Aversion therapy to treat addiction
- Aversion therapy to treat addiction works on the principles of classical conditioning
- Classical conditioning is used to break the individual’s pleasurable association with the addictive substance and replace it with a negative association
- To try and cure alcohol addiction individuals are given an aversive drug which causes vomiting and makes them feel nauseous
- The addicted person is then offered a drink smelling strongly of alcohol, which usually results in them vomiting almost immediately
- This aversive treatment is repeated until the individual no longer wants to drink alcohol
- With nicotine addiction the aversion therapy often involves the smoker inhaling cigarette smoke rapidly and so deeply that it makes them feel nauseous
Aversion therapy for alcohol addiction.
- Aversion therapy for gambling often uses electric shock therapy
- The individual creates cards with key phrases they associate with their gambling and cards for everyday statements that are nothing to do with gambling
- As they read through the statements, they self-administer an electric shock for each gambling-related statement
- The individual sets the intensity of the shock themselves, aiming to make the shock discouraging but not too painful