Addiction as a functional representation

This study examined how perceptions of the addicted state vary as a functio n of social conditions, personal circumstances and type of substance. Unive rsity students (n=144) were presented with portrayals of drug users in whic h sex, drug type and social setting were varied. A questionnaire determined the degree to which participants thought that the person portrayed was (i) addicted, (ii) prone to use drugs due to his/her personality, and (iii) pe rceived as a problem to society. The pattern of results fitted a functional model of the addiction concept rather than an attempt to describe an 'obje ctive' state. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.