me such a great feeling. I get comfy on the sofa then stuff myself with chocolate till I feel all warm and happy. I’m spending so much money on chocolate, I don’t know what to do.”

Explain how covert sensitisation could be used to treat Bertie’s addiction.

Outline one strength and one limitation of covert sensitisation as a way of reducing addiction.

A team of health workers attended a meeting about how to help a client who wants to give up smoking. They each offered suggestions and the team leader wrote some of the suggestions on a flip chart. Table 7 below shows some of the suggestions.

Discuss one or more ways of reducing addiction. Refer to some of the suggestions in Table 7 in your answer.