Bruce Alexander’s “Addictions in Free Markets” Essay Example

multiple intimate relationships with other individuals or groups like family or spiritual community essential in every society. Bruce called these ties psychosocial integration. He further argues that social dislocation is the precursor of current addiction in the society. Evidence from the Scottish and Canadian economies points out widespread dislocation between the wealthy and the have-nots as presented by Bruce Alexander.

As globalization speeds up in a free market world, so does addiction. This fact submitted by the psychologists is true since there are widespread in almost all form of addiction in liberalized economies and in countries where the gap between the rich and the poor is wide. In free markets, capitalism drives the economy. The rich strive for more material goods the poor keep chasing employment opportunities for better living standards. These scenario leads to social dislocation since different members of the society do not have an intimate relationship with each other. The situation presents a psychosocial integration whereby for people to have social and emotional satisfaction they must find attachments in other things apart from their fellow members of the society.

This point was expressed by Bruce when he referred to the relationships people are developing with different attachments as modern day addictions. According to Bruce addiction has gradually changed from a nuisance in the ancient societies to a menace that is steadily gaining momentum in most of the western nations. Western economies are based on free markets that produce mass social dislocation. Since dislocation is the precursor of addiction, to a large extent addiction is not a pathological state of a few members of the societies but a general condition in most western societies. The

same western countries are the champions of globalization. Addiction is, therefore, being globalized along with the internet and the English language.

I agree with this argument since it is a common place to see most people in the developing countries especially the young generation aping every bit of the western culture including the social dislocations which leads to addiction. People in such cultures have adopted all the models for globalization and the free markets which make addiction according to Bruce a world menace. Efforts to change the social dislocation in developing nations are futile since the free market model, which promotes capitalism is the way forward for economic growth. Addiction has become a menace in almost all societies around the world.

Addressing this threat will require policies changes both in the economic and political perspectives. The beginning of such change according to Bruce involves a sensible discussion of the issues aimed at recognizing addiction as mass-produced by the free market system, and individual and societies must change. These changes require good governance and implementing policies promoting the people's ability to care for each other and build sustainable, healthy intimate relationships and communities. Such policies may prevent social dislocations and appreciate the importance of meaningful relationships which will curtail various forms of addiction in the society.

According to Bruce examining the side effects of the free markets and the new economy is viewed to be uncomfortable at a time when globalization is taking shape and every country in the world wants to join the free trade party to enjoy the goodies. He, however, argues that ignoring the problem in question is having side effects clearly visible in the Canadian

economy and other countries around the world. Remedial actions are necessary for understanding and addressing the problems caused by free market system and globalization. Changes in social policies are vital in curbing the problem before it can get out of hand.

Concerning professional action to be taken against addiction, he argues that treatment will only be effective if it is directed towards psychosocial integration. He further outlines that professional can immensely contribute to the fight against the addiction menace if they act more as educators rather than therapists. The public should also know that the power of treatments by themselves is exaggerated by the media and the government. The exaggerations according to Bruce are a way of distracting the public attention from more costly interventions that should be implemented to address and overcome the dislocation. Even though people have the ability to address some of the social dislocation problems, the government is better placed to act in response to the menace through social policy frameworks.

Bruce also noted that the self-awareness of addiction or the awareness within one's family is painful, but that does not need to provoke despair. The self-awareness can prompt action instead. He recommended that finding a secure place within the society is paramount to address the dislocation problems for individuals and help in regaining intimate connection with other people. Spirituality has been as a way of dealing with the addiction problem.

Bruce, however, noted that electric spirituality alone is not enough. He argues that electric spirituality cannot control addiction in a free market society. He provides an alternative solution that when human being rigorously reasons together, they are capable of reaching understandings that not

merely intelligent, but also practical, efficient and spiritually uplifting. The arguments presented by Bruce Alexander concerning addiction are valid and applicable to the modern free market systems. He has expanded addiction from the mere attachments to drugs to include attachments to social behavior such as material goods and work.

This argument corresponds to my viewpoint that addiction should cover a lot of things including the internet, work and power since a lot of people tend to live substitute lifestyles.