In 2006, the 130-year-old American Association on Mental Retardation changed its name to the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities because it recognized that within the culture of its membership opinion toward the term mental retardation had turned negative. In its press release, an official noted, “This new name is an idea whose time has come. Individuals with disabilities and family members do not like the term mental retardation and their advocacy is encouraging political and social change at national, state, and local levels. Our members demanded that we keep up with [the] times and they voted for this name change” (American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 2006).

Like the disabilities field, the field of addictions also relies on terms and labels to diagnose, treat, and intervene. One precaution in working in the field is to understand the controversy surrounding labeling, the effect of labeling on clients, and the influence of cultural context on labels. A consideration affecting assessment and treatment is the underlying model used to inform processes.

This week, you examine the implications of labeling in addictions assessment, and you explore the relationship between addiction models and assessment processes.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

· Analyze implications of labeling in the addictions assessment process

· Analyze influences of cultural context on labeling in the addictions assessment process

· Analyze the relationship between models of addiction and assessment processes

· Evaluate controversies associated with models of addiction

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