Ethics of DT

• WEAKNESS:

  Serious side effects

  Evidence: 

  • Antipsychotics: uncomfortable facial movements known as tardive dyskinesia and headaches + nausea
  • Agonist/antagonist: methadone = respiratory + stomach issues, naltrexone = liver function, both increases chance of overdose

  Explain: Unethical to pose harm but can be argues if it is worth it do decrease suffering in addict
• WEAKNESS:

  Issues gaining valid consent

  Evidence: Psychotic means they may lose touch with reality and drugs may be administered without consent

  Explain: lack of understanding of possible side effects? , is it ethical to treat people without their will?
• WEAKNESS:

  Chemical straightjacket

  Evidence: Thomas Szasz

  -Antipsychotics aren't really therapeutic they are a way of keeping troublesome people under control

  Explain: Labelling people as mentally ill = excluding non-conformists from society
• WEAKNESS:

  Doesn’t effectively treat root of problem, only symptoms 

  Evidence: Doesn’t resolve any underlying issue causing addiction in the first place, therefore doesn’t cure 

  -remain on methadone long term

  Explain:Not effective cure, just controls symptoms
• Ethics-Conclusions

  • DT viewed unethical as they are a ‘sticking plaster’ rather than cure for psychological issues that don’t offer a long term treatment solution
  • Ethical weakness may be outweighed by helping individuals be free of symptoms of schizophrenia/kickstart abstinence in addiction