Substance Abuse Skills Scenario

It was my senior year in high school when my mom told me that my cousin, Mayra, had given birth to a baby girl. However, child protective services decided that Mayra wasn’t adequate to take care of the child; due to her drug abuse. Child protective services from Mexico were trying to place the baby with close relatives. Sadly, there was only three choices, her grandma, my aunt Gloria, and myself. The choices were few and the family small.

I have wanted to be a counselor since my freshmen year of high school and in the counseling field there are many specialties that I can focus on. I am fairly certain that I want to specialize in helping people with substance abuse and their families. I have always focused my studies, interests, and work on things that will help me in this field and I have a lot of qualities that help to enhance me in my eventual career. There are difficulties when I get to practice also like what people perceive as correct counseling style, challenges with my gender and race, and finally creating my own counseling style and plans.

One issue that has made me passionate about social work is substance abuse, an issue that has made a deep impact for communities everywhere. Not only does it affect the mental and physical health of the individual, but it also burdens the friends, family, and community as a whole. This concern is a personal interest because of my mother and grandfather’s past struggle with alcoholism, as well as because of a childhood friend who was killed by a drunk underage driver on her second offense. While my mother won her fight against her addiction during the time that she was in therapy for depression, I know the tragic effects of addiction firsthand from my grandfather’s death from the consequences of alcoholism and my friend’s death at the wheels of a drunk driver. I wish to address and understand this social issue in detail during and after graduate school.

However, the client stated that because of his addiction, "I hit rock bottom before I got locked up this time around". The client expressed that he was homeless, living in the woods, overdosed several times, has a lengthy criminal record. He was informed by his father that if he doesn’t get "clean" he would not let him see his son again. The client expressed that if he doesn’t maintain sobriety, "I could die". The client has developed insight into his addiction and has identified several triggers and relapse warning signs. The client has identified and developed several coping skills. The client expressed the importance of aftercare to maintain long-term sobriety. The client attends weekly AA/NA and Big Book meetings in the PWC ADC. The client has picked and is currently working with a

said he plans to follow through with treatment recommendations and stop smoking marijuana, because he wants to earn take home privileges and he is going to be really busy at his work. Counselor explained the take home request form and the requirements to move to Phase 1 of the tx program. Pt. commented that he would like to attend the AMS clinic once a week by this summer. Pt. said he does not have a problem asking his supportive people and AMS staff to help him with identifying negative habits and behaviors that he may not always recognize. Also in this session, Pt. learned the stages of change and processed assignment “My Action Plan for Sobriety.” Pt. and writer discussed the ways in which sobriety and relapse are processes, and the ways in which relapse is a decision process. Pt. examined the different types of relapse warning signs he experienced, and he reviewed the components of a full recovery program, including those components that are challenging for him. Pt. processed the progression of his addiction and previous negative lifestyle and how his mother treated so bad when growing up. Pt. reported that he is in the action stage because he has decided to quit and he would like to continue a drug free life.

The article of “The Justice Policy Institute of 2008 on Substance Abuse Treatment and Public Safety” emphasized the beneficial effects of treatment for the drug abuser in the criminal justice system (Jama, 2009). These interventions include therapeutic alternatives to incarceration, treatment merged with judicial oversight in drug courts, prison- and jail-based treatments, and reentry programs intended to help offenders transition from incarceration back into the community. Through monitoring, supervision, and threat of legal sanctions, the justice system can provide leverage to encourage drug abusers to enter and remain in treatment.

PROGRESS: Client is working on the right path in order to avoid drugs and alcohol

Another challenge of working with substance users occurs when clients arrive intoxicated for a session. This may at times be a way of testing the counsellor, and although from the outside the client may seem impaired, being intoxicated may be their more familiar, functioning state. If the client is still able to engage, it is possible and often beneficial to continue with the session, if only in a limited way, Helen says.

One of my main reasons for wanting to become an alcohol and substance abuse counselor is to assist and educate individuals on the effect of substance abuse. For example, from my childhood I have seen my father drank alcohol on a weekly basis, today he is a sober and coherent. Sadly to say this situation has became an enormous devastation in lives of families today. It produced abused, incest, violence, separation, resentment and low self-esteem within the family circle.

has done great in achieving his goals of improving his relapse prevention strategies. During the previous quarter, Pt. made progress on redefining long-term sobriety maintenance plans and reviewing his aftercare plans during AMS therapy session. Pt. disclosed and understood that he needs to find new ways to balance work, school and family responsibilities in order to give recovery/this TX his effort. During the last quarter, Pt. was educated about the ongoing need for maintenance treatment (e.g., following up on appointments, continuing to take medications, or attending support groups) and about the importance of participating in different AMS groups topics. Primary Counselor will help the patient to identify what he does each day and help him to structure his days to strengthen his sobriety and to keep him motivated during the next AMS therapy sessions. Counselor will provide suggested strategies for addressing these

With a lot of thought, I have decided that I want to become a substance abuse counselor. Substance abuse counselors spend a lot of time writing. While studying I will have to write many research papers, persuasive essays, and mock write ups. In the actual line of work most of my writing will consist of patient information; whether that be plan of procedures, treatment plans, notes, and diagnoses.

The sponsor suggested AA members to continue taking part of the meeting and successfully manage their lives free of alcohol consumption. Hence, the sponsor also suggested the visitors to deliver the message about the effectiveness of the AA model to others alcoholics, including other individuals with different addictive disorders.So, they can change their lives for better by getting back the control of their own lives.

Substance use has always been prevalent in society ever since recorded history in one way or another someone somewhere indulged. Scripture the wine flow like water Greeks and Romans drank as well, Chinese opium dens, and the American Indians even passed the peace pipe in sweat lodge rituals. Along with substance use another thing that hasn't changed are the different views and opinions surrounding these things? The United States wages war on drugs spending billions a year meanwhile manufacturing tobacco and alcohol as if they aren't harmful or addictive. Portugal on the other hand legalized all use and possession of all substances giving the power of free will and lowering the population of their

In addition, before anyone would speak, their open monologue would be their name and “I’m an Alcoholic.” After the person would introduce themselves, everyone would greet the attendee. For the members who were court ordered to attend, they began to pass their paper to the chairperson to have their slip signed. At the end of the hour long session, everyone stood up and gathered around in a circle. We then said a prayer for others who may be suffering and asked for continued mental clarity towards continued sobriety.

The client met with his counselor for a 1x1 session to developed a treatment plan. Client presenting issues Meth and Marijuana. The client as agreed that he would identify and process with a group of his peer's four ways, that meth affected his life and what were some of the consequences that happen as a result of his usage Client also has a medical issues that will implemented in his treatment plan.