Who Meets Criteria for Substance Abuse Disorder and Recurrent Alcohol-Associated Legal Problems - Case Study Example

Case Study Students Names Institution Affiliation Case Study 1. Using the DSM IV TR criteria for substance abuse, it is quite evident that Harry meets the criteria for some substance abuse disorder. First involves the maladaptive patterns of his drinking, in which case it leads to clinically distress or impairments (American Psychiatric Association, 2006). Harry recurrently uses alcohol, in which case he fails severally to fulfill some significant obligations at the work place. This is evident from the case study as he has been getting to work very late, and the company has been threatening to fire him due to laxity in his duties. There is also the recurrent alcohol use by Harry in circumstances that it is physically hazardous. This is evident from the case study as Harry has been ringing his ex girlfriend day and night while under drug abuse and spending all his money on grog. There are the recurrent alcohol-associated legal problems that Harry has been undergoing. This is evident from case study when the 27th year old Harry engaged in some fights with the fellow patron at the nightclub. He was also arrested and sent to juvenile detention for more that six months and was charged with damaging property and assault. The other is the fact that Harry usually get drunk with the company of his friends, including the fact that he broke with his girlfriend after some arguments. This implies that Harry was involving in alcohol-related problems that were lethal. Then there is the continued use of alcohol despite the persistent or recurrent interpersonal or social problems that the effects of alcohol exacerbate or causes (BehaveNet, 2013). This is evident in the case study as Harry had argued with his ex girlfriend some three weeks ago, and he complains of being, “stoned and pissed all the times”. He had also a poor relationship with his father when he was 14 years. 2. Cannabis is among the commonly used illicit drug with approximately one in three Australians, 34percent, reported to use in their lifetimes (Tresidder & Shaddock, 2013). Of these, males are quite more likely to have used cannabis 37 percent than the females 30 percent. The recent use of cannabis in Australia is most prevalent among the ages of between 20 to 29 years. In addition, the 18 percent of the high school students have been reported to have used cannabis and also 14 percent have been reported to use cannabis in the last twelve months. The commonness of cannabis use in Australia does suggest that cannabis is widely available and also socially acceptable among the various groups (Tresidder & Shaddock, 2013). Others have even champion the legalization of it, but it was declined and many regarded it as a criminal offense. The possible causes of the cannabis use in Australia involve obtaining cannabis from friends or acquaintances. The other involves the fact that cannabis sometimes is used for medical purposes, but it only used to treat ill patients. According to the hospital treatments and hospital presentations, there was the prevalence of the twelve month cannabis use among the general populace and also the secondary students. The prevalence, however, have declined since the late 1990s. Among the reported in hospital, the prevalence for daily use were among the 40 to 49 years old and the heavy users involved between 14 to 19 years (Tresidder & Shaddock, 2013). Hospital presentations also show the age groups using daily users are using large quantities of cannabis. Despite the declines, there is the public health campaign that warns of the harms that are related with cannabis use. The burden of the disease has called for more accessible and effective interventions for use of cannabis disorders. 3. There exist possible factors behind the development of Harry’s substance use disorder. From the case study, Harry had some curiosity and the desire to fit into some social group for some unspecified reasons. Harry began using alcohol and using cannabis from the age of 14 years. He wanted to be in the league of his friends, in which case he had accompanied him to the night club. From the study also, Harry states that all his friends do use cannabis and also drinks 2 to 3 Bundaberg. He had been using drugs and alcohol over the past 6 weeks. From the case study, it is quite evident that Harry could smoke a lot of cannabis just to show his friends and also his parents. The other possible factor includes the use of cannabis by his family members and it played a role in the starting of Harry to use cannabis. His father used to drink as evident in the case study. Harry’s father was a model for his children to follow. It should be noted that some young people who take drugs do not get along with their relatives. Some even have some network of families and friends who uses drugs and thy urge them to do the same, which is peer pressure (Hall & Pacula, 2003). This must have forced Harry also to use cannabis. It should be noted that all aspects of surroundings, home, neighborhoods and schools help in ascertaining whether the child will try and even use drugs. 4. There are a number of substance and mental health related problems that is quite evident in the case study and that Harry was experiencing. One of the problems is the confusion (Kalant, 1999). From the case study, Harry insisted to go home and that he was fine when he was presented in the hospital by the police. He was also claiming to be stoned and smashed, and that would help him forget. He stated also that his life was out of control, and he can fix it as there was no point. It is quite evident that cannabis use can cause some confusion, and one can the believe things that are not based on reality or rather observing things that are not there, hallucinations. Such a problem is referred to as psychosis (Kalant, 1999). It lasts until such effects of the cannabis wear off and when the person has had to use more than once. Psychosis may trigger also when one has some family history of mental illness. Depression is another substance problem that Harry is experiencing. From the case study, Harry has not been himself for some time and has been spending all his money on grog. In addition, his life has been out of control because he could not cope with his girlfriend. This was an indication that he was quite depressed, and he resorted to drinking and using cannabis. He had also poor relationship with his parents a clear indication of being depressed. The other problem involved the “flown-on” effects on the Harry’s life, and this involves the conflicts that he has had to encounter with the police, with the workplace, with his former girlfriend and his parents, including the financial problems. All this might increase his risk of mental health problems, especially memory problems. 5. Harry is able to subscribe to nursing interventions in the management of the problems or risks that he encounters. First of all, Harry is qualified to need help from the counselor (Roffman, 2006, p.106). There are various counselors that have had to socialize in drug and alcohol treatment, and it would be worthwhile for Harry to subscribe to him or her. The counselor will help him work out how excellent to manage the drug intake. Counseling might be done individually or in a group, and this will help in reducing depression. The other intervention involves psychological intervention. The practices of behavioral and also cognitive skills will help deal with triggers that might lead to return to use, for instance the drug refusal, managing mood, managing relationships and finding some alternative activities (Roffman, 2006, p.106). The practice will indeed focus on the understanding of how triggers, behaviors and thoughts are associated, and the developing skills to prevent the triggers and create some ways of reducing their impact. The other intervention is the intensive family therapy-based intervention. This will help harry show some promise, and this are especially if they attend to broader issues, for instance, the community and the peer influences. It was quite evident that Harry had problems with his former girlfriend and also his parents and this intervention will help improve the relations. 6. Various interventions have some rationale. The cognitive behavioral therapy interventions involve teaching and practicing the behavioral and cognitive skills that deal with triggers that lead to return to use of cannabis. Motivations enhancement interventions work to encourage and also build motivations to change, and helps many young people to reduce cannabis use. The intensive family therapy-based interventions attend to some broad issues, for instance, the peer and community impacts. The other intervention, contingency management interventions, helps in providing some money or any other incentives that helps in attending the drug negative urinalysis or appointments and will improve the abstinence behaviors after treatment. The telephone based interventions assist persons in reducing cannabis dependency severity and also cannabis use problems to some greater extent. It is quite better than the face-to-face interventions. This intervention has less chance for the person to experience stigmatization associated to illicit drug abuse (Marlatt & Donovan, 2008). There is also the web-based treatment intervention, and it helps people who want to quit or even reduce the substance use. The treatment using this intervention is quite highly suitable because it can be used at any given area so long as it has the internet service at the time of the user’s choice. The other intervention is the pharmacological interventions. This intervention helps in easing the symptoms of cannabis withdrawal and it helps in blocking the influences of cannabis. The intervention is still in the experimental stages of developments. Some other ranges of medications under this intervention are still under the early stages of investigation. The other intervention is the peer support intervention. This intervention allows the formation of groups of meetings, for instance, the narcotics anonymous meetings, which is quite available and provides support for persons wishing to stop using drugs. There is also the marijuana anonymous group, which helps persons with the cannabis-related problems. The psychological intervention, on the other hand, involves some ranges of counseling approaches (Marlatt & Donovan, 2008). References: American Psychiatric Association. (2003). Diagnostic criteria from DSM-IV-TR. Arlington: American Psychiatric Publ. American Psychiatric Association. (2006). American Psychiatric Association practice guidelines for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Arlington, Virg: American Psychiatric Association. 447 Basavanthappa, B. T. (2007). Psychiatric mental health nursing. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers. BehaveNet. (2013). APA Diagnostic Classification DSM-IV-TR. Online Resource. Retrieved on 7th August, 2012 from http://behavenet.com/apa-diagnostic-classification-dsm-iv-tr Bookshelf. (2013). Appendix B: DSM-IV-TR Diagnostic Criteria for Alcohol Abuse and Dependence. Online resource. Retrieved on 7th August, 2013 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK44358/ Craven, R. F., & Hirnle, C. J. (2009). Fundamentals of nursing: Human health and function. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Hall, W., & Pacula, R. L. (2003). Cannabis use and dependence: Public health and the public policy. Cambridge [u.a.: Cambridge Univ. Press. Jenkins, R. (2005). Cannabis and Young People: Reviewing the Evidence. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Kalant, H. (1999). The health effects of cannabis. Toronto: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Marlatt, G. A., & Donovan, D. M. (2008). Relapse prevention: Maintenance strategies in treatment of addictive behaviors. New York: Guilford. Mathre, M. L. (1997). Cannabis in medical practice: A legal, historical and pharmacological overview of the therapeutic use of Marijuana. Jefferson, NC [u.a.: McFarland. National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre. (2013). Treatment for Cannabis Use Problems. Retrieved from http://ncpic.org.au/ncpic/publications/factsheets/article/treatment-for-cannabis-use- problems Roffman, R. A. (2006). Cannabis dependence: Its nature, consequences, and treatment. Cambridge [u.a.: Cambridge Univ. Press. Solowij, N. (2006). Cannabis and cognitive functioning. Cambridge [u.a.: Cambridge Univ. Press. Tresidder, J & Shaddock, C. (2013). Policing and cannabis use in Australia. Retrieved on 7th August, 2013 from http://ncpic.org.au/ncpic/publications/aic-bulletins/article/policing- and-cannabis-use-in-australia Read More