The Laurels Recovery Center is a unique center ran by Cumberland Mountain Community Services. The Laurels is distinctive due to the fact that they serve a multifaceted role for the community. Not only do they serve as a detox center, they also house patients who suffer from mental illness. This type of facility is a haven for patients who suffer from dual diagnoses. At the beginning of the day at the Laurels Recovery Center, I met a patient immediately upon entering the door. At that time, I was unaware that he would be the most interesting patient that I would meet that day. He was the only patient that I met that was there for mental illness, and he proudly proclaimed himself as “residential.” The day progressed and I got to know him better the more I talked to him. He was very open about his life, and he proceeded to tell me that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder two years ago after the deaths of a couple of his close family members. I …show more content…
In the light of the information about his drug abuse, this patient is a good example of the theory that most people who have a substance abuse disorder, also suffer from a mental illness. He went on to talk about how he had broken his arm in the past and, as I noticed a severely deformed digit, his pinky finger recently. I asked him if he had received medical care for his broken bones; he replied, “no.” I questioned him further on why he hadn’t gone to the doctor and he replied, “Because I had a drug abuse problem, they just act like I am there for the drugs.” This correlates to the stigma the community puts on drug abuse. Most members in the community think people can just “snap out of” a drug addiction or don’t stop using drugs because they are “weak.” It is these theories possessed by the community that prevents some individuals from getting the help that they truly
Drug dependence is a health disorder that arises with exposure to drugs, as well pre-existing psychological vulnerabilities. Many people with a drug dependence have gone through an emotional trauma at some point in their lives. In many cases, drug use is a ‘side effect’ of a bigger emotional problem going on in their lives. Incarceration of these individuals would be
Long term, it is much easier and cheaper to perform preventive health care than to try to manage acute and/ or chronic diseases. All at risk individuals should be given education on the dangers of developing a substance abuse problem, emphasizing that it can happen to anyone- young or old, rich or poor, etc. Health care providers need to address the supposed invincibility commonly associated with those who excessive drink alcohol or use drugs. These individuals are not quite as invincible nor do most have everything as under control as they may think. Although many may know the dangers, it is important to explain that the negative health impacts may not be noticeable right away, but the damage is still being done. Additionally, these at risk patients should work with social workers or case management to set up referrals to substance abuse cessation programs within the
D.D. is a 50-year-old, African American male presenting with a number of anxiety and depressive symptoms. The client reports that he came to counseling for “extra support and someone to talk to.” D.D. has been struggling with mental health issues since he was young. Since the age of 15 he has been hospitalized on and off for “hearing voices.” In the early 1980’s he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and prescribed Risperdal to treat the symptoms. Since then, D.D. has been in a variety of mental health settings, including hospitals, day programs, and outpatient treatment. The client has an extensive alcohol and drug use history that he believes impacted his Schizophrenia. In the early 1980’s the client would use alcohol every day “to avoid the voices,” drinking “anything he could get his hands on.” He was also heavily involved with drugs at that time and regularly used marijuana, PCP, cocaine, and heroine. In 2000, the client was sentenced to eight years in jail for four bank robberies. While in jail, D.D. received mental health treatment and alcohol and drug treatment, which was greatly beneficial. When the client was released from jail in 2008, he was drug and alcohol free and was taken off of Risperdal.
As a physician, situated in Vancouver, Maté is no stranger to vulnerable drug addicts. Most of his clients are addicted to cocaine, alcohol, opiates, or tranquilizers and many suffer from mental illness. (288)
Todd and Reggis is a same-sex couple. Same-sex relationships commonly attract significant stereotyping in the United States. While handling clients, the human services professional must not base their decisions on such stereotypes. In the case at hand, the professional much guard against racial stereotyping as well. Reggie is black while Todd is white. The past of the two clients, all of them having been convicted and jailed before, can also influence the professional’s judgment if they do not stick with the standards required of them. While both Reggie and Todd have a history of using drugs, it would be inappropriate for the human service professional to conclude that the problems in their relationship are all drug-related. Such a stand is critical even though the society commonly links most addicts to violence and crime.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse is a government-based organization that makes it their goal to understand the causes of drug abuse as well as other factors that contribute to complete comprehension of the issue. On past studies in substance abuse regarding specifically mental health, the Institute states that “...people with severe mental illness were about 4 times more likely to be heavy alcohol users… and 4.6 times more likely to use... drugs at least 10 times in their lives” (“Severe mental” 1). These shown statistics prove that the chances of someone dealing with substance abuse are relatively higher if that person has a severe mental illness, rather than not have one at all. It can be concluded, in conjunction with these findings, that victims of the illness use these substances as a means of coping with their disorder. If McCandless had as severe of a mental illness as DID, it would be safe for one to assume that he would also abuse alcohol and drugs, as well.
Since the Rockefeller Drug Laws were passed in 1973 under Governor Nelson Rockefeller, New York State has had the harshest sentencing for low-level, non-violent drug offenders of any other state in the nation. Under these laws, those convicted of drug offenses face the same penalties as those convicted of murder, and harsher penalties that those convicted of rape. (Sullum, 1) Though the laws were first enacted to curb the late-1960s-early-1970s psychedelic drug epidemic, New York's drug problem in fact worsened in the 1980s with the use of stimulants, and thus the laws were reformed to be less lenient. These unforgiving laws, which place enormous minimum sentences for drug-sale convictions, prove to be ineffective and expensive and have
According to the SAMHSA (2010) report on the national survey on drug use and health almost 22.5 million people are reported to be associated with substance abuse disorder (SAMHSA, 2010). This illness was found to be very common in all age groups, both sex, and seniors. There are several effects on these individuals and their families. Many people who suffer from substance abuse disorders fail to acknowledge these serious consequences. First of all, no response of pain relief can be seen with smaller doses of pain medications, as their bodies are used to high levels of various substances at the same time. Nurses become frustrated when they try to treat and help these patients with pain. Sometimes it is difficult to think about ethical principles when nurses have to deal with such patients with pain and suffering.
Substance abuse complicates almost every aspect of care for the person with a mental disorder. When drugs enter the brain, they can interrupt the work and actually change how the brain performs its jobs; these changes are what lead to compulsive drug use. Drug abuse plays a major role when concerning mental health. It is very difficult for these individuals to engage in treatment. Diagnosis for a treatment is difficult because it takes time to disengage the interacting effects of substance abuse and the mental illness. It may also be difficult for substance abusers to be accommodated at home and it may not be tolerated in the community of residents of rehabilitation programs. The author states, that they end up losing their support systems
Sometimes, people with drug addictions and certain types of mental illness often experience particularly negative attitudes from others based on beliefs that they are dangerous and have anti-social behavior. Because of these stereotyping, people don’t seek support for drug addiction, mental issues in fear of experiencing bad treatment, judgement from others
“Addiction is a choice not a disease”, is a common phrase that stigmatizes drug addiction in our everyday language. The lack of public knowledge about this social problem causes widespread stigmatization and discrimination of the ill. As a result, many individuals who seriously need professional help feel isolated and hopeless, making it harder for them to recover.
For any professional working in the substance abuse treatment field, they will very likely come across situations and be presented with dilemmas relating to personal beliefs, judgments, and values. Drug or substance use and abuse have been a controversial and heated topic around the world for centuries. Drug abuse, in a way, is a facet of human culture that has been present for a great deal of human history in general. Every culture handles the issue of drug abuse differently. The history of how a society views persons with addictions is intermeshed with emotion, misperceptions, and prejudice that directly affects the care of drug abusers. This is a kind of awareness that drug users and those who provide drug treatment or rehabilitation should have. They may be susceptible to treating patients different because of their own personal views or because of the culturally normative views of that particular society. Just like teenagers may be automatically considered dangerous or irresponsible, it is fairly normative in a health care setting for a patient to be perceived negatively just because that person is a known drug user. Because of the highly charged emotional nature of the substance abuse treatment field, providers should possess the tools to explore ethical dilemmas objectively. By doing so, and by examining their own reactions to the situation, providers can proceed with the most ethical course of action. Ethical practice is
Earlier this year I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, which entitles me to long hours of therapy to help me understand and deal with my illness. Although I
25 Days Till Christmas A Connecting Devotional By Rubens Ruba TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction - The Best Of Christmas December 1 Luke 1:16–17 Getting Spiritually Prepared For Christmas December 2 Luke 1:46–55 Mary’s Song – Seeking And Celebrating December 3 Luke 1:67–71 Zechariah’s Song – Cynicism And Blindness December 4 Matthew 1:21 You Will Call His Name “Jesus” December 5 Luke 2:1–5 God Is In Control Of Christmas December 6
Bipolar disorder is a much more serious disease than I had ever thought. Until recently, I just thought it was not being able to make up ones mind about which emotion to portray. Frequently, I used the term to describe people that I perceived as being temperamental or unstable. During my shift on the medical floor for work, I came in contact with my first true bipolar patient. When I first introduced myself to her, she was friendly and what I thought was a ‘normal’ patient. Small talk was made about where I am from, where I attend college, how long I have worked here, if I have a boyfriend, and