Drugs & Alcohol Case Study

Ben is a 22 year old and works as a photographer. He drinks a lot and goes to parties every single weekend with his friends. Ben has also started using heroin and became addicted to it while trying it out because of his friends. He grew up with his mum and had tough childhood as his mum is a single mum and also was addicted to alcohol. He grew up being exposed to alcohol ever since he was a child and he thinks that drinking alcohol excessively is normal. However, Ben got to the point that he no longer can live without alcohol and heroin and it started to affect his job and

While consumption of alcohol is a socially acceptable practice in our society, issues arise when abuse occurs. Donatelle and Thompson (2011) define alcohol abuse as the "excessive consumption or a level of consumption that interferes with work, school, or social and family relationships" (256). As with other drug addictions, this abuse is disruptive to the alcohol abusers life as well as to those close to them. Moreover, alcohol abuse is accompanied by many devastating effects for all demographics. The harms associated with the misuse and abuse of alcohol includes: harm to oneself, negative effects on friendships and social life, and negative affects to physical

A broad range of medical and psychological therapies is currently available for people who struggle with substance addictions. The scientific community is working on evaluation of various treatments to determine which strategies offer the best chances of successful outcome. People who need treatment for alcoholism and drug use are very diverse group. Addiction is a disorder that requires an individual case approach; therefore, different ways to

First of all, any person with an alcohol issue, no matter how large their issue is, will deny it. Denial protects the alcoholic from dealing with the problem that they have. According to "Addiction and Denial”, "Those who are addicted to alcohol or drugs can have little insight into their own condition as a result of denial" (1). This means they are avoiding the problem for a reason, and they will not and can not make the step to admitting their problem to themselves and others. Admitting to an issue is very important though, because admitting to the issue is the only way and the first step to regaining a normal life and defeating the disease of alcoholism. Detox facilities cannot force any person to go into treatment, so the person needs to have admitted their problem and signed into a treatment center while sober if they want to get better. This is very controversial because many alcoholics use many different excuses about their problem and will not admit it. Some

Abuse is a pattern of substance use that results in negative consequences and impairment (Bukstein and Nquyen). Misuse is the use for a purpose not consistent with medical guidelines or without a prescription for the individual using the medication (Bukstein and Nquyen). Abuse of prescription opioids has been cited as the fastest growing drug problem in the United States, and has surpassed the use of cocaine and heroin combined as a cause of mortality (Singhal ). In 2013 alone, nearly two million Americans abused prescription opioids and 16,235 deaths were caused by prescription opioids representing almost a fourfold increase since 1999 (Singhal ). Two million people reported using

Case Study: Sheila's Substance Use and Crisis Treatment Plans Sheila is a single 35 years old mother who lost two sons to child welfare authorities and currently lives in a shelter (Confederation College, 2018). She has been dependent on alcohol for about 20 years (Confederation College, 2018). She has a track record of offenses, such as shoplifting and selling illegal drugs (Confederation College, 2018). At this present time, she has a court case coming up for stealing and assaulting a police officer while under the influence of alcohol (Confederation College, 2018). In the past, she was taken advantage of sexually by her father, who physically abused her brother and her mother (Confederation College, 2018).

Based on this disclosure and admission, I was able to begin my work. I reinforced what the treatment center began to implement, the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. We created a structured schedule of meetings and the 12-step work began. Weekly he came to therapy and we “sparred” back and forth of his lack of interest and motivation on the program. It became clear to me that I was not making any headway on this type of counseling and my client could be in danger of relapse. I suggested over and over the vital importance of this activity. It was frustrating, because although he recently achieved two years of abstinence, I feared he was only “Dry.” Without the daily maintenance of a, “spiritual program.”

The patient is diagnosed with alcohol addiction, the treatment we will be using is support groups and medication. Medication will help the patient by slowing down their cravings for alcohol. Support groups will be used so they don't feel as if they have to do the treatment alone. This will help encourage them to stay clean and show them that other people are struggling with the same problems.

When it comes substance abuse treatment many old school clinicians believe in the model of abstinence, however, many of the newer clinicians believe and full support the idea of harm reduction. Even though both sides have their supporters, and a full body of literature to support their argument that one is better than the other, however, harm reduction has been shown to be the most effective, and the one that clients prefer over abstinence, especially, when the client is starting treatment. Harm reduction is when the client reduces drug and/or alcohol intake for a short period of time, while abstinence is when the client stops taking drugs and/or alcohol immediately and tries to stay away from it.

The correlation of the negative impact of drinking and loss of employment have made an impact to change. The client may be open to help without resistance because of fear of the consequence. This is the time the agency can be of service with resources and referrals to support the

Relaxation, celebrating, and socializing are often reasons people engage in alcohol. However, the enjoyment of alcohol in moderation may become difficult for some individuals to manage when using alcohol as coping mechanisms or scapegoat, for other underlining issues: personal, social and work-related concerns. Unfortunately, lack of proper management may or can result into alcoholism. According to the DSM-V alcoholism is diagnosed as alcohol use disorder or alcohol addiction, in which a person becomes physically and psychologically dependent on alcohol to the point that he or she cannot function without it (American Psychiatric Association,2013).

National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) (2005). Helping patients who drink too much. Retrieved from http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications /Practitioner

Considering this information Lesley’s alcohol consumption may well be considered harmful. The client’s appears to have no intention of giving up drinking or even to cut down. Leslie does not want to change her drinking habits.

It is very scary that a known fatal substance is so readily available in today’s society. A lot of people like to relax with a drink of alcohol; however, it can cause many serious problems for others who start to become dependent on it.

In the United States, 17.6 million people – about one in every 12 adults, abuse alcohol or are alcohol dependent. (NIH: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2012) The Mayo Clinic defines alcoholism as a chronic disease in which your body becomes dependent on alcohol (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2010), and indicates that more than 100,000 Americans die annually from alcohol related causes (Johnson) . Aside from the physical problems that alcohol addiction can create, there are frequently emotional and social complications. Alcoholism is a disease that harms not only the alcoholic, but also the co-workers and family of the alcoholic.