Specifically, please address ALL of the following issues.
a. Consider typical definitions of addiction and the common characteristics of each (I have appended a series of
definitions, courtesy of Google). What are the critical dimensions used to define addiction? What is the role of
psychological and physical dependence in defining addiction?
b. Consider the consequences of addiction within the framework provided by the Addiction Severity Index
(ASI), a commonly used measure of addiction. The ASI considers addiction not just as extensive drug use, but
also in terms of consequences along five critical dimensions:
• Medical Issues
• Legal Issues
• Employment Issues
• Social/Family Issues
• Psychosocial Functioning Issues
Provide specific examples for each of these issues from the video Portrait of Addiction from the Bill Moyers
series on addiction called “Close to Home”. Use these profiles to illustrate the complexity of the disease.
c. Consider characteristics of the drug itself. What do you mean by the question, “What is the most addictive
drug”? Is it the likelihood of producing physical or psychological dependence? Is it the likelihood (or rapidity)
of producing compulsive use? Is the ratio of social (recreational) users versus addicts a critical one? What
measure(s) do you think best identifies the “most addictive drug”? In short, what makes a drug addictive?
d. In your opinion, what is the most addictive drug? Justify your answer.