Jellinek’s Work and Contributions
Elvin Morton Jellinek (1890-1963) was a physiologist, one of the key contributors to alcohol studies (Avery, 2020). He influenced the emergence of alcohol science, both nationally and internationally. His significant research at the field of alcohol in its inception brought the renaming of alcoholism as “Jellinek’s disease,” and recovery houses rebranded “The Jellinek” in North America and Europe (Avery, 2020). With him assuming different positions in institutions and other organizations, Jellinek continued to be a protagonist in alcohol studies. This scholar’s widely known contribution was his discovery that alcoholism follows a pattern of progressive changes, commonly known as the Jellinek curve. It led to reliance even today in addiction treatment facilities.
The Jennelik curve constitutes two curving halves, the lefty half curves downwards, and this illustrates a person’s behavioral change from onset of substance consumption to addiction. The right upward curve half represents a move from dependence to full recovery (Avery, 2020). The stages for addiction and recovery are useful to physicians in understanding how to approach treatment to a particular individual (Avery, 2020). These guidelines help those struggling with addiction and recovery in identification and understanding about symptoms one portrays, of where someone is along the progressive path of addiction and recovery.
The curve implies that alcohol addiction can worsen over time unless there is proper treatment (Avery, 2020). It also pictures the easiness of recovery. Medics have adapted the Jellinek curve to represent all other forms of addiction. Hence a person understands the steps they need to find treatment, maintain their recovery, and prevent relapse. This contribution has helped in understanding how habits can grow up to be out of control. It also shows recovery is not just the desire to quit but also a progressive move to full recovery.
Reference
Avery, T. (2020). The Jellinek Curve and its contribution to addiction recovery ~ Drug Addiction Now. Retrieved 1 September 2020, from https://www.drugaddictionnow.com/2017/01/21/jellinek-curve-contribution-addiction-recovery/