Question

5. A 23-year-old unemployed man, is addicted to cocaine. He lives with his mother and sister and has been stealing money from them to pay for his cocaine. His mother persuaded him to voluntarily commit himself to the hospital for treatment of his substance abuse. In the initial assessment interview, the nurse learns that he began smoking marijuana at age 19 and occasionally consumes alcohol. He said that he started on cocaine after his father, who had a history of alcoholism, committed suicide. Client says that he began to feel anxious then and still has periods of anxiety. Client is cooperative with his treatment program and stated that he wants to get completely off drugs and get a good job to help his mother and sister. Client also said that if he experienced anxiety, he would take a stiff drink like his father had done when he was anxious.

a. How can the psychiatric staff counsel this client to avoid his turning to alcohol as a substance?

b. With what other co-occurring disorders could this client be diagnosed?

Answer 1

a. The psychiatric staff can counsel this client to avoid his turning to alcohol as a substance by setting achievable and empowering short-term goals while they work to overcome addiction. Adaptive skills can be developed once the person achieves sobriety to regain physical and emotional health. After this, the causes of the addition should be explored.

b.The other co-occurring disorders that this client could be diagnosed are mood and anxiety disorders.