Running head: ADDICTIONS COUNSELING 1
Addictions
Counseling Tina
Martin-Fleming
Liberty University
ADDICTIONS COUNSELING 2
Abstract
“Addiction of all types has become mainstream in America contributing to a growing national
epidemic.” Addiction comes in many forms and has no boundaries to who it affects. In Virginia
alone, there is a task force set up to tackle this ongoing problem. Addiction is just what it is
addiction whether it is drugs, alcohol, sexting, or shopping it can affect everyone differently.
Many people are addicted to some form of a substance that includes heroin, opioids, or
prescription pain medications. Addiction is causing more deaths that it has raised many questions
about how to eliminate the usage of illegal drugs. Due to the dangerous amounts of drug
addictions, it has increased the crime rate, overcrowded prisons, and broken homes across the
nation. After careful research, it is believed that people who suffer from addiction will relapse
several times before their sobriety.
Keywords: Drug/substance addiction, legal and illegal
Introduction
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Drug addiction has increased significantly over the years. The addiction has caused
deaths across the United States that it has everyone on the edge of how and what to do to prevent
this ongoing epidemic. Addiction has caused more deaths and raised many questions about the
use of opioid dependence compared to crack cocaine. Addiction can happen to anyone of
different age groups and ethnicity backgrounds. Many people believe that this only occurs in the
poor neighborhoods. The truth of the matter that it can happen to anyone. Some individuals
believe that certain status quo can prevent them from entering this lifestyle, but addiction can
occur from the overindulgent of prescription pain medications. Due to this fact, the dangerous
amounts of drug addictions in the US, it has increased associated crime rate, overcrowded
prisons, and broken homes across the nation action must be taken NOW! This paper will provide
information about addiction and how it is affecting people of different age groups and cultures.
Grade School
There are many children as young as 12 who will experiment with drugs before they
finished the eighth grade. Many of these youths who experiment with drugs do so at the hands of
their peers or another adult. Peer pressure among the youth or experience of seeing this behavior
in their home throughout their childhood. Many youths who experiment with drugs do so to fit in
or it could be they are in a low economic environment where drugs are present. Peer pressure or
just to fit in with a crowd just to be accepted it could be they are in a low economic environment,
peer pressure or just to fit in with a crowd just to be accepted. As a child who grew up in this
environment. It felt like many if the kids in the neighborhood were more likely to experiment
because it seemed dike drugs were just a regular part of life.
High School
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Once a youth reaches their teen years, the experimental drug is not just marijuana. The
teen is now exposed to prescriptions medicines, alcohol, cocaine, and opioids. In some cases,
they have one or two parents who are addicted to some form of substance. The child is left to
raise them self because of the lack of supervision that causes them to rely more on the streets for
comfort. Many of the youth who do fall victim drugs lifestyle have access to more drugs and are
exposed to this unhealthy lifestyle before they reach the age of 18 partly because many of them
are raising their siblings.
College
College kids can hang out more and party. They do not have that direct supervision as
they supposed to at home. They are expected to act a certain way because you have reached a
level of maturity. However, there are many levels to drugs at this point in their life. Drugs are
more assessable as it is for the youth. As child growing up Richmond Metro regions in some
areas, you can walk to the corner store and purchase drugs as if you are buying a can of soda. It
is sad but true. The diversity that a teen is exposed to in college varies. Their exposure to natural
and assessable drugs in different culture and backgrounds can make even more assessable to
purchase and sell some form of substance because of who they know. These youths are now
considered young adults, and there is no real consequence from some parents unless school
officials or law enforcement catch them, some of the young adults who do get caught gets a
reprimand depending on the type of drug used or sold.
Most Common Substance Used
The most common substances are heroin, opioids, and prescription pain medications.
These are some of the substances that causing a significant problem among the youth and adults.
It has affected children to the point that they are dying from drug overdoses. The increase in
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death from prescription narcotic overdoses is a lot related to individuals who take the
medications in the home. Any substance that can cause a person to hallucinate, or mind-altering
effects it is considered illegal. Substance abuse and dependency are two different entities,
however, are not viewed the same. Substance abuse is the overindulgence of any illegal
substance that alters the functions of your brain and the central nervous system.
Whereas dependency is considered an addiction to any drug that is abused. For example,
a person who is prescribed pain medication and continues to take the medication after he or she
does not need it anymore is considered abusing the drug (Drug Enforcement Administration,
2012). These prescription pain medications can cause psychotic drug can cause erratic behavior
therefore the United States government has developed a drug scheduling program that is
enforced by the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration, 2012).
The physical need for dependence can have detrimental effects on the individual.
Psychical addiction is the determination of the need of the individual. Dependence and addiction
are not the same but can require the person to crave the drug more than usual. For any person to
take any illegal substance or it is abuse. The physical need of a substance that is prescribed by
the doctor and abuses it is illegal. A person who is removed from a narcotic may cause the body
readjustment. The body must adjust to not taking the medication or substance, therefore, could
cause the person to go through withdrawals because their body had developed a dependence on
the drug (Drug Enforcement Administration, 2012). The most common substances used today is
Heroin, Opioids, and pain medications. These materials can be bought at the corner store the
same place where you purchase soda.
“Heroin is an opioid drug made from morphine a natural substance takes from the pod of
the Asian opium poppy plant. Heroin can be a white or brown powder, or a black sticky
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substance is known as black tar heroin. There are common names for this drug called dope,
horse, junk, and smack. Heroin can enter the brain and rapidly and changes back into morphine.
It binds to opioid receptors on cells located in many areas of the brain, particularly the part of the
brain that operates the feelings of pain and pleasure” (Drug Enforcement Administration, 2012).
Opioid receptors are in the brain stem which controls critical processes, such as blood
pressure, arousal, and breathing. Prescription opioid pain medicine such as OxyContin and
Vicodin have effects like heroin. “Research suggests that misuse of these drugs may open the
door to heroin use. Nearly 80 percent of Americans using heroin (including those in treatment)
reported abusing prescription opioids before using heroin” (Barrio et al., 2013). According to a
national survey, less than four percent of people who had misused prescription pain medicines
started using heroin within five years. However, only a small fraction of individuals who abuse
pain relievers switch to heroin. Although heroin can be snorted or injected, however, the person
used the drug it has a deadly consequence to its use (Barrio et al., 2013).
Pain medication is an ongoing epidemic that has affected the nation globally. There are
many factors to consider about the abuse of pain medication. One problem that contributes to this
issue is the amounts of prescriptions disbursed and the acceptability of using these types of
drugs.
Classification of drugs
The government has determined different ways to classify drugs into five categories
(Drug Enforcement Administration, 2012). Drugs are listed by the potential for abuse. The class
is rated from schedule one to schedule four that determines the optional for abuse and a medical
usage. Schedule one drug is defined as a drug without any current acceptable medical usage, and
it very high in potential damage. “Schedule one substances are heroin, LSD, Marijuana, Ecstasy,
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Methaqualone, and Peyote” (Drug Enforcement Administration, 2012). Schedule two drugs as
substances of chemicals that are defined as potential for high abuse, with the possibility for
severe psychological or physical dependence. Schedule two drugs are defined as a drug or
combination of chemicals that contains less than 15 milligrams of hydrocodone. The drugs that
are listed by the Government as Schedule II are Vicodin, Cocaine, Methamphetamine,
Hydromorphone, Demerol, Oxycodone, Fentanyl, Dexedrine, Adderall, and Ritalin (Drug
Enforcement Administration, 2012).
Schedule three drugs are defined as a drug with moderate to low potential for abuse they
include a drug whose compound makeup is less than 90 milligrams of codeine per unit (Drug
Enforcement Administration, 2012). These drugs include Tylenol with codeine, ketamine, an
anabolic steroid, and testosterone (Drug Enforcement Administration, 2012). Schedule four
drugs are chemical compounds that have a small potential for abuse a low risk of chemical
dependence Xanax, Soma, Darron, Valium, Ativan, Ambien, and tramadol. Schedule five is the
decreased chance of abuse and only contains 100 millimeters of Robitussin, AC, or less than
200 milligrams of codeine (Drug Enforcement Administration, 2012).
Classification of Drugs
According to National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014) “Any drug can be classified
depending on the substance and how it is used and how it affects the brain.” Uppers or
stimulants are cocaine, amphetamines, amphetamine congeners, plant stimulants, caffeine,
nicotine, and psychostimulants. These uppers and stimulants must be examined to determine the
effects on the body and central nervous system. Stimulants even in small can energize the
muscles, promote alertness, cause insomnia, increase the heat rate and blood press (National
Institute on drug abuse, 2014). Uppers stimulant the body but can cause emotional problems
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(National Institute on drug abuse, 2014). However, when a person uses these drugs, even in small
amounts, it could alter their mood increase their energy and make them feel excited (National
Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014). When a person uses too much of any substance it could cause
them to become jittery, have anxiety, become angry rapid speech and aggression (Foundation for
a drug-free world, 2016). However, a person who abuses the drug for extended periods of time it
causes them to have extreme paranoia and mental confusion increased or induced psychosis
(Foundation for a drug free world, 2016).
Fact finds of cultural using substances
Substance abuse can be contributed to the development of society. Most importantly the
development of a child who grew up in a household where drugs are seen or used that could
cause the child harm. Also, it could be contributed to the environment in which the child grew
up or the easy accessibility of the drug. Some of the issues could be physical, mental, and
emotional neglect that eventually leads to childhood trauma (Foo, Tam & Teck-Heang, 2012).
Many children who suffer from this form of abuse where drugs are easily assessable come from
low- income neighborhoods. A child grows in these environments could have an adverse impact
on the child’s life. It causes the child to consume his environment as though it is normal. In fact,
teenagers will consume a substance to be able to fit into the idea group in their surroundings
(Foo, Tam, Teck-Heang, 2012).
“Peer pressure is real, and it affects the children today. Peer pressure is the
encouragement of force to experiment with certain behaviors to fit it in. It is considered cool if
the child drinks, smoke or stay out past curfew, sexting when they are not ready” (Foo, Tam,
Teck-Heang, 2012). Although peer pressure is real, there are ways for the youth to prevent
themselves from this. Research indicates that when a person stands alone, it makes it easier to
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determine the difference between right and wrong. Therefore, it makes it difficult to be
influenced in the wrong way.
Peer pressure includes encouragement or force to experiment with some form of substance or
illegal substance throughout their life (Foo, Tam & Teck-Heang, 2012). Research states that
many of the individuals who are addicted to drugs come from a poor economic status, the
inability to choose from what is right and wrong. However, in recent studies, there are
individuals from all social status who is affected by substance abuse (Foo, Tam & Teck-Heang,
2012).
Statistics
Substance abuse and illegal drugs are one of the nation’s leading issues that affecting
racial minorities. Research indicated that racial and ethnical minorities make up about a third of
the population and are expected to be the majority by the year 2050. The study states that
African Americans ages 12 and older in 2014 were 12.4 % compared to the national average of
10.2%.
The rate of binge drinking (drinking five or more drinks on a single occasion for men). Among
African Americans ages 12 and up were 21.6% compared to national average of 23%. Mental
disorders and substance use disorder 3,8% of adults ages 18 and older. Native Americans and
Alaska Natives are 1.7% of the total population the rate of illegal drug use 12 and up in 2014
14.9%. Alcohol uses 21.9% underage binge drinking in 2014 14.9%. Alcohol uses 21.9
underage binge drinking 14.3. Mental illness 21.2 their rate of serious mental illness 18 and up
4%. Asian Americans, Native Americans 15.6 of native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders the rate
of binge alcohol use was lowest among Asian Americans ages 12 and up 14.5%. The binge
alcohol use rate was 18.3 among Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islanders. Mental illness for Asian
Americans
13.1 and 3.1 of Asian Americans 1.2 of native Hawaiian or Pacific Islanders. Hispanic or Latinas
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make up 52 million of the population. 16.7 of the total population. The rate of illegal drug use
ages 12 and up was 8.9 compared to the national was 10.2. The rate of binge alcohol among
Hispanics and Latinos was 24.7 the rate of mental disorders 18 and up 15.6 and 3.5 had severe
mental illness.
RACIAL ETHNICITY
From the findings, drug abuse is among everyone. It’s affecting the nation so rapidly that
it is hard to control. Addiction can happen to anyone. It is a serious physical, mental and social
problem (Niknejad & Farnam, 2015). Many individuals suffer from some form of abuse.
Children as young as 12 are being affected by this epidemic. More African American children are
being affected by drug addiction. They are experimenting with more prescription drug
medications that it is causing an alarming amount of addiction. These individuals are getting
prescription drugs as if a doctor prescribed it. They do not realize the effects the drugs can have
over their body after long periods of time. Individuals who have suffered from some form of
addiction and are now in the recovery stage should seek cognitive therapy to prevent relapse
(Niknejad & Faranam, 2015). Cognitive therapy could help with faulty thinking and maladaptive
beliefs (Niknejad & Farnma, 2015).
Treatment
Medication can be used to help treat heroin and opioids addiction to minimize the
withdrawal effects. Some medications used to help individuals addicted heroin or opioids are
Naltrexone helps with opioids and it is used to treat overdoses to help aid in those with long term
use (National Institute Drug Abuse, 2014). According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse,
(2014), a new medication to treat drug addiction and alcoholism is a new injection called vitriol
this drug last for a few weeks and helps when people off other medications as well (National
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Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014). Methadone is used to prevent drug cravings (National Institute
on Drug Abuse, 2014). However, Buprenorphine is a partial opioid preventative method that
helps patients in the same way as methadone (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014). As with
any medication, it should be used under the advisement of a physician. Substance abuse
outpatient services may be intense. The counselor will speak with the client on more than one
occasion. This intense therapy allows the counselor to track the progress but allows the client to
know the risk factors of relapsing. However, research shows that all patients will relapse during
their first or initial recovery. This decline happens at least seven times before the person gets
clean (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014).
Spirituality
Relapse can occur to anyone who is trying to get sober and clean. However, many
churches are involved in the communities to also assist with addictions. Some of the churches
members have dealt with addiction or know of a family member or friend who suffers as well.
Many churches have outside support systems where they do in home therapy, community
events, and partner with other sources to connect with individuals who are afraid or ashamed to
attend treatment centers. The idea of any church is to encourage the induvial and enhance the
motivational to change. In a church setting, people relate to other individuals who have
experienced similar problems and can talk with other members in confidence. Addicts who
attend church feel they have control over their lives, unlike residential treatment centers.
Finding a higher power
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With any addiction, there is a need to seek spirituality. Many recovery centers utilize
spirituality during the recovery process. The addict believes that something greater than them is
guiding them through their recovery process. In treatment religion or spirituality and health are
all divergent perspectives in term of association, causative, or correlation (Niknejad & Farnam,
2015). The spirituality in treatment is the fellowship in a group setting. The group therapy and
outside support can help the addict with their recovery process. When a recovering addict
external support, it helps the willing participant feel confident in their recovery process.
Counseling education
Any person who has been addicted to any form of an illegal substance may need
intensive care. They may need residential treatment programs to help them obtain and sustain
sobriety. Substance abuse users may need treatment programs because they may go through
withdrawals and often because of their addictions they may hide their addictions, for extended
periods of time and has minimum supports groups they had. Medication can be used to help with
opioids and heroin addictions to minimize the withdrawal effects. With the rise in dependency,
any licensed counselor should have some general knowledge of how to treat and counsel induvial
in all cultural backgrounds. Counselors must understand the need of the client by realizing that
everyone is the same and each person recovery process is different. Each person recovery is at a
different rate, and all counselors must be acceptable to that.
Acceptance of culture
Many of the youth who use drugs do so because it appears to be normal. They do not
understand the harm it has or the potential risk factors involve. They were raised in certain
environments where using drugs is part of their normal life. Other youths who make a choice to
use illegal substances do so out of curiosity (Foo, Tam & Heang, 2012). They believe its Kool or
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a way to fit in with others. Substance abuse is not something you grow to do rather it a choice. A
choice that is easily made but hard to recover from. As with any drug, it could be dangerous, and
it causes the person to do things that they normally would not do. Some of the risk factors
include but not limited to committing crimes to obtain drugs, unsafe risk factors or sharing of
paraphernalia ad unsafe sex (Foo, Tam & Heang, 2012).
Understanding the client
Often people who are addicted to some form of substance do not want to admit their
addiction until they hit rock bottom. Rock bottom for most of the society could be homelessness,
and not having a job. However, they can find shelter and find ways to make money. When they
ask for help, it is because in their mind they are at their breaking point. They have nowhere else
to go. Therefore, it is important to understand the client’s culture to assist them with their need
further.
Conclusion
Addiction has no barriers when it comes to age, race nor ethnicity. Many people start
experimenting with drugs and prescription pain medications. All who start as an experimental
type eventually abuse the drug that later turns into addiction. Addiction has no discrimination
factors its primary focus is to Kill and destroy whoever uses it. Many suffer from an addiction
that is afraid to admit or are in denial of their usage. However, many would not admit to this
problem and when they do they are so far gone it is hard to cope. It takes therapeutic sessions,
support groups and outside sponsors and the belief that can and will change if they want.
Throughout this paper, its detailed information about drugs abuse and addiction. It explained
how this epidemic had affected many individuals of all ethnicities. However, as stated
throughout this paper recovery depends on the individuals how and if they want they help. If
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they use the tools given to them, they will get clean and stay sober. When a person is going
through recovery, they will need the support of family. Family and friends must understand that
nor did they hurt them but the addict hurt themselves, their children, and their immediate family.
Sometimes as a coping mechanism the entire family needs counseling. After careful review of
addiction and recovery process, many of the addicts who seek to counsel must have their family
members counseled as well.
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References
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J. (2013). Trends of heroin use and heroin injection epidemics in Europe: Findings
from the EMCDDA treatment demand indicator (TDI). Journal of Substance Abuse
Treatment, 45(1), 19-30. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2012.11.002
Behavioral Health Trends in the United States: Results from the 2014 National Survey on
Drug Use and Health. (2014). Retrieved from
https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-FRR1-2014/NSDUH-FRR1-
2014.pdf
Buss, T., & Leppert, W. (2014). Opioid-Induced Endocrinopathy in Cancer Patients:
An Underestimated Clinical Problem. Advances in Therapy, 31(2), 153-167.
doi:10.1007/s12325-014-0096-x
Drug Enforcement Administration. (2012). DEA / Drug Scheduling. Retrieved
from http://www.dea.gov/druginfo/ds.shtml
Foo, Y., Tam, C., & Teck-Heang, L. (2012). Main content area Family Factors and Peer
Influence in Drug Abuse: A Study in Rehabilitation Centre. International Journal of
Collaborative Research on Internal Medicine & Public Health, 4(3). Retrieved
from Url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/993859888?accountid=12085
Foundation for a drug free world. (2016). What Are Depressants? Examples & Effects of
Depressant Drugs - Drug-Free World. Retrieved from
http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/prescription/depressants.html
Inaba, Darryl S., Cohen, W. E. (08/2014). Uppers, Downers, All Arounders: Physical and
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Mental Effects of Psychoactive Drugs, 8th Edition. [Vital Source Bookshelf
Online]. Retrieved fromhttps://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780926544406/
Kaag, A. M., Crunelle, C. L., Brink, W. V., Homberg, J., & Reneman, L. (2013, October
23). Differential effects of short- and long-term cocaine use on cortical volume,
thickness, and surface area.
McKelway, B. (2015). Drug Deaths now outnumber highway fatalities in Virginia. Retrieved
from http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/drug-deaths-now-outnumber-highway-fatalities-
in-virginia/article_b129ee67-aabd-5a59-b34f-bd51cf0a1fe8.html
Meadows, B. (2015). Can Christian Drug Rehab Work for Non-Christians? Retrieved from
http://www.addictioncampuses.com/resources/addiction-campuses-blog/can-
christian-drug-rehab-work-for-non-christians/
National institute on drug abuse. (2014). The Science of Drug Abuse and Addiction: The Basics.
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National Institute on Drug abuse. (2014, November). Treating addiction to prescription opioids
| National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Retrieved from
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/prescription-drugs/treating-
prescription-drug-addiction/treating-addiction-to-prescription-opio
Niknejad, B., & Farnam, A. (2015). The effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in
Preventing Addiction Relapse and Increasing Coping Skills and Motivation
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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2016). Retrieved from
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https://www.samhsa.gov/specific-population/racial-ethic-minority
The Science of Drug Abuse and Addiction: The Basics | National Institute on Drug
Abuse (NIDA). (2013). Retrieved from
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/media- guide/science-drug-abuse-
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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
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Addiction. Retrieved from http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/SMA09-4442/SMA09-
4442.pd
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FINAL PAPER GRADING RUBRIC
Criteria Points Possible
Points
Earned
Title Page and Abstract 0 to 20 points
•Running head is present and in proper format and flush
with the left margin inside the top margin.
•Page number appears inside the top margin flush with
right margin.
•The remaining title page information was included per
current APA format guidelines.
•The abstract includes the heading in the correct format
and position.
•The abstract was not indented and did not exceed 250
words.
•No citations were included.
Required Content
Components
0 to 150 points
•The paper presented a thorough discussion of a narrow
topic (including proper length).
•The points were supported by the proper use of
scholarly references
•A minimum of 10 peer reviewed scholarly sources
were cited in the paper.
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Scholarly Writing 0 to 30 points
•The paper includes headings that guide the reader
through the paper, per current APA format
guidelines.
•The paragraphs are grammatically correct and include a
clear topic sentence.
•Paragraphs consist of 3–6 sentences.
•Sentences are well-constructed, complete, clear,
and concise.
•Proper punctuation was used in the sentences.
•Citations properly formatted in text and in the
references page.
•The paper contained no typographical or grammatical
errors.
Total /200
Instructor’s Comments:
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