Essay Sample on Substance Abuse: A Growing Problem Affecting Young People

Introduction

Substance abuse is a growing problem that currently affects young people. Many youths have died from substance-related issues, including overdose and addiction. Due to this problem, the number of emergency room visits and deaths linked to the overdose of substances has increased. Whiteford et al. (2013) defined substance abuse as a maladaptive behavior pattern that entails dependency on drugs or substances that alter the cognitive status, mood, and behaviors. This essay presents a case study of a 25-year-old male, diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorders after struggling with opioid abuse. The patient presents with withdrawal symptoms to our organization for treatment.

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Case Presentation

Douglas is a 25-year-old Caucasian male who presents to our facility for opioid and alcohol abuse. He is currently unemployed and lives with his friends because he lacks a stable relationship with his family due to addiction. Recently, Douglas was diagnosed with mood and anxiety disorders after presenting with the following symptoms: extreme sadness, irritability, mania, panic, tense muscles, heart palpitations, sleep problems, shortness of breath, rigid muscles, and loss of concentrations (Minkoff, 1989). For the last two weeks, my client has been consuming 12 bags of heroin intravenously, 42 ounces cans of beer, and has inhaled cocaine worth one hundred dollars per day. According to Douglas, he wants to avoid going to jail, and that is the primary reason the client is seeking help. The probation officer has worked with Douglas and his family to plan for the probation intervention program rather than jail. The client willingly agreed to be assessed for admission to the outpatient treatment facility.

Alcohol and Drug Use History

When Douglas began to use and abuse substances, his drugs of choice were cocaine and heroin. During the examination, Douglas stated that he was first introduced to alcohol and marijuana at the age of 15, although marijuana is not his substance of choice any longer. Five years later, his best friends introduced him to heroin at the time he was undergoing stressful moments in his undergraduate school. At the age of 19, Douglas said that he started consuming alcohol with his friends when they attended a party. His use of substances increased rapidly and began to affect his ability to function.

Douglas tried to stop abusing drugs but in vain. Instead, he switched to the use of anti-anxiety drugs such as valium and opiate painkiller, Vicodin. This attempt to substitute the use of illicit drugs with legal drugs failed. During this period, two of his friends died, ostensibly from overdoses. This incidence not only frightened Douglas to the extent of wanting to withdraw, but it also resulted in deep grief, which plunged him further to substance abuse. At the age of 22, Douglas was hospitalized eight times for detoxification but immediately resumed using drugs each time he was released. By then, her drug use included cocaine and heroin, as well as anti-anxiety drugs and painkillers. Occasionally, he used alcohol, especially during weekends or at parties. In the following year, Douglas was in and out of the detoxification and substance treatment programs with little progress.

We asked the client why he started using substances, and he stated confidently that he wanted his friends to accept him rather than feeling odd in their company. The patient also specified anxiety directed him to alcohol. He noted that his family is aware of his addiction problem, and no member of his family supports him. However, Douglas said that the only person who understands him and helps him financially is his grandmother. The reason his grandmother gives him support is to prevent him from stealing or indulging in crime to sustain his addiction.

Family History and Personal Development

Asked of his family use of substances, Douglas described a painful intergenerational history of the family concerning substance abuse. The client implied that both parents had alcohol and drug abuse problems. Douglas stated that his father used to drink alcohol, but he quit. In fact, the client indicated that his father was a binge drinker. He also said that his elder brother consumes alcohol once a while, although he is not an addict. ''It seems that the use of drug and alcohol runs in our blood,'' Said the client in the interview. He added that every member of the family has ever used alcohol and other substances at some point in their lives. However, he was not sure of the different substances used by his family members. The fact that his siblings and parents consumed alcohol and other drugs mean that Douglas was exposed to these substances at an early stage before his friends introduced him to them.

Psychiatric History and Progression

The client reported that he has struggled with mild depression and severe anxiety from an early stage of adolescence. He said that he could not recall the time he was free from anxiety without using some drugs. According to Doulas, he was never hospitalized from depression or anxiety. However, the patient stated that he had suicidal thoughts in the past but did not attempt to commit suicide. He denied any past self-inflicted cuts or injuries. The client has been prescribed to Seroquel, an atypical type for depression and benzodiazepine, an anxiety medication, but stopped taking both of them two years ago.

Presently, the patient is not under the care of psychiatrists or psychologists and does not take any medication for mental illness. His mental illness has deteriorated and is struggling with major depression and anxiety. Douglas is finding it difficult to cope with difficult emotions, and his mood keeps on changing. Douglas presents with the following conditions, which show that his mental illness is worsening: feelings of hopelessness, loss of interest in everyday activities, sleep changes, concentration problems, a strong feeling of worthlessness, anger, appetite, and weight changes, inability to experience pleasure, and excessive tension.

Tolerance and Withdrawal Symptoms

The patient presents with withdrawal symptoms to our organization for treatment. He has stomach cramps, a running nose, muscle spasms, dilated pupils, chills despite the warm weather, blood pressure, elevated heart attack, and is running a slight temperature. Every time the patient wants to quit, he feels the urge to use the drugs, indicating that the client is suffering from a withdrawal effect. The patient has also developed tolerance with alcohol and other drugs since he cannot function properly without using them. He also has to take the drugs in large quantities to feel their effects in the body.

Negative Consequences Caused by Substance Use

Substance abuse has led to various negative consequences to the patient. These effects range from physical to financial, social, emotional, and psychological impacts. Major depression and anxiety associated with symptoms such as extreme sadness, irritability, mania, panic, tense muscles, heart palpitations, sleep problems, shortness of breath, stiff muscles, and loss of concentrations (Minkoff, 1989) have occurred on the patient. The patient has also had suicidal thoughts, meaning that these substances are interfering with his daily life and reasoning.

Douglas is also struggling financially. He cannot afford to stay in his apartment because every time he gets money, he spends it on drugs. All he can do with the money is to sustain his substance abuse, ending up with nothing. Healthwise, Douglas developed Hepatitis B at one stage but received successful treatment. He also contracted Hepatitis C, which is still one of his serious health problems. Often, Douglas shares needles with his friends while injecting cocaine, which is why she contracted Hepatitis B and C. Besides, alcohol and other substances have affected the client's social life since he cannot bond with his family. He stated that his family no longer wants to associate with him because of his addiction.

Mental Health Symptoms and Daily Functioning

The patient's mental health symptoms interfere with his daily functioning in the sense that he cannot reason correctly, make appropriate judgments, associate well with others, pay attention, sleep, eat, and work. These symptoms also make the patient lose interest in hobbies and other social activities (Schomerus, Lucht, Holzinger, Matschinger, Carta, & Angermeyer, 2010). They also make the client have feelings of guilt and worthlessness as well as hopelessness. As a result, the person starts having a pessimistic outlook on life. When these happen, Douglas starts developing suicidal thoughts.

Mental Health Illness and Substance Abuse Scenarios

Scenario 1

Smith is a 26-year-old heroin addict. He has all withdrawal symptoms, including stomach cramps, a running nose, muscle spasms, dilated pupils, chills despite the warm weather, blood pressure, elevated heart attack, and is running a slight temperature. Smith has no other adverse health and psychological problems. He looks polite and charming at the hospital, hoping that the nurse can give him some medication to relax him before seeing his regular doctor. However, he becomes angry and threatens the staff when the nurse tells him they cannot comply with his wishes. He becomes aggressive and complains about the poor services at the facility. Smith wants a bed and medicine failure to which he will go out, steal and hurt someone or himself because he cannot withstand his misery anymore. He tells the nurse that he is ready to quit his addiction so long as he receives some medication and a bed.

Scenario 2

A 67-year-old man shows up at a mental health care facility looking disheveled. His l neighbor accompanies him to the facility and tells the psychiatrist that she found the man trying to enter his apartment door. He was sweaty, her hands were trembling, and his eyes dilated that he could not open his door. The man kept calling the neighbor by another name and saying he wanted to get into his office to complete some tasks. The neighbor is aware that the man retired some years ago, has stayed in that apartment for many years, and knows his real name.

The level of blood-alcohol in the man's body is low, and he does not have a slurred speech. The man appears confused, although he can identify himself. He cannot tell the month or season. He also conducts himself politely and is apologetic. He tells the psychiatrist that he has never developed a problem with alcohol, but scores highly on the CAGE evaluation test. He then admits to regular alcohol use. Before the incidence, the man had a few drinks but cannot tell exactly when. However, he is willing to seek help in the hospital if it is necessary.

Recommended Treatment Strategies

From an individual perspective, Douglas can be helped by considering dual-diagnosis treatment. When this intervention is at play, it is essential that treatment address both substance abuse and mental illness (Minkoff, 1989). Treatments that address both issues are likely to result in better outcomes. Detoxification is one of the intervention strategies that can be used to manage drug withdrawal (Whiteford et al., 2013). The other strategy is rehabilitation. During rehab, the patient should be encouraged to take part in individual and group therapy. Therapeutic approaches that can be used include Cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, assertive community treatment, therapeutic community, and contingency management (Hartz et al., 2014). Other treatment plans include intensive-one-on-one therapy with a therapist or psychiatrist with experience dealing with issues related to mental illness and addiction.