Introduction
Substance abuse disorder has grown to be an emerging global health concern. According to Pasha et al. (2020), “it is expected that about 5.7 million older adults will have a substance abuse disorder by 2020” (p. 117). In many cases, substance abuse is accompanied by medical therapy and non-adherence. As a result, victims exhibit exacerbation of medical comorbidities, leading to high readmission rates and indulgence in harmful behaviors. This paper aims to conduct an assessment and diagnosis of John, a 35-year-old alcoholic.
Selected Case Study
The chosen case study is about a substance abuse disorder that affects a person’s daily life. In the chosen case study, the client is a 35-year-old heterosexual male from a mixed Cherokee and Euro-American background. A lawyer has referred John after he was charged with a second incident of driving while intoxicated (DWI) in six months. John has been dealing with alcoholism, which affects his daily life and his relationships.
Clinical Interview Questions
How can you typically describe your drinking pattern in terms of quantity, frequency, and situations when you visit David’s pub or other places to consume alcohol?
This interview question will be important in assessing John’s alcohol drinking problem. According to Capuzzi & Stauffer (2020), this question, which focuses on the pattern of the behavior, will help understand how frequently and how much John’s drinking behavior is. It will also help identify how deep John’s behavior is and the level of addiction.
What triggers or situations push you to the club and make you always consume alcohol?
This question will help us understand why John always finds himself at the club drinking and why he cannot prevent himself from the urge. Capuzzi & Stauffer (2020) note that understanding the triggers of drug abuse will give a clear picture of the reason for a given problem. This will also aid in developing effective coping strategies for eliminating the drinking issue in John.
How do you think your drinking behavior affects your personal and professional relationships with others?
This third question will focus on John’s drinking habits and their effects on his daily life and activities. Exploring the awareness of a substance abuse victim on the impact of his behavior will help shed light on how it is an issue in his life (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020).
Have you ever tried to cut down the rate of your alcohol-drinking habit?
This last question will help determine if John has ever realized that his drinking habit is a problem and has attempted to change it. Examine a patient’s previous attempt to change their drug abuse behavior and determine what motivates them (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020). It will help determine John’s readiness to get treated and achieve set results.
Assessment Instruments
AUDIT
The first assessment instrument that might be used during John’s assessment is the alcohol use disorder identification test (AUDIT). The AUDIT is a simple and effective screening method for identifying unhealthy alcohol consumption in an individual (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020; National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2020). This assessment instrument was selected based on its effectiveness in assessing an individual’s alcohol consumption behavior. It informs diagnosis by evaluating John’s alcohol use and helps design proper interventions.
SIAS
The second assessment instrument is the social interaction anxiety scale (SIAS). SIAS is a 20-item tool rated on a 5-point Likert scale that focuses on a client’s self-statement description of different incidents of social interaction (King, 2014). This assessment tool was selected based on John’s inability to have relationships and his reliance on David’s pub to socialize and connect with others. It informs diagnosis, assisting in assessing how social anxiety influences frequent alcohol consumption behavior.
Preliminary Diagnosis
Severe Alcohol Use Disorder
The first preliminary diagnosis for John is severe alcohol use disorder. From the case study, it is evident that the main reason for John to seek help is that he has been charged with DWI for the second time in 6 months. His alcohol consumption behavior is categorized as “out of control” as he cannot prevent himself from frequently going to David’s pub.
Social Anxiety Disorder
The second preliminary diagnosis for John is social anxiety disorder. In the case study, it is noted that John has been married and is always lonely. Additionally, even though he wishes to make friends and date, he feels socially awkward about meeting women socially and has to depend on the bar.
Additional Information Needed
To complete the diagnosis of an alcohol use disorder, some information that will be needed includes a family history of substance abuse, health issues that may influence John’s behavior, and triggers pushing him to David’s club (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020). This will help understand the problem and its root causes. To complete this diagnosis of social anxiety disorder, some information needed will include a detailed examination of John’s past and current relationships, such as dating, relatives, friendships, and social support system (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2020). Additionally, more information on John’s stressors, potential traumas, and coping skills that push him to fear social interactions and alcohol dependence.
Conclusion
In summary, this paper has comprehensively analyzed John’s case study, where he presents severe alcohol consumption issues and social anxiety. From the case study, John’s alcohol-drinking behavior is “out of control,” and he can hardly meet women socially or form a relationship. Utilizing the AUDIT and the SIAS will help assess John and determine the key issues he is experiencing. The analysis of this case study develops a better understanding of alcohol use disorder, associated factors, and co-occurring disorders, which will influence the creation of an effective intervention plan.
References
Capuzzi, D., & Stauffe, M. (2020). Foundations of addictions counseling (4th ed.). Pearson.
King, J. H. (2014). Assessment and diagnosis of substance-related and behavioral addictive disorders. Counseling Today, 57(5), 12–14.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020). What are some approaches to diagnosis? Common Comorbidities with Substance Use Disorders Research Report. NIDA. Web.
Pasha, A. K., Chowdhury, A., Sadiq, S., Fairbanks, J., & Sinha, S. (2020). Substance use disorders: Diagnosis and management for hospitalists. Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives, 10(2), 117-126. Web.