Addiction Dynamics; Comparative Study of Findings Based on Grounded Theory of Addiction and Sociological Theories

In the past century, addiction has been a social issue, and in order to control and reduce the occurrence of this phenomenon, especially in the past four decades, various efforts have been made in the country, but this is constantly growing and its threat has increased due to the spread of industrial materials, decreased age of addiction, increased female tendency, and insufficiencies in the treatment of addicts. The main issue of this research is, “why most policies and programs that have been implemented to cope with addiction, have not reached the suitable results” It seems that we are incapacitated in identifying the phenomenon of addiction and theoretical foundations of politics, so the purpose of this research is to develop the theory of addiction.

The method of research is qualitative and has been implemented using the Charmazian version of the Grounded Theory Method (GTM) in order to generate new ideas and interpretations. In the first phase, ideas from lived experience became prelude to reviewing sociological theories and discovering new ideas and interpretations. Besides, ideas were reviewed and approved by the sample population. The data were collected through Focused Group Discussion (FGD) and telephone interviews. The sample population has been selected through the professional judgment of a group of managers and national experts in the field of addiction and a group of remedied individuals with high self-awareness and experiences. This article is a kind of theoretical discovery, and by adapting the findings to existing theories, in addition to deepening research findings and increasing their validity, to find a new applications of some sociological theories in the field of addiction, found that less has existed before.

The results of the study suggest the followings:1. There is a fundamental distinction between the concept of substance use and the concept of addiction. In this distinction, we can recognize the lack of feeling of being threatened with addiction, the feeling of agency and invulnerability, the functional effects of substances, and the structuration of drug addiction.
2. Drug addicts have distinctive features such as discipline, follow-up, focus on purpose, tackling obstacles, and tolerance, in line with the goals of the addiction system. We can say that no other structure has such actors. These individual characteristics are reflected in the structure of addiction and give it a distinctive features.
3. Diversity and tensions have become ordinary realities in the social system, and management of a part of diversity and tensions has been encountered by formal and informal previous structures. An addiction stress management system is structured to control a part of the consequences of these changes. This finding is consistent with Buckley’s theory of systems.
4. According to research findings, it can be claimed that the order, continuity, and functions of addiction are real and objective, so inevitably, the structure based on addictive functions is confirmed.
5. The social system to overcome environmental problems, with a dynamic balance approach, to admit some changes of the traditional structures, including family and emotional organization, economics, roles, and social group relationships. The findings of this study make it possible to include the aforementioned changes as a way of spending leisure time and accepting new types of enjoyment, increased mobility and power, greater concentration, relaxation, and avoidance of stress.
6. It seems that the addiction system has changed the major and long-term goals of the traditional social system and has changed into functional and short-lived goals. From this viewpoint, it can be claimed that drug use has a functional structure for reducing the imbalance caused by weakness in the absorption and activation of all social groups. This finding is contrary to traditional functionalism that set efforts towards predetermined goals.
7. The social system for balancing and adapting to its new environmental conditions is compelled to transform its inevitable changes into new structures. To resist in the acceptance of diversity, the differences and changes in the environment, and  to emphasize on maintaining monotonousness and uniformity, will structure the distinction into forms beyond the expectations of the society. One of these unwanted structures is the addiction system. This finding is conformity to Nicholas Lehmann’s theory,  that is related to differentiation in the system as a mechanism for adapting to the complexity of the environment around the system.
8. During the past century, the drug had been competing with other institutions. Sustainability in the goals, the span of services, multi-million population, very distinctive system characteristics of competing systems, flexibility and dynamics of structure and functions, interaction of micro, intermediate and macro levels, and dozens of other features have turned addiction into a social institution
9. Actors to search  for a sense of security, calm, and variety are trying to make the best possible choice, but the use of substances often results in a different outcome than the intention. In other words, their targeted action has an unexpected outcome. This finding is in the best agreement with Giddens ‘’ theory of the unintended consequences of agency. “
10. Only the action of the substance can activate the whole system. In this case, beyond rational or algebraic action, this includes an important point in recognizing the phenomenon of addiction. The aforementioned finding approaches the theory of action, that is relying on act rather than operant.
11. The focus of the drugs addiction can be to concentrate on a part of social communication, called the “Mediator of Social Interactions.” Drugs is presented as a new general medium for inter-system and between-system interchange and serves the expected functions of the addiction system. This medium defines identity among consumer groups and interacts with them in various events. This is consistent with the theory of “non-linguistic media of Habermas” and “the concept of the general media of Parsons exchange”.
12. The Groups of addicts are involved in certain relationships and subcultures that give them meaning and a special place in their behavior, and in addiction to the specific effects of narcotics, they have various functions, including emotional functioning and group belonging. The findings are in conformity with Gaffman’s view of “the importance of rituals in everyday life and the assurance of social relationships.”
13. The use of substances is a short way to achieve functions that in some situations, some people need them. Speed, ease, and efficiency to achieve the goal are the main indicators of substances selection by these individuals. This part of the findings of the research is highly consistent with Ritzard’s view on the Macdonaldist societies.
14. In the absence of normative frameworks that allow many changes, substances consumers rethink about the concepts of relief, pleasure, serenity, satisfaction, leisure, mobility, understanding, tolerance, independence, and the definition of a new field to have freedom of action. This finding of research conforms to Giddens’s view of rethinking traditional relationships.

The results of the research showed that existing theories were not able to simultaneously understand the mechanisms of the tendency of individuals to addictive substances, their dynamism and their system functions. These theories believe in the dysfunction of other systems, but do not add to the alternative and positive functions of substances. They put the fight against addiction on the agenda because of the threat of other systems, while under the present circumstances the addiction system compensates for the failures caused by the dysfunction of other systems and structurally designed to establish a dynamic balance in the social system.
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