Over 100 years of empirical work with human and animal subjects conducted in research laboratories, the natural/real-world, and clinical settings, has produced a body of knowledge known as the Conditioning Theories of Addictions.
The body of work is remarkable in that over that time no meaningful previous findings have been wholly overturned, and new findings have been incorporated. This leaves us with a very well-developed and robust area of knowledge.
My aim in this monograph is to help the reader: (1) understand the stages of drug use problems from initial behavioral acquisition to later development of acquired motivations; (2) recognize processes of reinforcement, avoidance, and classical conditioning in laboratory and clinical applications for substance use disorders; (3) be prepared to discuss the range of impacts of drug use cues based on properties of stimuli and their associative contexts; and (4) apply these theories in the consideration of relapse prevention therapy, continuing care planning, and recovery planning.
The monograph is immediately below.
Recovery Review 