Behavioral and Drug Addiction Problems - Essay Example

Case Study) (Student Name) (University Name) (Date) Introduction Bill, a 32 year old prisoner, is beginning a 2-year sentence for theft. He has a long history of crime and has served numerous sentences. His crimes are all drug related, since he has had a serious drug problem since he was a teenager, where his clashes with the law started. He has been using amphetamines once per week and has stolen from most members of the family to fund the habit and no one wants anything to do him expect his mother. He comes from a well-off family and presents himself during an interview as an educated and articulate person. He claims that his mother was an indulgent parent who did not see anything wrong in him, while his father was a distant figure who attempted several times to enforce strict discipline regime on him. During the interview, Bill speaks with remorse and claims he is ready to change, but at the same time he is not ready to take responsibility for his actions and to down-play all the harms he has caused. Therefore, this case study aims at identifying Bills problem behavior; the conceptualization of the problem in terms of how the problem can be understood; as well as explanation of the offending behavior. Additionally, it aims at explaining the sort of rehabilitation program for Bill’s problem, explaining the justification behind the chosen/ recommended program that bests suits his problem and the objectives of such a program. Finally, the essay also explains at how best I can evaluate the outcomes of the program. Bill’s problem behavior Bills case is a drug addiction problem that many individuals encounter. He began taking drugs since he was a teenager where his involvement with the law started. To make things worse, all his crimes concerns drugs, he has come into contact with dangerous drugs one can think of like, Cannabis, LSD, Ecstasy and Heroin which are used as hallucinogens. Additionally, he has added another type of drug called amphetamines which he has been using over the last few years once every week. He also steals from his family members and has caused them exceptional harm and therefore, no one wants anything to do with him. Conceptualization of the problem Bill’s problem is a drug addiction one. He is seen to abuse serious drugs, as well as expensive. Because of his addiction, he has transformed to becoming a thief because, whenever he lacks money for the drugs he steals from anyone including his family members in order to get money to buy his drugs. However, one can explain his behavioral problem on theoretical models such as social learning theory, attachment theory or social ecology theory. According to, Light, (1998), he argues that in social learning theory, behavioral effect has an impact on motivation of individuals to engage in a specific behavior. People wish to stop some of their acquired norms, while at the same time engage in positive behavior. For example, in the interview, Bill is seen to speak with remorse, claiming that he is ready to stop taking drugs and engaging in crime activities. As this theory suggests, some people who engage in crimes wish to change their behavior in order to avoid the negative consequences that are the results of taking drugs, and having a desire to change to good citizens. Miller and Dollard (1999) also add that if an individual desires a certain positive behavior, he is most likely to have a positive outcome. If only the positive behavior is reinforced. Therefore, the social learning theory implies that behavior is subject to environmental stimuli or factors and not only psychological factors. Additionally, the social theory incorporates several aspects of cognitive and behavioral learning, where behavioral learning assumes that individuals surrounding’s causes people to behave in a certain way. As in Bill’s case, his mother never instilled discipline on him, and never saw any wrong in his behavioral no matter the crimes committed. On top of this, his father was a distant figure, meaning that he was not always in his life but he tried instilling discipline on him. Therefore, social learning theory suggests that both psychological and environmental factors are essential in influencing behavior. It also outlines that there are three things that are required for individuals to learn. This includes, remembering what ones learns or observes, which is referred to as retention. Secondly is the paying attention, reproduction, where a person is able to produce the acquired behavior and lastly, having the zeal to change or adopt the behavior. One can also explain Bill behaviors in terms of attachment theory model. Holmes (1993) asserts that this theory describes the dynamics of relationships, in this case long-terms, between human beings. It is essential for a child to develop that relationship with at least one parent, who in this case is a giver of both emotional and social. This theory therefore, comprises of evolutionary, ethological and psychological theory. To expound on Bills social behavior based on attachment theory, one can conclude that Bill became attached to his mother who did not see any problem with his behavior. His mother’s response leads to his development, which turned him a drug addict and a thief, who is now about to start a two year imprisonment. Attachment and social theory are applied when it comes to solving problems like Bill’s case as well as understanding the psychological and aggression disorders in terms of behavior modification. It is can also be used in the behavior modeling in terms of theoretical foundation of behavior that can be used in training a drug addict. Since social learning covers motivation, memory and attention, it spans behavioral and cognitive frameworks thus improving on the way one interprets behavior. Bandura (1997) suggests that in social theory, one highest level of observation when it comes to learning of an individual is first of all achieved by rehearsing and organizing this model practically on an individual and then enacting it. For example, in Bills’ case, one can apply the theory practically because he will be able to adopt a certain behavior that is modeled, if only the model is similar to the observer who wants to change from his negative behavior to a responsible citizen in a country. Rehabilitation program Drug or substance abuse is a disorder which is characterized by a destructive model, in which a person uses drugs that leads to distress or problems. This problem has affected a great number of people who adapt this lifestyle from an early age, as in Bill’s case where he started abusing drugs from his mid-teens. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2003), teenagers are engaging in what they call prescription of drugs, especially the hallucinogens and narcotics often used to relieve pain and acts as stimulants. Drug addiction is therefore a disease that needs treatment, both by rehabilitation and medical treatment. This is because drug addiction causes people to become intolerable in a society. For example, Bill became a thief because of the taking drugs and has been involved with the law since he was a teenager, to now when he is 32 years of age and about to start his two year imprisonment. This means that he is suffering socially, since no one wants anything to do with him in the society. With reference to social and attachment theory, Bill’s problem can be eradicated by a program called innovative which comes from the above explained methods that are mostly used among the people. Craske (2010) argues that the excessive use of unwanted drugs is called polypharmacy, which is dangerous because when people take excessive drugs there are number of consequences like in this case, injuries, getting involved with the law, imprisonment, and illness among others. However, I would recommend Bill to start a counseling section immediately, where the therapist should apply the two theories on his treatment. For example, when a therapist applies social and attachment theory, he or she should be able to know why exactly Bill started abusing drugs. Since he is willing to stop his drug related problem as well as his social problem, the social theory will first of all be rehearsed and organized on him, before being enacted. This is what is referred to as drug rehabilitation, where it is mostly used for both psychotherapeutic and medical treatment for drug related abuse such as LCD, Cannabis, and heroin among others. The main aim of such a program on Bill’s problem is to enable him to cease drug abuse, so that he can avoid social, legal, psychological, physical and financial issues caused by the excessive abuse (Wright, 2004). Miller and Dollard (1999) point out that when it comes to rehabilitation treatment, psychological dependency is tackled in order to teach the addict on how to interact in a drug free environment. Therefore, Bill will be encouraged to associate with those friends who do not associate themselves with drugs. Secondly, he will also be encouraged to stop using drugs and examine habits that will help him change the addiction. Bandura and Walters (1999) note that recovery is a permanent process and complete abstention of serious drugs such as heroin may lead to relapse; it is advisable that Bill starts with moderation. Since Bill is starting his two year imprisonment because of theft, brought about by the addiction, he is willing to do what it can to stop his problem; his treatment will be based on rehab programs inside jail. He will be provided with drug treatment in terms of medication, right environment and guidance that he needs by qualified doctors and to help and support him with his theft habit as well. Despite of all this, he will be required to have the desire to break free from his addiction, since after the two years of imprisonment and rehabilitation, he will be incorporated back to the society. Moreover, Cognitive –behavioral therapy will also help Bill to recognize, avoid drugs and cope up with situation that he is most likely to encounter such as relapse. Since he has already undergone Motivational interview and has emphasized on his willingness to change his behavior and start treatment. He will also be motivated to take advantage of the positive environment that is meant to encourage him to abstain from drugs. However, since rehabilitation is sometimes a part of criminal system; Bill is convicted of theft crimes because of drugs abuse in which I can recommend rehabilitation program instead of being put into prison. He should also undergo counseling in order to help them identify problems and behaviors that are related to their addiction problem (Peet, 2004). Objectives of Innovative/Rehabilitation program The cognitive therapy will help Bill from his addiction and behavioral problem. It is one of mostly used treatment which focuses on high specific goals, in which its results have been measured heavily. I highly recommend it to Bill’s case because during the interview he has demonstrated that he is comfortable with the therapy as well as have the zeal to change. He is also willing to spend effort and time analyzing his feelings and thoughts. Self-analysis is often seen to be difficult but it is a great way of Bill’s way to learn about his internal state towards his behavior. Most importantly, it will help him develop skills that will help him in coping with the therapy. In addition, it will teach him on how to take control his addiction as well as deal with his social behavior which in this case is theft. When Bill was under put into this program, he was able to focus on his future since he wanted to change anyway. At first, he thought he cannot live without drugs but as his treatment progressed he was able to cope with the relapse and its consequences. He slowly became used to the fact that can live a positive life without drugs and has started cutting down on drugs usage. During his interview he is seen to have blamed his mother on his outcome but after the counseling he is able to forgive her and focus on making his behavior accepted in the society. Stuart and Lanier (2009) explain that the cognitive model recovery that I highly recommend on Bills addiction help a patient in his relapse and addiction crisis. For example, during his treatment, he was able to deal effectively with the high risk of relapsing situations. Success of the program However, there is a huge success of the program on Bill’s problem, based on social learning therapy and rehabilitation programs which emphasizes on the importance of modeling and observing an individual attitudes, emotional and behaviors of others. In social and cognitive models of recovery from addiction, their outcomes are significant in any patient who has an addiction. For example, in this case, Bill was able to deal with provoking situations in terms of relapse that is high when it comes to dealing with one’s addiction. The success of this program is also based on the assumption where, Bill possess the belief that he is undesirable as well as put in mind and in his system that he can do stop taking drugs. This is because it takes courage for someone to wake up and admit that he has a problem with drug addiction as Bill admitted. But with the right support and treatment one can change (Bandura, 1997). Therefore, the programs helped Bill with his setbacks and by the time he came out of prison he was free from drugs and had learnt to cope with an environment that is free from drugs. All this is as a result of the program and models which emphasizes on focusing on the problem and requires total openness and honesty between the therapist and the patient, in the process of coming up with a strategy of managing his problems while at the same time guide him to live a better life (Wright, 2004). Conclusion Bill’s case is a problem of behavioral problem as well as drug addiction problem. He blames his mother of his upbringing, where he claims that his mother never saw any problem with his behavior, but his father although a distant figure tried instilling some discipline on him but in vain. During his interview he speaks with remorse and the urge to change his habits. Having began taking drugs and getting involved with the law since his early his mid-teens the social learning theory therapy best suits his problem behavior where it helps him overcome his addiction by; first of all helping him cope with relapse and how to fit in drug free environment. However, I would recommend rehabilitation/innovative programs in addition to social theory therapy on Bill behavioral and drug problem. Since he has already demonstrated his zeal to change, his therapist should give him counseling sections where he will be encouraged to stop the anger associated with his drug addiction. Therefore, the social and cognitive therapy helps Bill cope with relapse as well as become an accepted member in his society. References Bandura, A. & Walters, R. (1999). Social Learning and Personality Development. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston. Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York: W.H. Freeman. Craske, M. (2010). Cognitive-behavioral therapy. Washington: American Psychological Association Holmes, J. (1993). John Bowlby and attachment theory. New Jersey: Routledge Light.A, (1998), Social ecology after Bookchin. New York: Guiliford Press. Miller, N. & Dollard, J. (1999). Social Learning and Imitation. New Haven, NJ: Yale University Press. Peet, P. (2004). Under the influence: the disinformation guide to drugs. New York: The Disinformation Company Stuart, H and Lanier, M. (2009). Essential Criminology. New Jersey: West view Press United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2003). Drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation: a practical planning and implementation guide. New York: United Nations Wright, J. (2004). Cognitive – behavior therapy. Washington: American Psychiatric Pub Read More