World Congress on
Advances in Addiction Science and Medicine

Biography:

Pat is a Licensed Professional Counselor, creator of the Motivational Assessment Prevention Program (MAPP) and author of PREHAB: Leveraging Perception to End Substance Abuse. Pat’s research focuses on the risk continuum for Substance Use Disorders from prevention to treatment. His research uncovered causes and effective education methods for all risk levels as evidenced by reduced negative consequences. His research experience is complemented by his clinical experience with Individual Psychology, Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Myers Briggs Personality Type. Pat is a contributing member and speaker for regional and national conferences.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: The prevention paradox (Babor et al., 2010; Kreitman,1986; Rose, 2001) explains tragedies at both ends of the Substance Use Disorder (SUD)  continuum.  The reason is simple.  The cause of SUDs remains hidden.  Through data analysis of college freshmen responses to a new model and assessment, (Moore, 2016), perception development was revealed as the difference between low and high risk students.  Perception development as defined by affective risk response attributes (Ropeik, 2010) is the necessary and sufficient cause of any Substance Use Disorder.  All humans habituate.  The order of attributes determines if habituation results in autonomy or dependence.  In the short term,  intervention before symptom progression and undesirable outcomes is effective as evidenced by MAPP assessment scores. In the long term, on campus alcohol arrests and citations declined 79% from 2013 during the research period 2014-2015 (KSU Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, 2016).   Removal of the cause is the most effective public health policy (Rose, 2001).  Current prevention, treatment and aftercare interventions may cause harm without taking this finding into consideration. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: An elaboration model (Babbie, 2004, p.422) was used for multivariate analysis of evaluation and multiple time-series data based on an empowerment model  and nonequivalent measures.  Students assessed their own risk levels based on the Prehab presentation and MAPP model (Moore, 2016) over time.  The elaboration model isolated the relationship between the primary affective risk response attribute (risk/benefit) and frequency of risk, mental and physical progression and other perception risk factors in convenient samples of first semester college freshmen. Findings: There is a affective risk response pathway common to all students at high or severe risk for Substance Use Disorders. The low risk majority of the sample (75%) use the same perception risk factors in a different order.  Results suggest autonomy or dependence is decided in stage 1 of the MAPP model based on how the perception risk factor control is used  with other perception risk factors at that time. Conclusion & Significance: As evidenced by research measurements and supported by campus outcomes, Substance Use Disorders can be identified and intervened on before symptoms and/or negative consequences.  Likewise, in treatment, cessation is not change.  The assumption that addiction delays development (Harrington, Harris & Wiebe, 2010, p.3) is mistaking correlation for causation.  Perception development of one kind appears as delayed development of another.  The cause remained hidden because there was no measure for it. One type of perception development must stop for another to start. Interventions based on perception development support three new objectives.  Educate the low risk before progression or misinterpretation of others.  Identify and intervene on the high risk before further progression or consequences. Prepare the severe risk for long term change and decrease the detox and die syndrome.  Removing the causal variable through early intervention can end Substance Use Disorders in our time.