atment of the abuse of alcohol contend, however, that any reclassification of alcoholism as a disease with a biological cause, as opposed to a condition stemming from individual behavioral choices will not impinge on the need for the AA approach or for some similar psychologically-based therapy. Other authorities, however, are not convinced that therapies such as the AA treatment approach will remain viable alternatives in the future.
Two research questions will be investigated in the proposed research study. These research questions are as follows:
1. Are substance abuse generally and alcohol abuse more specifically likely to be reclassified from behaviorally-based psychological conditions to biologically-caused diseases?
2. Would the reclassification of substance abuse generally and alcohol abuse more specifically from behaviorally-based psychological conditions to biologically-caused diseases compromise the viability of psychologically-based therapies such as the AA program?
Hypotheses will be tested in relation to each of the above research questions. These hypotheses are as follows:
1. There is a high probability that substance abuse generally and alcohol abuse more specifically will be reclassified from behaviorally-based psychological conditions to biologically-caused diseases.
2. The reclassification of substance abuse generally and alcohol abuse more specifically from behaviorally-based psychological conditions to biologically-caused diseases will not compromise the viability of psychologically-based therapies such as the AA program.
The purpose of the proposed research study will be to develop information that will assist both professionals and volunteers in the development and administration of programs to assist persons addicted to alcohol and other chemical substances in the control of their addictive behaviors. A major contribution of the proposed study will be to demonstrate the value of the...