Factors Contributing to Alcoholism and Drug Addiction

Discuss about the Case Study for Role of Social Workers.

The tradition of consuming alcohol is increasing day by day. A large number of young people are becoming the victim of alcoholism and drug addiction. According to Fisher & Harrison (2012), alcoholism is a curse to the mankind. Alcoholism can also be recognized as alcohol use disorder (AUD), which includes any drinking alcohol that leads towards problems. The alcoholism can further be divided into two terms such as alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse. Although drinking alcohol is very common among the older people, it is found that the rate of alcohol abuse is increasing among the young generations, which is not desired for the good of the society. In addition, the incidences of drug abuse are increasing among the young people. In order to prevent this curse, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other non-government organizations took many initiatives. It is found that to help the poor young generation to recover from alcoholism and drug abuse the social worker’s extended their hands. The steps were taken by the social workers to diagnose, and prevention of drug addiction are proved as beneficial to help the young generation. According to the survey report, 17% of the Australians who are aged 15-18 years abused when they were drunk or get “high” due to drugs. In Australia, alcohol consumption and drug addiction contribute three causes to the death of young people, which include suicide, homicide, and injury. Therefore, the social workers have a greater responsibility to help each of the young people who are addicted towards alcohol.

According to the case study, Steve is a 23 year old young boy who is presented before the court due to drug-related offenses. According to his lawyer, Steve has a background of marijuana and alcohol addiction. Even it is found that Steve was convicted earlier for burglary and theft. He left his home and school at the age of 14. According to his family history, he was abused by his step father, who was also an alcoholic. Currently, he is living with his friends (who are also drug addicted) in transitional housing. He neither had a steady job nor had any intention to have one. He works part time and wastes all of his money in drug or alcohol. Although Steve is now agreed to have to counsel, he often makes rude remarks and often quit the sessions.

Case Study: Steve’s Background and Addiction

In order to help Steve, it is first important to find out his pros and cons. According to Aarons et al. (2011), it is found that the development of alcoholism and drug addiction could be the result of different types of environmental as well as genetic influences. Genes that are responsible for metabolism can also indulge alcoholism. However, the case study reflects that his step father was alcoholic, and there is no evidence that his parents were alcoholic. According to the research study of Straussner (2013), consumption of alcohol from younger age can influence the genetic changes. On the other hand, it is found that he left his house as he was abused by his step father. Therefore, it can be said that Steve went through a severe childhood trauma, which influenced him to consume drugs and alcohol. The detachment from the family pushed him towards the involvement of antisocial activity. Lack of family support increased the development of drug abuse and alcoholism. He is also part of a friend circle who are addicted to drugs and consume alcohol. Therefore, he had the opportunity to access more amounts of alcohols as well as drugs. On the other hand, according to the researchers, alcohol is the “most available and widely abused” substance (Keyes et al., 2010). According to Wang et al., (2010), alcohol is the third most popular drink in worldwide after water and tea.

Although there are many factors that can be identified as the influence factor of Steve’s alcohol and drug addiction, it is also found from literature reviews that “gender difference” also play an effective role to be a victim of drug and alcohol addiction. Based on the data found from the National Surveys on Drug use and Health of SAMHSA (Substances Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) (2004 – 2005) it is found that persons who are aged only 12 – 14 years old varied by the amount of alcohol consumption. It is recognized that 44.7% of them are heavy drinkers and also addicted to drugs, which is not promising for the society. The researchers also showed that males scored higher in Binge drinking (57% vs. 45%) as well as heavy alcohol use (10.5% vs. 3.3%) than that of the females. Therefore, it can be said that while helping Steve to recover him from his current state it is important to consider all of the possible factors that can directly or indirectly contribute to his drinking habits or drug consumption.

Diagnosis of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction

In order to help Steve to recover from his current condition, it is important to go through proper diagnosis and then help him out. According to Straussner (2012), in most of the cases, it is recognized that social stereotypes and attitudes create hinders to the detection and the treatment of drug and alcohol abuse. Fear of stigmatization leads the victims towards more suffering. Therefore, the role of a social worker is to help Steve to overcome social stigma and went through a proper rehabilitation program. On the other hand, several tools can be used by the social workers to detect alcoholism and drug addiction. These tools mainly include a “self-report” in a questionnaire form. Another common theme identified by the researchers is “score or tally the sums” to detect the severity of the alcohol use. According to Brandell (2010), the use of CAGE questionnaire (consists of four questions) can be proved as best to diagnose the severity of drug abuse and alcohol consumption. Other tests that could be used by the social workers to detect alcohol dependency are Alcohol Dependence Data Questionnaire (more sensitive than CAGE questionnaire), the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the Paddington Alcohol Test (PAT). Apart from these tests, genetic predisposition tests, and urine and blood tests can be performed.

Diagnosis of the severity of the alcohol or drug consumptions is not enough. According to Babor (2010), it is found that the social workers who are engaged in this work should have a clear knowledge of the theories and models of the social work so that they can implement their knowledge to help people like Steve. Social work is considered as a practical job. It is about protecting people and helping them to lead a better life. According to Sobell et al., (2013), social work can be defined as helping, assisting and enabling activity which in turn enhances the quality of life style of the common people. According to Wolfe et al., (2010), two feet of Social welfare are Charity and Justice. Therefore, the social workers have two different aims that are helping individuals to meet their needs and correct long-term problems or antisocial activities in the community. Although the term theory is ambiguous in social work, it is found that theories help social workers to define their role in the society, practice theories in social work and help those who seek needs. According to Nutt et al., (2010), in social work “theory” covers three different possibilities. These three different possibilities include “provable explanations why something happens (Explanatory Theory)”, “Organized description of the activity in a structured form (Models)” and “Ways of conceptualizing the world or a particular subject (Perspective).” The practice frameworks of a social worker may include orienting theories, practice theory, practice perspective and practice model.

Social Work Theories and Practice Frameworks

Social work theories are considered as general explanations, which supported by evidence to obtain the scientific method. The social work theories may include system theory, social learning theory, psychosocial development theory, psychodynamic theory, transpersonal theory and rational choice theory. The systems theory describes “human behavior” as a “complex system.” According to Krüsi et al., (2010), an effective system could be developed to fulfill rewards, individual needs, attributes and expectations. According to this theory organization member, couples and families could be involved to resolve the problem of individual issues. However, in this case, Steve does not have any family member who can guide him or help me to quit his addictions, which the main problem faced by the social workers who are trying help him. On the other hand, the social learning theory is developed based on Albert Bandura’s idea, which emphasizes that the learning takes place through imitation as well as observation. Based on this theory, the social workers concentrate more to implement behavior-based models (Kelly & Westerhoff, 2010). Implementation of this theory could be proved as helpful to analyze Steve’s behavior and develop a model to help him. According to the case study, Steve is deliberately skipping his rehabilitation sessions, which is not helpful for his recovery. In this case a psychological development theory can be developed based on the psychosocial development articulated by Erik Erikson. According to the concept of Erik, every person should complete eight stages in their life that may include purpose, will, hope, wisdom, love, fidelity and competence. All of these stages range from infancy to older adults. According to Ames & Bennett (2013), psychodynamic theory was developed by Freud, which is helpful to explain the personality of a person depending on different unconscious and conscious forces. According to the social work theory, the personality can be described as consisting three elements such as ego (“mediates between the id and the ego”), the superego (“attempts to follow rules and behave morally’) and the id (“responsible for following basic instincts”). On the other hand, the transpersonal theory is helpful to identify additional stages “beyond the adult ego”. According to the researchers, lacking in health ego development can lead towards the psychosis. In this case study, it can be assumed that the transpersonal theory will be helpful to find out the factors that can contribute to his wisdom, creativity, altruism and wisdom. There is another theory that can be followed by the social workers to help Steve, this is rational choice theory. This theory is developed based concept that all of the fundamentally rational in character. With the help of this theory the risk as well as benefit of the people can be measured before taking any decision. In this case study, Steve is not only suffering from alcohol and drug addiction but he is also unwilling to go through his sessions. In this case, the implementation of rational choice theory will be helpful to assess the risks and benefits of the behavior of Steve and help them to change his behavior.

On the other hand, there are different Social Work Practice Models that are followed by the social workers and influence them to help other people to meet their targets. One of the most common practice model uses by the social workers is problem solving model (Tripodi et al., 2010). With the help of the problem solving model the social worker can identify Steve’s problem and teach him to use this model and develop his own solutions. On the other hand, according to Barry & Huskamp (2011), task-centered practice model can be used to help Steve since it is a short-term treatment procedure and helpful to achieve measurable goals. On the other hand, it is also recognized that the implementation of narrative therapy model is helpful to evaluate a person’s problem by studying the personal life the client. In this case, the tormented childhood of Steve plays a major role for his involvement in the drug and alcohol addiction, therefore with the help of narrative therapy instead of focusing on the reason for Steve’s depression; the social workers can encourage him to fight against all of the odds (Bacharach et al., 2010). With the help of narrative therapy the social workers can find out his strengths or talents, which were suppressed due to his addiction towards alcohol and drugs. Another model followed by the social workers is cognitive behavioral therapy. The cognitive behavioral therapy is considered the relationship between behaviors, thoughts and feelings of the victims. According to this model, the social workers can help Steve in order to identify the patterns of irrational as well as self-destructive thoughts, which indirectly influence emotions. According to Redonnet et al., (2012), crisis intervention model is helpful to assist someone who suffering from acute crisis. This model include seven different stages, which may include rapport building, assess safety and lethality, address feelings, problem identification, development of a proper action plan as well as follow up. Although according to Bava & Tapert (2010), this model is commonly used by the social workers to help those people who show tendency for suicidal attempt, in this case study this model could be proved as helpful to help him out.

Apart from the theories and model used by the researchers, other prevention models can be used to Steve to recover from the current situation. The World Health Organization (WHO) as well as other regional bodies and government implemented different alcohol policies in order to control alcohol consumption and drug abuse. The social worker can influence Steve to join in evidence-based educational campaigns, which will help him to realize the wrong impact of the alcohol and drug consumption. Apart from this the social workers can encourage him to take counseling regularly and aware him about the bad influences of his friend circle. According o Chou & Afifi (2011), group therapy is one of the best way to encourage the people who do not have any family member to support them but they want to quit their addiction. Therefore, the social workers can influence him to join in group therapy.

After analyzing the case study it can be concluded that Steve is a 23 year old young man who could have a bright future; however, he failed to achieve so because of his addiction towards drugs and alcohol. He left his home and school at the age of 14 and till then he is a part of a young group who are also addicted to drugs and alcohol as well as involved in antisocial activity. However, it is found that with a little help and support from the social workers Steve can quit this wrong life and can lead a better and healthier life. With the help of different models and theories in social work the social workers can help Steve to quit his addiction to drugs and alcohol and engage in a better life. It is found from the case study that Steve is not intended to have a steady job. In that case Steve may needs further counseling and help from the social workers to find a job of his interest and quit antisocial activities. It is recognized that Steve never had a family support and suffered a tormented childhood; therefore, a special care needs to be taken by the social workers to help Steve quit his addiction and help him to lead a better life as well as become a valuable part of the community.

Reference

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