Introduction
The book “Breaking the Chains of Cocaine: Black Male Addiction and Recovery” provides well researched insights into the problem of cocaine addiction among African American men, and offer a multiplicity of tenable alternatives that could be used to bring this population of drug addicts into the public health system.
The author notes with deep interest how cocaine has wrecked deep-seated devastation into the lives of so many African American men, thus the need to undertake a significant paradigm shift from current treatment strategies to more effective strategies that take into account the needs and problems of African American men (Johnson 145).
This analysis will oscillate between various perspectives that the book has so well addressed, and which are thought to be important in improving the current treatment strategies for cocaine addiction among African American men.
Trigger Factors for Cocaine Addiction among African American Men
The author takes cognizance of the fact that cocaine addiction has become a major problem for African American men, in part due to a national drug policy and law enforcement strategies that treat drug addicts as criminals instead of sick people in need of assistance (Johnson 22).
Poverty has been mentioned as a contributing factor that lures poor black children into drug dealing, while the possibility of prosecution has been mentioned as discouraging the addicts from seeking treatment, thus serving to perpetuate the behavior.
The white-dominated, individualistic assumptions upon which rehabilitative and recovery systems are based have been accused of perpetuating the problem of cocaine addiction among African American men principally because these systems do not take into consideration the unique needs, value systems, cultural nuances, and socio-economic status of these men (Johnson 26-27).
Later entry into treatment has been blamed for worsening the situation of cocaine dependence among African American men since it not only lowers the prospect of successful treatment, but it is also costly financially since in-patient treatment is usually required (Johnson 100).
The author has discussed at length the environmental influences of cocaine dependence. The role of society in actively cultivating, encouraging and promoting self-actualization, immediate gratification, and un-abashed self-indulgence has been named as a significant trigger factor for cocaine addiction among African American men (Johnson 28).
Advertising campaigns purposely targeting African American communities have been negatively mentioned for their role in perpetuating a perception that alcohol use or smoking will make the partakers more impressive, smart, attractive and popular.
The prevailing drug culture among African American communities has also been mentioned as a significant environmental factor that negatively affects treatment outcomes for cocaine addiction (Johnson 29).
In addition, the erosion of Africentric principles of individual and collective responsibility coupled with lack of good role models in the society have been blamed for enhancing the problem (Johnson 129).
Slavery perceptions, lack of identity, economic insolvency, lack of political control, family dysfunction, stereotypes, and a cultural orientation that encourages black people not to speak up their frustrations have been blamed for triggering cocaine dependence among African American men (Johnson 33-34, 64).
Cycle of Cocaine Dependency
The author is comprehensive in discussing the cycle of cocaine dependency using a seven-stage model that includes denial and suppression, rationalization, cover-up, stalling strategies, surrender, exaltation, and brokenness (Johnson 43).
In denial and suppression, the user vigorously downplays all indications of increasing reliance on cocaine, while the presence of addiction is rationalized in the rationalization phase (Johnson 43-44).
In the cover-up phase, the user adopts a “cool pose” to ease the worry and pain of inability to contain the sheer magnitude of cocaine dependence, effectively or ineffectively concealing their true selves (Johnson 46-47).
In the stalling strategies phase, cocaine users demonstrate a set of beliefs which may sound perfectively reasonable and rational but in essence, end up losing the capacity to choose goals (Johnson 52-54).
It is in the surrender phase that the cocaine addict becomes so depressed and frustrated for his inability to control the addictiveness, hence end up giving in to it (Johnson 54).
In the exaltation phase, the cocaine addict’s attempts to break away from the behavior is demonically deceived by pride that he can willingly kick out the habit, but he eventually relapses back into cocaine dependency due to neglecting to attribute his abstinence to God.
In the brokenness phase, cocaine use is so pronounced, embittered, and severe that it replaces the addict’s self-dignity and worth with feelings of misery and worthlessness (Johnson 56).
Perspectives Explaining Cocaine Dependency & Treatment Strategies
Although the author has dealt at length with a number of perspectives used to explain the origins of cocaine dependency among African American men, this paper will only evaluate a few perspectives that could be used in the counseling practice to offer assistance to the addicts.
But overall, the author has made mention of the
- pathology/deviance perspectives – emphasizes that African American men are intrinsically inferior to everyone else (Johnson 75);
- acculturation/victimization perspectives – emphasizes the relinquishment of any remnants of African American culture because of the negative effects of slavery, hence believe that African American men are inherently savage (Johnson 81);
- oppression perspectives – emphasizes the rejection of the so-called psychological deficits of African American men and encourage the viewing of cocaine dependence as a disease (Johnson 86);
- social support perspectives;
- help-seeking perspectives.
This analysis will target the last three perspectives because they can be effectively used to inform treatment processes targeted at African American addicts.
Oppression Perspectives
These perspectives cites negative structural arrangements in society, including neo-conservatism, internal colonialism, and institutional racism, as the main cause of cocaine addiction among African American men (Johnson 86). Cocaine dependence is viewed as a disease with both physical and psychological elements.
The physical element constitutes the genetic predisposition to the addictive disease as well as the creation of chemical alterations in the brain functions that serve to disrupt thought processes and the capacity to cope effectively with life’s challenges.
The psychological component constitute the actual use of cocaine to generate false feelings of empowerment and self-drive.
Treatment procedures using these perspectives helps the addict to crystallize the rationale for abstaining from all mood-altering chemicals in addition to assisting the addict understand his/her vulnerability to drugs and understand that a relapse can be triggered by any form of drug use (Johnson 87).
In addition, the perspective of viewing cocaine addiction as a disease assists addicts to understand that recovery is impossible as long as he/she continues to use any other types of drugs.
The perspective further assists the drug addict to accept personal responsibility and take charge when he/she realizes that the vulnerability is within himself/herself, triggering factors of cocaine use notwithstanding (Johnson 88).
According to the author, “…an understanding that drug addiction is a disease and that loss of control is a symptom of the disease can lift a great burden of guilt from the addict and thereby freeing up more constructive energy to be channeled into recovery rather than self-pity” (Johnson 88).
Consequently, the addict realizes that he/she is personally responsible for making the behavioral, attitudinal, and lifestyle changes that are essential to achieve and sustain abstinence.
The author also notes that cognitively reframing cocaine addiction as a disease helps him to erase deep-seated feelings of shame and self-denial related to the stigma of being an addict (Johnson 89).
Social Support Perspectives
These perspectives largely depend on the africentric frame of reference to achieve success in the treatment of African American cocaine addicts.
Afrocentric frames of reference revolves around aspects of mutual aid, social class and status, self-worth, inclusivity, responsibility, sense of appropriateness, racial consciousness, cooperation, pro-social behavior, and religious consciousness, among others (Johnson 94, 97).
The perspectives hold that the problem of drug dependence among African American men has become so entrenched due to replacing the African frame of reference with an individualistic, singular focus on the acquisition of material items, social status and money (Johnson 95).
In addition, cultural values have been replaced by drug culture themes (Johnson 95), systems of accountability have been eroded, and emotionally and material supports traditionally provided by the extended family members are no longer there (Johnson 99).
As such, these perspectives utilizes the premise that African American male addicts mostly use informal social networks to discuss their problems; thus effective treatment should encourage active and sustained participation of family members, co-workers and other social support networks treatment (Johnson 100).
Help-Seeking Perspectives
These perspectives, according to the author, basically attempts to evaluate “…how potential recipients of social and mental health services access available resources” (Johnson 100, 107).
It is known that majority of African American men either attempt to solve their own problems or confide in friends, co-workers, and other informal support systems.
Consequently, effective treatment approaches for cocaine dependence among African American men must attempt to develop strategies aimed at promoting the inclusion of members of these informal networks.
The service providers in the treatment centers must not only become educated on their definition of what constitutes a family in the African American setup, but they must have deep understanding on “…how best to employ those persons who are integral members of the informal support network” (Johnson 107).
Harmonizing Treatment Strategies with Coping Mechanisms
An effective treatment strategy for cocaine addiction in African American men must move away from the perception that drug use represents a private, individual sickness which demands a deep-seated reconstruction of the addict’s individual values and self-image; on the contrary, it must genuinely appreciate the social-economic realities of cocaine use, the values that its use reflects upon these men, and, most important, how these perspectives interface with African American men (Johnson 27).
Effective treatment strategies need to encourage African American men to establish mutually productive and rewarding relationships at home, empower them to know and understand themselves, and assist them to transcend the peculiarly oppressive challenges of cocaine addiction (Johnson 35-36).
Effective treatment strategies must be operationalized in a way that assists African American male cocaine addicts to dispel a “shame-based core” that only serves to perpetuate the false notions that African Americans are unquestionably defective not because of some lack of achievement but because of who they are (Johnson 39).
Indeed, treatment strategies need to focus on assisting the cocaine-dependent African American man to develop courage, deviance to cultural and political stereotypes, uncompromising integrity, and a well-defined mission and purpose (Johnson 65).
Treatment perspectives that underline the incapability of African American men to act in an empowering fashion must be discouraged (Johnson 81).
Service providers must always reinforce whatever strengths cocaine-dependent African American men posses that could, in turn, be used to aid recovery (Johnson 104).
Of importance is the fact that service providers must strive to understand the unique needs of African American cocaine addicts by striving to understand long-held beliefs and issues that may lie outside their immediate awareness (Johnson 105).
Effective coping mechanisms should underline self and collective empowerment strategies towards encouraging African American male patients to assume a proactive approach and fully participate in their own treatment plans (Johnson 107).
The service providers, family, friends, and other members involved in treatment must neither attempt to rationalize the behavior of the addicts nor control it using such means as bribery or controlling drug supply.
In addition, they must desist from taking over the responsibilities of the addicts, not mentioning that they must not collude with the addicts in the process of assisting them obtain drugs.
On the contrary, corrective collectivism and active participation of all members in treatment must be encouraged to achieve success (Johnson 110).
Africentrist ideas and frame of reference should be reinforced on African American male cocaine addicts so as to develop a strong attitudinal, behavioral and spiritual orientation and to recapture their true sense of their own souls.
It should be noted that afrocentricity will assist to sustain intellectual vigilance, preservation of culture, and commitment to greatness (Johnson 112).
Society should also lay groundwork for describing what chemicals are legitimate, context for chemical use, and must also come up with clear systems or accountability and functional tools to cope with stress.
The use of spirituality and a functional rites of passage system is essential for successful treatment programs (Johnson 113-118, 134, 137).
It is essential to incorporate the family members in any treatment program, but members should be encouraged to confront or acknowledge the problem facing the addict rather than offer support or perpetuate enabling behaviors (Johnson 125).
According to the author, enabling behaviors only serve to reinforce the perception and belief within the drug addict that he is in some way immune from the dangerous ramifications of his addiction.
Works Cited
Johnson, O.J. Breaking the Chains of Cocaine: Black Male Addiction and Recovery. Chicago: African American Images. 1992