Substance Use Disorders: A Case Study

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) has a major national health impact in the United States, affecting over 17 million people, causing more than 100,000 deaths and costing over $200 billion annually (Bouchery et al., 2011; Grant et al., 2004; Hardwood, 2000). Alcohol use and abuse is currently the third leading risk factor for premature death and composed of nearly 4% of all deaths worldwide (World Health Organizations). Despite a large amount of effort focusing on the development of new medications for AUD, currently there are only 3-FDA approved treatments on the market, all of which have only yielded limited success even when combined with psychosocial support (Harris et al., 2010; Litten e al., 2012). This is evident by the high rates of uncontrolled heavy drinking that continue to persist and the high relapse rate in patients even after long-term inpatient treatment and support (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). As such, novel approaches that allow for rapid development of new and effective medication to treat and/or prevent AUD is an important public health goal (Bouchery et al., 2011; Heilig and Egli, 2006; Johnson, 2010; Johnson et al., 2007; Steensland et al., 2007).

Edward is an approximately 30 yo Caucasian male who lives in California. Edward presented in the interview as relaxed and confident, sitting with his arm stretched over the couch. Edward stated his main goal today was in the spirit of helping others by telling his prescription substance use disorder story.

On 08/12/15, Mr. Harrison’s mother reported that Mr. Harrison was not living at his reported address (104 Hudson St, Clayton DE 19938). Mr. Harrison mother stated that Mr. Harrison is living in Wilmington, DE with a friend. She could not confirm the address. Mr. Harrison has failed to report his new address with 72 hours.

Mr. Landaverde reported that he does not have any medical illnesses and has not been prescribed any medications. Mr. Landaverde reported that he went to the doctor in August 2016 for a regular checkup. Mr. Landaverde stated that he normally goes to the doctor every six months. Mr. Landaverde reported that he has never been hospitalized in the past. Mr. Landaverde reported that he does not have any emotional or psychiatric problems. Mr. Landaverde stated that he has never been to counseling. He stated to the best of his recollections, neither one of his parents have ever suffered from a substance related disorder.

Client meets the diagnosis of severe alcohol use disorder (F10.20). Due to his continuous problems associated with alcohol use, along with lack of sober support system and relapse prevention skills, client can benefit from the alcohol and drug treatment.

In the case of the adolescent male, John who comes from a well to do family and the personal challenges he has experienced which include severe learning and behavioral disabilities, substance abuse problems and a history of delinquency, I have niece who comes from a good family and she’s travel the road with drugs. I couldn’t for the life of me understand why my niece had a substance abuse issue her parents don’t drink or smoke, there were behavioral and academic challenges which existed. I always told my sister that giving this child everything was not a good idea. My sister would not allow anyone to spank her or tell my niece she was wrong and on top of that this child would roll her eyes at people and think it was funny. This was a red

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.

Each 16 bed facility houses female patients with substance use disorders who may also have co-occurring mental health disorders. The primary focus of treatment is on substance use at three of the four sites. One house is a co-occurring disorder focus house. The women are mothers who either have their children under age 5 placed there, they are awaiting placement, are pregnant, or are trying to regain custody of their children. All of these conditions may apply to one mother.

At our time touring CeDAR, we were introduced to the CeDAR Family Program. This week-long program allows for the family members of an individual undergoing substance abuse treatment to learn about addiction and how to better deal with their loved one’s illness. They are also given tools for their own coping and recovery. According to the CeDAR website “research shows participation in our addiction family support program helps increase overall recovery rates” (Family Services: CeDAR, 2016, paragraph 4).

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is classified as a Substance Use Disorder (SUD), to concentrate on one specific substance this paper will focus its attention on AUD. Even though people use a variety of substances to alter their mood, alcohol is typically the substance that can found without leaving the persons house. Therefore, most teenagers begin their experimentation of substances by using alcohol which their parents have in the home. Fuehrlein et al. (2016) reports, in a survey of 2,000 people with another mental health disorder were more likely to be comorbid for some form of an addiction disorder, 22.3% was specifically for alcohol use disorder. Although, not everyone who experiments with alcohol as a teenager develops a disorder

Alcohol use disorder is a substance abuse disorder characterized by excessive use of alcohol that results in hazardous behavior or poor health, a dependence on alcohol, high tolerance for alcohol, and withdrawal that causes sweating and other uncomfortable symptoms when not using alcohol. Unlike his friends, who can have a drink or two and be satisfied with that and who remain capable of socializing normally, Chris cannot be satisfied with only a drink or two. Due to his condition, he required higher levels of alcohol consumption in order to feel his desired effects, and he is unable to limit or control his urges, leading to binge drinking often or every time he drinks. The DSM lists uncontrollable urges to drink heavily, the inability to follow

Patient is a 45 year old male who presented to the ED with depressive symptoms and alcohol abuse for the past few months. Patient reports feelings of depression since separation from wife due to alcohol use. Patient wife was in room during assessment. The patient wife expressed that she brought him in because of the verbal aggression he had towards her and the family. Also, She reported that he made a few statement towards them that maybe viewed as HI in nature. When TACT asked patient about statements, he reports that he could not remember his words. The patient wife reports that he have been drinking heavy and his statements are on their voicemail and he expressed that if anyone comes to get him it would be a "murder scene" as she explains.

When referring to quality of life for an individual with substance abuse, also referred to as substance use disorder (SUD), through practice and research, the nurse is able to identify, test, and apply interventions that promote quality of life (QOL). According to Lubkin and Larsen (2013), “Application of research findings to an individual’s quality of life enables nurses in clinical practice to plan and deliver evidence-based care” (p. 183). With the use of evidence base practice, the nursing interventions can be individualized to the preferences and values of the client, which will ensure better adherence to along term commitment plan. Quality of life assessments can be used to evaluate the impact of substance abuse on the client and their

I enjoyed your post about environmental factors on substance disorders. Your statement that the “spirit, soul and body” need restored is so true. Jesus states in Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (New International Version). Those suffering from substance disorders can feel trapped and tired, needing the rest that only God can offer. Cognitive distortion is an environmental factor that can effect substance disorders. Cognitive distortion is the “erroneous beliefs that one has about oneself and the surrounding world that can lead to maladjustment” (Kearney & Trull, 2015, p. 270). This belief can make one feel invincible, but the truth is that once a substance problem starts help is

Along with values being a core factor of a successful social worker, the understanding of a client’s motivation for help is a major benefit during treatment. With a study overseen by the Institutional Review Boards of the Treatment Research Institute, Philadelphia Veteran’s Administration Medical Center, Thomas Jefferson University, and the University of Pennsylvania, it was found that different client’s have different reasoning for going into treatment for help with a substance abuse disorder. Reasons include “family, financial, social, medical, psychiatric, and legal factors(Dugosh).” With a test called STEP, Survey of Treatment Entry Pressures, it was founded that a client can have multiple motivations to go into and remain in treatment. A major motivation for substance abusers is to avoid a negative consequence.