Critical Issue Analysis
After reading the selected critical issue, use the following questions to analyze the issue.
1. What are at least two facts presented by each side of the critical issue?
In the University of Phoenix simulation (2001), the author Patricia Owens attempts to clarify the importance of initial uninterrupted abstinence from drugs abuse. She says that about 50% of the individuals who pursue treatment are capable of sustaining abstinence after their recovery. Owen also goes on to discuss the risks of continuous alcohol abuse. She claims in her article that it can cause neuronal sensitization that can produce the impulse to drink alcohol. This neuronal sensitization generates motivates significant urges in an individual who suffers from alcoholism and may only be a step closer to over-exposure.
In the University of Phoenix simulation (2001), the author Anne Fletcher mentions that research shows that the mass of individuals who abuse alcohol will not have the ability to engage moderate drinking. Fletcher found that for some individuals who are given the choice of controlled drinking at the onset may benefit better than those who are offered an abstinence approach. She also goes on to say that moderate drinking may be a plan of recovery that starts out with a time of abstinence.

2. What are at least two opinions presented by each side of the critical issue?
Patricia Owens believes that the safest and best treatment for most individuals who are addicted to alcohol would be abstinence. The individuals who are able to abstain from drinking the goals are logical, achievable, and easier than moderate drinking. In the University of Phoenix simulation (2001), the author Patricia Owens discusses the topic of 12-step programs and how they do not all support abstinence-only options for individuals with addiction to alcohol. In the article it state individuals who are moderate drinkers hardly have any difficulty giving up alcohol if they have a significant reason. A person who is a hard drinker may have a harder time giving up alcohol for a significant reason such as health, family, or etc.
Anne Fletcher makes her opinion that moderation is better for certain individuals that abstinence from alcohol. She believes that moderation is better option of the two evils when abstinence and moderations are compared together. Fletcher does agree that abstinence that is followed by moderations if the most appropriate approach, that way if moderation becomes an issue for an individual they can go back to abstinence.

3. What are some of the strengths associated with the Pro side of the issue? What are some of the weaknesses?
Patricia Owen makes a point that individuals make many changes in their life to help them overcome their addictions, but they fail to change on important factor, the substance. Owen also makes a critical point when explaining that some individuals have an issue with control over alcohol. If an individual is dependent on alcohol and tries to moderate their intake of alcohol it may take a toll on them emotionally and a toll on their energy. Owen weakness is that she points out that the professionals dealing with the individuals need to insist that they patients try abstinence as they recovery method. In order for the individual to choose abstinence they must first have the motivation to attempt abstinence. The change for recovery must start with the individual.

4. What are some of the strengths associated with the Con side of the issue? What are some of the weaknesses?
Anne Fletcher warns in her article that if individuals are given the choice of moderation or abstinence, that more people seek help for alcohol treatment. This point can be both Fletchers strongest and weakness point. Just because some people seek treatment either through moderation of abstinence, does not mean that they will be cured from their addiction of alcohol. Many individuals receiving therapy actually go through a