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Drugs and Alcohol Essay: Helping Drug Addicts
Addiction is the physical and psychological desire to continue using a substance or doing something in spite of its harmful effects (Leshner, 2003). The case of Elizabeth could be a case of addiction to drugs and partying. Evidence from the statement suggests that she loves going out throughout the week, classwork notwithstanding. It is also clear that Elizabeth becomes sick every morning after a night out. In order to help her, I would start by diagnosing her condition. The best way to start off is by befriending Elizabeth through Chelsey’s introduction. Given that Chelsey confided in me, she trusts me and she believes that I can handle the situation and help her friend. Therefore, organizing a meeting with Elizabeth will be the first step.
During the meeting, I shall look for clues and characteristics of somebody using drugs and someone getting addicted. I already believe that she suffers from hangovers, drugs’ side effects and isolation. The fact that Elizabeth gets sick on the mornings following a night out indicate that she is drug-dependent or she suffers from hangovers or the side effects of the abused substances. It could also be due to sleep deprivation which is a cause and effect of drug abuse and addiction. Elizabeth’s isolation from her friend Chelsey speaks a lot. Either she is ashamed of herself or she wants to keep her life a secret. She could also be struggling with guilt or addiction (Earle, Crow & Osborn, 1990). In fact, one of the common signs of addiction is isolation. In my meeting with her, I shall look out for the signs.
Meeting with Elizabeth shall allow me conduct a subtle interview. I shall gather evidence on the kind of drugs she uses, the type of people she parties with, the type of food she craves, her sense of judgement, her physical appearance and emotional stability. I shall also check whether she has withdrawal symptoms. The assessment shall help in determining whether she is already addicted or if she is on the way to addiction. The meeting will also help me know her better and determine her needs and her plans with education.
I shall look for changes in Elizabeth and focus on her hobbies when she goes out, her relationships with male friends and female friends at the parties, her obligations as a student, sleeping patterns, secrecy and any signs of physical effects of drug abuse and addiction (Glick & Maisonneuve, 2004). I shall examine her eyes and check for blood, unexplained injuries, changes in weight and withdrawal symptoms like sweating, vomiting and trembling. I shall also assess her mental and emotional stability by gauging her mood, aggression and depression levels. If the signs affirm that she is into drug abuse and addiction, I shall come up with a remedy.
If the assessment convinces me that Elizabeth is addicted, I shall report the matter to the senior school counsellor and other administrators for corrective action. Reporting the matter will help many experts to get involved. I shall try to establish a close relationship with her and learn the causes of her sudden behavioural change. It may turn out she is financially constrained or having some emotional and psychological challenges which can be changed. However, if I discover that her behavioural change is a result of peer influence at the parties or relationships with other people, I shall persuade her to cancel all ties with wrong company. In case her causes are biological, she will need advanced therapy. I shall try to do all that is in my power to model the causes, effects and remedies for her situation and make them known to her. If she gets positive and ready to change, she will be well. Otherwise, if the case becomes too complicated for me to handle, I shall recommend her to specialists and medical detoxification.
References
Earle, R., Crow, G., & Osborn, K. (1990). Lonely all the time: Recognizing, understanding, and overcoming sex addiction, for addicts and co-dependents. Pocket.
Leshner, A. I. (2003). Addiction is a brain disease, and it matters. Focus, 1(2), 190-193.
Glick, S. D., & Maisonneuve, I. M. (2004). U.S. Patent No. 6,780,871. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.