Community Self Help Group Activity - Assignment Example

COMMUNITY SELF HELP GROUP ACTIVITY Community Self –Help Group Activity Alcoholic Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experiences, strength and hope with each other, that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fee for A.A. membership. They self-support through their own contributions. A.A. is not allied to any sect, denomination, politics, and organization. The primary purpose is to stay sober and help other members to achieve sobriety. As an informal society of more than 2,000,000 recovered alcoholics in the United States, Canada and other countries: These men and women meet in local groups of different sizes. This report explores the discursive accounts of men and women of alcohol dependence, treatment history and their quest in accessing alcohol dependence treatment. Participants were 50 men and 20 women with alcohol dependency (age range-23 to 59, ethnicity 60% white and 40% black).Data were collected through the life story (narrative) interview method and thematically analyzed. A socialist construction approach was used to access and construct meaning from the discourse commit from the member’s narratives of their experiences with alcohol and their attempts at rehabilitation. Date: 5th April 2014. Time:4: 00 p.m. 4530 Connecticut Ave. NW Suite 111, Washington, DC 20008. (202) 966-9115 Alcohol dependence affects 10% to 15% of men and 3% to 8% of women at some point in their lifetime. This translates into a point prevalence of about 4% and 5% for alcohol dependence and abuse, respectively. Alarmingly it has been reported that 30% of the American populace engage in risky or unhealthy patterns, defined as at least five drinks per day or fifteen drinks per week for men, or at least four standard drinks per day or eight drinks per week for women. A standard drink in the U.S. is defined as a drink containing about 14 grams of pure alcohol, the content of alcohol in 12 ounces of beer,5 ounces of table wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof whiskey. The prevalence of alcohol dependence in primary care settings ranges from 20% to 36%, pointing to the medical co morbidity suffered by alcohol-dependent patients and the value of screening for the disorder. Goals of the Study The goals of the study were to explore alcohol dependence patient’s history and treatment history. On the other hand also identify barriers and nature of barriers that limit the alcohol dependence patients’ treatment, reasons for not accessing treatment, and to interpret their experiences of treatment. The study question was: What is the structure of the patient’s deinking experience and how do they seek treatment? Method Approach, Participants and Setting Narrative interviewing was used to construct through alcoholic dependence patient’s perspectives on their alcohol use and dependence. Participants were men and women, both white and black volunteering and collaborating with Alcoholic Anonymous organization (Monti, 2002). Data Collection Respecting the core principals of Alcoholic Anonymous (A.A.) which protects the identities of alcohol dependents, data collection retained anonymity with regards to the requirements of A.A. Of the participants, four were accessed through the Washington DC office records. Procedure Permission for the study was granted by the nursing college, while participants individually consented to the study. Strict protocols with regard to anonymity and participant’s rights were adhered to .The main objective of the study was discussed and the guarantee of confidentiality duly explained before participants signed the consent form. Twenty participants were interviewed using the narrative interview method, and the interview electronically captured on audiotape and transcribed. An in depth understanding of when the patient’s took the first drink unfolded, and the reasons that led them not to seek treatment came to exposure while exploring their life’s story. The transcribed interviews took the following into consideration: 1) The interpretation of the participant’s narrative included both verbal and nonverbal exchanges of gestures. 2) Utterances apart from speech, for example laughing, smiling, coughing e.t.c. and nonverbal communication for example hand waving, are common during conversations. 3) Transcribing these features of speech can add to the context of the conversation or interview, thus create clarity or mistaken assumptions. Data Analysis The interview data was transcribed, coded and analyzed using discourse analytic method. Discourse analysis was used to draw out the themes in what they said. Of particular interest was to review all the similarities and conflicts across themes. Moreover, discourse analysis was used to refine the discourse constructions and configure them as true as possible. The major themes that emerged from the discourse analysis include: Social invisibility: About 70% of the participants felt ignored at some point in their lives and therefore resorted to alcohol use. The following quote explains: “My fiancée cheated on me by sleeping with my best friend. She dumped me, calling me a useless piece of shit…” (Participant 7: aged 30, Marital Status: single). The emotional trauma here can be interpreted to mean that the patient is less of a man and as such did not deserve the fiancée love. This kind of distress must be acknowledged and accepted. However the injured self-esteem needs a lot of counseling so that a renewal of spirit and hopes is initiated once more. Family enablers: For the most parts family or partner’s of the participants enabled them drink (Stevenson, 2006). During meeting sessions participants displayed a high level of cordial and mutual understanding of one another. Perhaps this emanated from their initial acceptance that all of them were suffering and struggling with a common disease and problem. They related as a single entity and exhibited warmness and openness amidst themselves. They encouraged with both words and actions one another and stressed the importance of walking the ‘alcohol free’ road together. Outside the meeting venue, they had voluntary programs where members engaged in activities like sports or hobby of choice in order to use their free moments constructively and to remain positively engaged with activities that took their minds off alcoholic thoughts. Chemical Dependency: This is the physical addiction to a drug or substance, such as alcohol or heroine that results in biological changes including withdrawal if use is discontinued suddenly. Any condition resulting from dependency on or abuse of psychoactive substance as described in the Diagnostic and Substance Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition-Revised,(DSM-IV-R),or substance revision published by the American Psychiatric Association. Alcoholic: Someone who as a result of their alcohol consumption, either excessive or habitual, suffers or has suffered physical, psychological, emotional, social or occupational harm. Someone who demonstrates a continuous or periodic impaired control over drinking; preoccupation with alcohol; and use of alcohol despite adverse consequences and distortions in thinking, mostly notably denial. Alcoholism: A chronic disorder characterized by dependence on alcohol, repeated excessive use of alcoholic beverages, development of withdrawal symptoms on reducing or ceasing alcohol intake, morbidity that include cirrhosis of the liver, and decreased ability to function socially and vocationally. Currently believed by many to be a disease with strong genetic links (Monti, 2002). The realization that alcoholism and chemical abuse was a disease affecting scores of able bodied men and women opened up a new chapter. Their desire to seek treatment by coming together without the bigotries of race, religion or political affiliation made me realize the level of commitment and sacrifice in their desire to once again change the marred faces of their deplorable states and become normal and resourceful citizens. Their approach in treatment is effective because their mutual acceptance of one another builds inner strength which is a positive approach in treatment of any disease. The fact that they sit together and openly discuss the nature of their ailment(alcoholism) opens for them an avenue where a wide range of possible solutions are explored, and the show of unity make it easier for the patients to effectively cope towards recovery and eventual healing. A peer support group brings together non professionals with similar problems for the purpose of mutual support or unidirectional support from an experienced peer to a novice peer. Peer support can be delivered in groups, in person, over the phone or through the internet. Peer support relies on voluntary efforts thus have the potential of being available or low cost. Per support intervention reduces isolation, impact of stress, increase the sharing of information and provide positive role modeling. Psychotherapy involves regular schedules between patient and health professional. Therapists offer many types of therapy which may appear disarming to patients sometimes. The cost of therapy may be prohibitive thus be out of reach to many patients. I observed alcoholism majorly. Conclusion Alcohol as a dependence drug can easily lead to alcoholism if usage is not checked. However, alcoholism is a curable disease which requires a concerted effort and support for the victims in order that the problem may be eliminated and patients to be cured and regain back their lives. More support should be given to peer support groups like the A.A by both the government and concerned individuals with the emphasis laid on the patients to remove feelings of isolation. References Stevenson, J. S., & Sommers, M. S. (2006). Alcohol use, misuse, abuse and dependence. New York: Springer Monti, P. M. (2002). Treating alcohol dependence: A coping skills training guide. New York: Guilford Press http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol- consumption/standard-drink). Read More