Drug Addictspresenting Informationdrug Addicts Are Humans Suffering Fr ✓ Solved
Drug Addicts PRESENTING INFORMATION Drug addicts are humans suffering from a chronic disease due to environmental or developmental factors. 20-year-old Female presents addiction to drug Xanax, drug classification Benzodiazepine. She is taking it without a prescription and finds the drug through friends. States she started with one pill then progressed to 3-4 pills for a better effect to make her feel happy and forget about everything. Female adult has overdosed and had seizures that resulted in hospital admissions.
She claims to take different colors because that determines how strong the effect is, her addiction has caused her to lose her job, car, and herself. Her Xanax abuse has also caused her to lose her family because they feel helpless. 20-year-old female also presents depression and attempted suicide. PROBLEM 20-year-old Female presents active addiction and refuses to get help. She confirms consumption of Xanax’s on a daily basis to help her feel better.
She indicated she refuses to admit herself in a rehab center where she will be away from society. She is also scared to be away and lose contact with family and friends. She admits getting easily annoyed when anyone talks to her about addiction and triggers her to consume more. 20-year-old female states she doesn’t need rehab and that she is not addicted. She confirms that she can stop consuming xans whenever she pleases.
She has also confirmed the last time she took a Xanax was 2 weeks ago, but then she contradicted herself and blindly confessed the last time she took one was yesterday. POSSIBLE AREAS OF CONCERN 20-year-old female presents to get triggered behavior and upset when her family offers help or speaks about addiction. She states she doesn’t sleep much or has an appetite. She has also experience auditory hallucinations, slurred speech, and tends to forget many things. She feels emotionally and physically attacked by everyone.
20-year-old female states there are days she feels very nervous & shaky. There are days where she can be happy and there are other days where she will feel angry. 20-year-old female also states when she is on Xanax, she tends to go unconscious for about an hour or so, and hard to be woken up. She confirms not to remember what happened. THEORY 20-year-old female shows a pattern of negativism when family or others try to help with her addiction, she avoids the subject and get upset.
She seems to be going through a stage of denial during a life crisis, as a result she’s refusing treatment. Erikson used the term psychosocial crises to refer to turning points, or crucial moments, in a person’s development, which contain within them the potential for abnormal development and the failure to reach one’s development (Kelland, -year-old female presents with depression and feeling of sadness. Possible cause could have originated from a traumatic event or childhood trauma that was suppress. She tends to be guarded and doesn’t like to discuss the situation that might be too painful for her. According to McLead, Freud found that some events and desires were often too frightening or painful for his patients to acknowledge, and believed such information was locked away in the unconscious mind. (McLeod, 2018) POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS 20-year-old female can undergo detox, although she might experience withdrawal that might elevate her symptoms.
Different approaches can be done in order to recognize and become familiar with her feelings. For example, as a counselor help can be provided on different ways to express her anger when addiction is mentioned to her, in a safe way. Showing her encouragement and understanding about her feelings. It is important to be patient and understand they have a drug problem. 20-year- old female shows lack of communication, she might be struggling with effective communication skills, coming up with an action plan to help her express her emotions better and not avoid the problem.
POSSIBLE RESOURCES 20-year-old will be provided services to detox first. Referral for inpatient detox program would be best. Once patient has completed full detox, she will be referred to a Residential treatment program where she can benefit of trained addiction professionals. If 20-year-old refuses residential program Intensive outpatient program will be referred where she can attend at least 3 times a week and she can benefit of other adults who are going through recovery as well. 20-year-old female will also be provided additional resources for herself and family such as Al-Anon because of family feeling helpless.
This helps the family better understand behavior, addiction, and recovery from a different point of view. Referral will also be provided for a psychiatric consultation. Reference Kelland, Mark. “Personality Theory in a Cultural Context.†OpenStax CNX , 4 Nov. 2015, cnx.org/contents/ [email protected] :YjVRK0O6@2/Introduction-to-Personality.
Mcleod, Saul. “Sigmund Freud's Theories.†Sigmund Freud's Theories | Simply Psychology , 2018, . Treatment, Center for Substance Abuse. “Chapter 2 Impact of Substance Abuse on Families.†Substance Abuse Treatment and Family Therapy. , U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Jan. 1970, .
Paper for above instructions
Understanding the Experience of a Young Female Drug Addict: A Case StudyIntroduction
Drug addiction is a chronic and complex condition that possesses significant physical, emotional, and behavioral implications for those affected. This paper presents a case study involving a 20-year-old female addicted to Xanax (alprazolam), a benzodiazepine drug. The discussion encompasses the implications of her addiction, the psychological underpinnings behind her behavior, potential solutions for recovery, and available resources for both her and her family. For many individuals, like the presented case, drug addiction is rooted in a combination of environmental factors, trauma, and genetic predispositions.
Presenting Information
The young woman in this case has admitted to abusing Xanax without a prescription, initially starting with one pill but escalating her consumption to 3-4 pills daily to help elevate her mood and distract herself from distressing thoughts. Such behavior aligns with recognized patterns of substance abuse, wherein individuals often seek drugs as a form of self-medication to cope with underlying emotional pain (Griffiths et al., 2019).
This case highlights several significant concerns: her history of overdosing, seizures leading to hospitalization, and noted gaps in short-term memory coherently indicating cognitive impairment due to drug use. Furthermore, she exhibits withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety and insomnia, coupled with auditory hallucinations, which are common among individuals struggling with benzodiazepine dependence (Lader, 2014).
Her addiction has severely impacted her life, resulting in job loss, strained familial relationships, and suicidal ideation, which emphasizes the cyclical nature of addiction and mental health issues (Dawson et al., 2016).
Understanding the Problem
Despite her evident struggles, she expresses a strong refusal to seek help or admit her addiction, arguing that she can stop using Xanax whenever she desires. This denial of addiction often indicates a defense mechanism against the fear of loss and the unknown ramifications of treatment. As noted by Mark Kelland (2015), individuals experience psychosocial crises during development, significantly impacting their ability to cope and grow. In this case, these crises trigger her defensiveness and aggravate her reluctance to acknowledge her addiction openly.
Freudian psychology also delves into this concept by suggesting that painful memories or experiences—such as trauma—might be consciously repressed, thus manifesting as behavioral aberrations in later life (McLeod, 2018). Given that the patient presents with sadness and possible depression, it is essential to address these underlying issues through therapeutic means.
Possible Solutions
Immediate intervention for this individual must prioritize physical safety through detoxification to manage withdrawal symptoms effectively. Recognizing the psychological strain associated with detox, it is crucial for her treatment program to include evidence-based therapies that address her addictive behaviors while also providing emotional support.
Counseling can facilitate healthy communication regarding her feelings toward addiction and family members, helping her express her needs and fears constructively rather than through avoidance (Tsoi et al., 2023). Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can target her patterns of thought relating to her drug use, challenging those cognitive distortions that maintain her addiction (Beck, 2017). Moreover, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) could support her emotional regulation and distress tolerance skills while also diminishing her suicidal ideation (Linehan, 2014).
Group therapy or intensive outpatient programming (IOP) can foster peer support, creating a sense of community and understanding of her experiences with addiction, which could act as a powerful motivator for recovery (Zabala et al., 2019).
Resources for Support
In pursuing a holistic approach, several resources can be beneficial. An inpatient detox program can provide a structured environment for withdrawal. After detoxification, a referral to a residential treatment facility could be valuable, allowing her to immerse herself in a comprehensive recovery program led by addiction specialists.
For family members feeling helpless and frustrated, organizations like Al-Anon provide essential support, educating them on addiction and recovery while encouraging a healthier dialogue with their loved one about her struggles (Al-Anon Family Groups, 2021).
Finally, psychiatric consultations could ascertain further mental health interventions or medications to manage her depressive symptoms and any underlying mental health disorders she might face, addressing concurrent disorders that frequently accompany addiction (Schuckit, 2009).
Conclusion
The case of this 20-year-old female illustrates the multifaceted and often devastating impact of drug addiction on an individual's life and her family's dynamics. Recognizing the underlying psychological factors and employing a comprehensive system of support and therapy is crucial in navigating the recovery journey. By acknowledging that treatment is not a one-size-fits-all solution, we can appreciate the importance of both individualized care and familial support systems in achieving lasting recovery.
References
1. Al-Anon Family Groups. (2021). Al-Anon Family Groups: A worldwide fellowship for families and friends of alcoholics. Retrieved from https://al-anon.org/
2. Beck, A. T. (2017). Cognitive therapy: Basics and beyond. Guilford Press.
3. Dawson, D. A., Goldstein, R. B., & Grant, B. F. (2016). Alcohol use and depressive symptoms: 1988–2011. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 173(2), 209-215.
4. Griffiths, P., et al. (2019). Understanding drug use. The UK based drug research data collection. Addiction, 114(5), 771-780.
5. Lader, M. (2014). Benzodiazepine harm: a review. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 205(2), 115-116.
6. Linehan, M. M. (2014). DBT skills training manual. Guilford Press.
7. McLeod, S. (2018). Sigmund Freud's theories. Simply Psychology. Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/sigmund-freud.html
8. Schuckit, M. A. (2009). Alcohol-use disorders. The Lancet, 373(9661), 972-983.
9. Tsoi, S. Y. & et al. (2023). The effectiveness of group therapy in drug addiction treatment: A systematic review. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 18(6), 1-12.
10. Zabala, J., et al. (2019). Peer support groups in addiction treatment: A therapeutic resource. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 106, 67-69.