Theories and Models of Addiction Case Study Treatment Plan
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CAPELLAADDICTIONCASESTUDIES.docxADDICTION CASE STUDIES
Introduction
In this media piece, you will be introduced to four case studies that represent very different people in very different circumstances. Each person is involved with some form of addiction. Like people in the real world, the people in each case are struggling in their own way.
CASE 1:
Connor Gannon is a 45–year–old man who is court–ordered to treatment following his second conviction for DUI. His drinking has caused a variety of problems in his life.
Demographics and Comorbidity
45–year–old Irish Catholic Caucasian male, divorced, two children ages 20 and 18, youngest lives with mother, oldest lives outside home and attends community college, has an older brother and father who abuse alcohol and live in same city. Earned high school diploma, served in military with honorable discharge. Maintains gainful employment in the construction industry.
Sociocultural Factors
Lives alone in modest apartment, dates women he meets in local bars. Maintains contact with brother and father, with whom he enjoys drinking, but brother and father drink much more than he does and they have each experienced multiple DUIs and arrests for public intoxication. Enjoys drinking with his peers from the construction company, and drinking is typically excessive. Alcohol is involved in almost all social situations, his “way of life.” Participates in local church only for major religious events.
Addiction History
Began drinking alcohol as a teen with peers. Drinking increased after enlistment in military with episodes of extreme alcohol abuse, but never impacted his military work performance that resulted in sanctions. His construction work performance can be negatively impacted from abuse of alcohol, but there is a high tolerance for drinking behavior in his industry and he has not been sanctioned for poor work performance.
Treatment History
Received court-ordered treatment after first DUI conviction three years ago. Was required to complete months of abstinence from alcohol and had to provide random urine screens to verify his abstinence. Successfully completed the treatment program without incident. Despite this criminal conviction and treatment, he does not perceive himself as an “alcoholic”.
Reason for Seeking Treatment
Received his second DUI conviction in three years due to a severe automobile accident with minor injuries to himself and severe injuries to the driver and passengers in the other car. He has been court–ordered to treatment after serving time in jail. He will also have to see a probation counselor, submit random urine screens, and lose his driver's license for one year.
CASE 2:
Juan Medina is a 23–year–old Hispanic man who lives with his girlfriend and son. He has been ordered to seek treatment for his use of heroin or go to jail.
Demographics and Comorbidity
23–year–old Hispanic male, lives with girlfriend and one son, dropped out of high school in 10th grade because of poor academic performance that was complicated by learning disabilities.
Sociocultural Factors
Lives with girlfriend and son, participates with a street gang in distributing drugs, unstable income, close to mother who lives nearby, father deceased, is not close to siblings who live in different states. No religious affiliation.
Addiction History
Began drinking alcohol at age 12 and smoking marijuana at age 13. Continues regular use of both, plus occasional use of heroin. Experiences mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms from heroin but avoids regular use.
Treatment History
No previous treatment for addictive behavior.
Reason for Seeking Treatment
Arrested for possession of heroin. The drug court ordered him to treatment in lieu of incarceration.
CASE 3:
Lee Kim is a female attorney. At 30 years old, she finds her abuse of alcohol and marijuana is now negatively affecting her work.
Demographics and Comorbidity
30–year–old single Asian female attorney, lives alone, has successful legal practice in a large law firm.
Sociocultural Factors
Lives alone in a nice condominium, which she can afford due to her lucrative legal practice. Raised in the U.S. by first–generation immigrants from Japan along with an older brother who is a successful entrepreneur. Hired by prominent law firm after graduating from a prestigious law school. No religious affiliation.
Addiction History
Began drinking and occasional use of marijuana after entering college and being away from home for the first time. Maintained heavy use of alcohol and marijuana throughout law school but has recently been abusing cocaine, and this has begun to negatively affect her work performance.
Treatment History
Was referred to a campus–based brief treatment program after a college fraternity party where she was excessively intoxicated from combined alcohol and marijuana abuse. Successfully completed the minimum program requirements without further treatment.
Reason for Seeking Treatment
Referred to treatment through Employee Assistance Program at her law firm.
CASE 4:
Candace James is 28 years old and has never been married. After admission to the emergency room from a beating received while trying to obtain crack, she has been referred to treatment.
Demographics and Comorbidity
28–year–old single Caucasian female, never married, chronic history of physical and sexual abuse by men, diagnosed with Post–Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Sociocultural Factors
Unemployed, lives in a poorly maintained government–subsidized housing project. Receives disability payments for mental health issues. Graduated high school with good grades but never pursued further education. No contact with parents or siblings, who live out of state. No religious affiliation.
Addiction History
Began drinking alcohol in high school with peers, alcohol use increased when abuse from boyfriends began, eventually tried crack cocaine and began a vicious cycle of crack use and further exploitation and abuse by men when under the influence or seeking drugs.
Treatment History
No previous treatment history for addictive behavior.
Reason for Seeking Treatment
Ended up in emergency room of local hospital after being beaten and sexually abused when attempting to trade sex for crack. Referred to treatment by hospital social worker.
CASE 5:
Demographics and Comorbidity
15–year–old African American male, attends high school, an intelligent “nerd” who prefers social isolation and selected cyber friends to community friends who might pick on him.
Sociocultural Factors
Lives with mother and grandmother and two younger siblings at home in a poor neighborhood, no family transportation, buses to school, mother works long hours outside home to provide for family, father absent and has history of drug addiction and arrest and incarceration due to his addictive behavior. Forced participation in local Baptist church with family.
Addiction History
Discovered Internet games when family obtained first computer capable of gaming when client was 12 years old. Mother sees client as her one child who can be successful in life and has encouraged his computer skills and competitive video gaming. Client has been gaming for longer hours over the last three years and enjoys the success from online gaming competition.
Treatment History
Despite being called a “gaming addict” by some peers and relatives, he has had no previous treatment history for addictive behavior.
Reason for Seeking Treatment
Academic performance has suffered significantly due to excessive Internet video gaming and staying up late playing online with limited sleep. High school guidance counselor intervened and recommended seeking help for video gaming addiction.
