Substance Abuse: A Case Study

Mr. Greene is a fifty-one-year-old black male, who started using crack- cocaine at thirty-two-years-old and is now twelve years clean. Bryan Sapp was a twenty-year-old white male that died of a heroin overdose whose addiction started at age twelve. Addiction does not discriminate. There are several different causes of addiction, lack of purpose, stress caused by trauma, unmet needs, and boredom are some of them (Rosen 23). On an average 40-60% of people struggling with addiction relapse. There are several different types of rehabilitations for addiction but, there is no cure. In our over medicated society that has led us to this war against addiction, alternative medications are not the alternative therapy to addiction.

Pt. was admitted to the AMS of DE program suffering from opiate addiction with two previous outpatient treatment services. Pt. reported that he started using heroin in 2000 on a daily basis by route of IV and he last used in 2008. Pt. reported a substance abuse hx of alcohol x 33 years, opiates x 8 years, benzos x 20 years, cocaine x 21 years, nicotine x 23 years. PCP x 21 years and cannabis x 23 years. At the time of his discharge, Pt. lost his job and he was living with his

One day when Wes was chasing his sister, Nikki, he finally caught her and didn’t know what to do, so he punched her. This angered his mother, Joy, because her first husband was a violent alcoholic who used to beat her when he was drunk. Wes explains that he has two memories about his father, the first of which was when his father talked to him about hitting his sister and the second was when he died. Wes’s father wasn’t feeling well one day, so he got taken to the hospital. The doctors didn’t know what was causing his symptoms, so they sent him home and told him to rest. He ended up having acute epiglottis and died that night. The death of Wes’s father was very hard for Wes because he became the man of the house at a very young age.

This paper examines the consequences following the use of alcohol and recreational drugs. Drug and alcohol dependence are exhausting psychiatric disorders that are common and associated with high morbidity and death rates (Wong, 2011). Substance use disorders are among the largest sources of medical disability in the world and also represent a major public health concern globally (Mari, 2013). This paper also discusses the possible causes and problems associated with addictions as well as potential treatment options.

On 10/29/2017 at 1837 hours, I was dispatched to 200 Ogden Rd. Apt A, for a report of an unwanted person; however, the male left the residence prior to my arrival. Upon my arrival, I spoke with Carmella Rome-Giannone.

It is crucial to understand the statistics in youth substance use involvement, to fully understand that this is a rising issue throughout the world. In 2013, an estimated 24.6 million Americans aged 12 or older; 9.4 percent of the population had used an illicit drug

There are many individuals that are incarcerated that are part of a substance abuse program that provides treatments and different methods to help them overcome their addiction. There are often moments where these offenders have characteristics that affect the treatment all due to criminal thinking and criminal value (NCBI, 2005). Many times, these criminal justice clients resist treatment and deny that they have a substance abuse problem, which can create chronic problems for them if they do not seek rehabilitation (NCBI, 2005). Often, offenders usually will have psychosocial problems that can contribute to their substance abuse, which they have no control over after a period (NCBI, 2005). With these psychological issues, it can cause the individual to have a low self-esteem, depression, anxiety; and also enhanced expectations on the use of substances (NCBI, 2005).

Research in opiate abuse, in middle adulthood, has shed light between age at onset of addictive behaviour problems and decision making. The findings are demonstrating the measure of prospective memory or the range of neurological and cognitive deficits of long-term opiate use.

There are many ways to go about treatment of Substance Use Disorders. One can start with medication, behavioral therapies, and help groups. Treatment can come in many shapes and forms. It all depends on how severe and willing the patient is to go along with the treatment. Patient X in this case is very willing to change because he states, “I want to feel like a human again. I want to stop being numb to everything in my life. I feel like I’m watching my life in a video in front of my eyes.”

Boys face the stereotype of always having to be tough and confident (pg.286). So, Terrel, being an athlete, might start to consume alcohol to show his strength and to appear cool and adult-like to his peers, especially to other boys. He might also take on smoking and consuming alcohol since he has lived with his mother who has these unhealthy habits. Even, when she was pregnant with him, she was smoking and drinking and has not been successful in eliminating these habits. Prenatal exposure to smoking and alcohol raises the likelihood of a child to consume these substances early in life (FindYouthInfo 2013). Terrell grew up to be a quite healthy child despite having had a very high risk of developing FAS or FAE. But his mother continuance with these unheathy habits puts him at great risk of developing substance abuse.

I had found a colleague who has an ex-partner facing a battle with addiction to several substances and agreed with me that it is a managable disease. Her partner has tried both AA and NA with no long term success and has suffered, but not reached a smashing bottom or a situation that would lead to making a full commentment to the programme as of yet.

Mr. Smith is a 34 year old male who presented to the ED with feelings of dehydration, weakness, nausea, and suicidal ideation with a plan to stab himself with a knife. He denies prior attempts of harming himself. He reports currently not on any medications. Dr. Osborne requested a mental health assessment. Prior to mental health assessment this clinician spoke to Diann, the clinician who assessed Mr. Smith on 6/2/17. She reports he reported to her this morning, he was recently released from Rowan 2 days ago and since then has been homeless. He presented guarded and making conflicting statements about mental health history and substance abuse history. At the time of the assessment Mr. Smith appears guarded with a flat affect. He reports 2 days

Substance addiction can be defined by a loss over control over drug taking, compulsive drug taking and craving despite consequences and an increased risk of relapse despite long periods of abstinence (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The initial intake of a drug causes a pleasurable effect by increasing neurotransmitters in the reward circuitry in the brain, causing a positively reinforcing effect. But further abuse of the psychoactive stimulant can cause tolerance, reduced sensitivity to natural rewards, but sensitization for the drug and loss of control possibly leading to dependence. Drugs of abuse all differ in the initial effect of the body, but seems to lead to similar behavioural changes and symptoms of addiction. This leads

Client experiences depression, and alcohol and drug use. His depression has increased significantly since moving to North Dakota from California. Client states he believes he has been feeling depressed since he was young. He states praying to God to take his life during the night. Client discussed having issues surrounding substance during his undergraduate degree. He's mandated to counseling for the use of marijuana. Client denies current marijuana use but states he does drink every weekend to the point of blackout. He reports he does not leave his house when he drinks, and he drinks alone often finishes a 1.75 of hard liquor. Client states the use is done to escape the life he has and to subdue the negative emotions. He reported abuse from

ou question the good judgment of someone consuming both narcotics and marijuana for chronic pain correctly. Marijuana potentiates narcotic use which for the person struggling with a SUD, would make their addiction stronger (Seamon, M., Fass, J., Maniscalco-Feichtl, M., & Abu-Shraie, N. 2007). As a substance abuse counselor with a background in nursing I would want to know the nature of their chronic pain and if they have tried alternative and or holistic methods to approaching it. There is still a lot to be learned about pain and its very subjective experience, but one thing that the research has proven is that the neurotransmitter plays a role in pain (Doweiko, H. 2015). For this reason, a SSRI is often prescribed to those with chronic