The age-old debate in the field of addiction is whether or not addiction is a disease or just merely a rational choice, a moral and personality weakness or bad habit. The biopsychosocial model of addiction attempts to resolve this debate by taking a holistic approach to addiction and treatment. Strength-based perspectives and harm reduction are also considered important, client-centered approaches to addiction today.

1. What are your thoughts on using the biopsychosocial-spiritual model, strengths approach, and harm reduction to treat and deal with addiction? (Can you highlight any pros and cons of each of these concepts?)

1. Apply your understanding of these terms to an analysis of the following case study:
   • Chris is addicted to heroin. He injects it regularly using the same needle each time because he doesn't know how to clean it properly, and he doesn't know where to get clean syringes (e.g. needles) from. Often he injects in public bathrooms or in parks. His mother also used heroin and died from a heroin overdose when he was young. Chris takes heroin to cope with the trauma of this loss. He experiences terrible withdrawal symptoms when he tries to stop. He continues to use in order to avoid the physical pain from withdrawal. Chris is depressed and feels worthless and hopeless. He has no hobbies, no job, no goals, and all his friends use heroin, too.
2. If you were an addiction specialist, what type of suggestions could you give to Chris to address EACH of his biopsychosocial (spiritual) needs using strength-based strategies and harm reduction? (HINTS: Think about the potential biological/genetic causes/issues, the psychological causes and the social causes of his addiction. What could you suggest to help with EACH of those elements of his addiction? Think about strategies that could help uplift his strengths, help him focus on the future, motivate him to make positive changes, give him hope and purpose, and make him feel a stronger sense of self esteem. Think about harm reduction strategies that could keep him safer, prevent him from overdosing, and from spreading communicable diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtFYMEOetAs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05ANXZKdCg0

I would appreciate your help with this.

Thank you in advance.