Tracey Helton Mitchell's Addiction

Holly Indelicato 1 Professor Ryan-Moore INTD 105 March 5, 2024 How to tell the story of addiction In the memoir, The Recovering Leslie Jamison voices that addiction is a hard story to tell, because many people have already heard many variations of it. It is hard to create a unique experience when so many have already gone through it themselves, “Oh that book, they seemed to say, I've already read that book” (Jamison 9). Jamison is right, in the sense that it is a very hard and complex story to tell. It can be triggering to some, and not conceived well by others. It can also be seen as repetitive in nature because of just how many people have experienced addiction and written their story about it.

The non-fictional novel The Addict offers a current perspective through the author’s eyes, Michael Stein, into the trials and tribulations that one has to go through when being an opiate addict. The processes that addicts go through becomes instantly examinable, offering insight into how individuals become addicted and what they go through while trying to become rehabilitated. Lucy Fields is the main patient described by Michael Stein in this book. Lucy is addicted to Vicodin and has been addicted for a number of years. Despite many social stigmas associated around addicts, becoming addicted to anything does not happen in a short amount of time. The context in which a person is living, their socioeconomic status, their social support and perceived social support are all factors in becoming addicted or rehabilitated. Throughout the book Michael Stein speaks about multiple patients and refers to buprenorphine as the primary prescribed drug for opiate users, he also refers to methadone treatment. The effectiveness of buprenorphine was shown through the book and how it is, with the help of adequate social and medical support, a viable option with regards to treating opiate addiction.

Combs succumbed to drugs when she moved away for college and her parents no longer had an influence on her. Her new-found freedom led to partying which consisted of drinking and doing drugs. Combs boyfriend, at the time, introduced her cocaine and eventually she was hooked on crack. While on drugs, Combs felt that all of her worries were gone and it gave her a sense of freedom. Combs drug addiction could have been prevented if she would have stayed home for college.

My journey to understanding addiction did not start with walking into Epworth United Methodist Church, but started in a classroom in the basement of Toledo Promedica. Sixteen students and two clinical instructors gathered to hear a young man give his testimony on his road to recovery. He speaks of his own experience and knowledge of opioid addiction, and how to properly use Narcan Nasal Spray. He spoke on his own overdoses and the first time he felt the feeling of being “HIGH” sitting in front of a TV playing video games. The path of addiction started for him at the age of 13, when his father who is a doctor gave him cough syrup for a cough; consequently, he would chase the feeling of being high for years.

“The Addict: One patient, One doctor, One year” is a book written by Dr. Michael Stein that follows the narrative told by a doctor treating a patient with drug addiction. Though it primarily follows the story of this one patient, Lucy Field, other stories with a similar experience to Lucy are mentioned throughout the book. Within it, several concepts and ideas about addiction and its treatments are presented. Dr. Stein states that despite the fact that many individuals have experimented with drugs, only a fraction of this population has developed a massive addiction. Various contributing factors lead to addiction, these

Addicts use drugs to overcome their feelings. If an addict is feeling sad, happy, or angry, they use. This leads to their addictions. After a while, the addict can’t hold a steady job,

Addiction is everywhere, from celebrity tabloids, to television, and possibly to a family member or close friend. There is alcoholism, drug abuse, and gambling addiction; the effects of such are devastating. For example, the following excerpt is from the harrowing Leaving Dirty Jersey: A Crystal Meth Memoir by James Salant:

All around the world anyone can find people that are addicted to some form of drug. Drug addiction is a huge issue that has been occurring for about thirty years now and is occurring to this day for many reasons. Some of those reasons may be that something is going on back home and they have had enough, or because of stress, peer pressure, biological reasons and the list goes on. However, there has been law enforcement due to drugs since the mid 1980’s. People have many viewpoints to when it comes to drug use and addiction. There are three perspectives people have that view the use of drugs and drug addiction which are structural functionalism, conflict, and symbolic interactionist.

Thus far, throughout the semester, I have gained so much awareness and understanding for those whom are struggling with substance misuse. Addiction has played a major role in my immediate family life. Over the years, I have realized that addiction does not discriminate on a basis of race, gender, or social status. Based on my personal experiences, the perspective I have of addiction is that it is like a disease. It does not just affect the individual; it also affects everyone the individual comes into contact with. Addiction overall, is not just associated with drugs and alcohol, it is present with gambling, Internet use, sex, or even food (Van Wormer, 2013). In order to understand an individual who suffers from substance misuse, a therapist must first know the definition of addiction, be able to asses and diagnose a client with an addiction, explore the bio-psychosocial-spiritual aspects of their addiction, laws and ethics related to their addiction, and provide the proper treatment that will help them to recover. Throughout this paper, from a bio-psychosocial-spiritual perspective, I plan to explore the causes of Gia’s addiction to Heroin. In addition, I will examine my personal perspective on addiction and what treatment interventions and laws and ethics might come into play in therapy with Gia. Overall, I hope to provide Gia with an understanding of her addiction and provide the proper treatment on her road to recovery.

Addiction is a disease that I will battle for the rest of my life. After being sexually assaulted at the age of twelve, I started to self-destruct. Lack of parental support, less than pristine living conditions, and an addictive personality paved an expressway to a life of addiction. I chose to hang with undesirable people, and was introduced to Marijuana, LSD, Ecstasy, PCP, Cocaine, Heroin and eventually what became the love of my life, the prescription painkiller Morphine. Never did I think that trying pot would have a domino effect. It led me to try harder and more addictive substances ultimately turning my life upside down. Often publicly

Addiction is considered as a stigma in today’s society. It is something that I believe that everyone has to deal with. It can be anything from food, gambling, alcohol, shoes, another person etc. Addiction can ruin someone’s life in a split second. Many times when someone is addicted to something or someone it can consume their life, and they will do anything in order to get that “fix”.

Drug and alcohol addiction is a very serious and widespread problem in America, and across the globe. Drug addiction is a constant craving, seeking, and using of a substance, despite the negative consequences it may have on the addict or those around them. When drug use becomes more frequent, it is considered drug abuse. Once an individual’s drug abuse is can no longer be controlled, and they are using the drug to get through everyday life, it beomes an addiction. A person on drugs has an altered way of thinking, behaving, and perceiving. There are treatment facilities all over the world dedicated to help those suffering with drug addictions. All

Everyone since a young age have heard and learnt about drugs. The overall effects, you get scars and start acting crazy, but what we have never heard about is what addiction is really like, the emotional effects and how truly controlling it can be. We know the general facts about drug addictions but we have never been taught in detail how addictions can be all around us, even starting from smoking cigarettes. Welcome to Hell, I needed the drug just to get by and Requiem for A Dream are just a few examples that I chose to help show everyone more detailed insight on drug addictions. Poems, stories and a lot of films cover the in depth insight on what drug addictions are like and that’s what I’m going to be talking about.

When I began this class I had a very specific experience and understanding of addictions. One of the major influencers in my view of addictions has been my mother. This is something I never fully processed until I began really learning about addictions and what they do to people. I had impressions of addiction which were completely off base, and I had never taken the time to filter my prejudices through the reality of addictive disorders. Nevertheless, this project and this class has had a wonderful effect on my perception of those struggling with addictions.

Drug addiction is a complex problem in society today. Addiction is a condition that extremely affects the person’s mind and body. Addiction also has wide sweeping effects on that person’s social connection and functioning. Unfortunately, many addicts don’t realize the social influence of their addiction until much of their functioning has greatly deteriorated.