Introduction
Andrew, a Hispanic man of 26, lives with his mother and elder sister. He works part-time since he is currently enrolled at a nearby community college. Andrew was suspended from school and placed on academic probation for his involvement with marijuana. In addition, he was doing a number of part-time gigs, all of which ended in his dismissal after a few months of bad performance. One of Andrew’s four siblings, a brother, lost his life in a terrible childhood drowning. He has not sought either therapy or a solid support network. Andrew, though, has admitted to consuming marijuana and drinking alcohol and has sought professional help.
A decade of fighting Major Depression, it is finally revealed after he attends many therapy sessions. Andrew says he can drink heavily without becoming drunk. He freely admits to having tried and failed on several occasions to kick his weed and alcohol habits. Andrew has a higher chance of being fired again since he keeps skipping work. Multiple prescriptions for antidepressants were written for Andrew’s mum by her Physician. In addition, her sister gives off a gloomy vibe but insists she is well. To this end, the self-medication model will be applied to Andrew’s case to establish the root of her addiction and the best means of treating it.
Treatment Model and Conceptualization
Under the self-medication theory, drug use is a symptom of a deeper problem. For some people, drug abuse is a means of coping with difficult feelings, mental health issues, and stressful situations. Drug use is a coping mechanism for the distress of mental illness (Parvinro et al., 2022, p.20). Individuals may feel better in the short term, but the underlying substance misuse problem remains. Substance addiction problems are strongly linked to self-medication, suggesting that people engage in this approach because they believe it would cure their underlying disease. The use of substances provides a means for those who have suffered trauma to divert their focus away from their feelings and toward something else, which is why addiction and trauma occur together. In addition, drug use is perpetuated because it provides users with temporary relief from unpleasant experiences.
Pain, whether mental or physical, that persists over a long period of time is a major factor in the development of drug misuse disorders. Self-medication is a coping mechanism used to alleviate both emotional and physical suffering (Hawn et al., 2020, p.5). Relaxation and pain reduction from any source are two of the many benefits of using marijuana or opioids. The paradigm of self-medication is crucial to understand because it may lead to improved methods of treating substance abuse problems(Hawn et al., 2020, p.8). Substance misuse typically manifests as a symptom of a more severe problem. Substance addiction treatment often ends in relapse since so many things might trigger an individual to start abusing drugs or alcohol in the first place.
Andrew’s been using marijuana and alcohol as a kind of self-medication for his mental health issues. Over the past decade, Andrew has been medicating his significant depressive disorder using it. This suggests that Andrew’s decision to self-medicate in order to deal with his grief is a symptom of a deeper mental health issue. Since Andrew’s mom used antidepressants and her sister seems down in the dumps, it is possible that Andrew has a family history of depression. Andrew’s mental difficulties run in the family; both his sister and her mother suffer from depression. Even more importantly, Andrew is hiding his feelings of despair by consuming drugs. From Andrews’s case, it is evident that people turn to drugs as a means of relieving tension and gaining security against the unknown.
DSM5 Diagnosis
Andrew suffers from significant depression and addiction. A person with symptoms consistent with DSM-F33, IV’s major depressive disorder, recurrent episode, typically has recurring episodes of depression without a concurrent history of periods of increased activity or improved mood (Jongsma, 2022, p.6). A recurrence after two months should have been expected, and the last episode ought to have been two weeks. A lack of previous mania or hypomania is a common feature of this condition. Andrew has admitted to having serious depression for the past decade but insists he does not require treatment. The relationship he shares with his brothers is strained, but he is happy with his fiancée.
Andrew has been allowed a number of part-time positions owing to subpar performance. His lack of focus shows in his inconsistent performance at work and subsequent terminations. Despite his lack of a pre-existing depressive disorder, Andrew satisfies the diagnostic criteria for severe depression. He admits he does not need aid since Andrew thinks he is OK on his own. Andrew claims he has tried and failed to give up both alcohol and marijuana. Andrew’s drinking has been worse recently, and he brags about being able to consume large quantities of alcohol without seeing any effects.
It is clear that Andrew has a drug use disorder according to the DSM-IV criteria. Due of his dependency and abuse, he describes the experience of cravings. Andrew has a severe craving for both weed and alcohol. He freely admits to having tried and failed to kick his nicotine and alcohol habits. Because he does not seem to cut down on his drinking, Andrew also satisfies the requirements for dependency. Fearing he may fail in his job as a result of his absences, he is unable to take any significant action. He fits the abuse criteria since he has been using drugs and alcohol to cope with his major depressive disorder for a decade.
Treatment Plan
Problem Presentation
Andrew suffers from significant depression and addiction, he opens out about his heavy use of both marijuana and alcohol. His girlfriend had been encouraging him to see a counselor, and he finally did. A decade of significant depression and alcohol abuse were revealed after he attended numerous sessions. Recently, Andrew has been bragging about drinking excessively without becoming drunk. Andrew’s drinking has gotten out of hand, and he is tried several times to cut back without success.
Treatment Goal
Long-term planning for Andrew should focus on improving both the quality and the duration of his life. Goals include relieving Andrew’s severe depressive symptoms and helping him give up drinking. Andrew is depressed and uses marijuana and liquor to self-medicate. Evidence of extreme reliance and misuse is his recent pattern of drinking heavily without becoming intoxicated. Andrew has tried several times to cut back on his drinking but to no avail. Short-term targets for Andrew include cutting back on drinking and consuming marijuana and increasing his attendance at work.
Therapeutic Intervention
In order to alleviate Andrew’s substantial depressive symptoms, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) should be suggested. Zayfert & Becker (2019, p.5) found that clients suffering from both depression and substance misuse responded positively to CBT. In comparison to other types of psychiatric drugs or psychological therapy, the therapy has proven to be more effective. That is why CBT is the best option for helping Andrew overcome his significant depression since he will have access to new and healthier coping mechanisms. The reduction of his depressive symptoms should help him become more productive. Andrew will be better able to handle difficult situations after doing CBT since he will have acquired the necessary problem-solving abilities. Behavioral modifications are the focus of treatment in CBT.
The second strategy is connecting Andrew with abuse support groups. The support group will assist him in giving up alcohol and drugs as coping mechanisms. In these gatherings, Andrew may hear from others and gain insight into how they have dealt with similar situations. Those who take part in support groups have less cause for worry, anxiety, and despair (Shaari, & Waller, 2022, p.10). A common theme in the group’s communication is honesty and openness about members’ internal experiences. Therefore, Andrew will be able to stick with the different treatment options that have been proposed to him and maintain his motivation to quit drinking and smoking.
Conclusion
Andrew suffers from serious depression, which has led him down the path of substance misuse. Andrew’s drinking and smoking habit is best explained by the self-medication theory. Upon participating in therapy, he said that he had suffered from serious depression for the previous decade, which had led him to turn to alcohol and marijuana for relief. Andrew will be able to overcome his alcohol and drug addiction with the aid of cognitive behavior therapy and connection to substance abuse support groups.
References
Abu Hassan Shaari, A., & Waller, B. (2022). Self-help group experiences among members recovering from substance use disorder in Kuantan, Malaysia. Social Work with Groups, 1-17. Web.
Hawn, S. E., Bountress, K. E., Sheerin, C. M., Dick, D. M., & Amstadter, A. B. (2020). Trauma-related drinking to cope: A novel approach to the self-medication model. Psychology of addictive behaviors, 34(3), 465. Web.
Jongsma Jr, A. E. (2022). The addiction treatment planner. John Wiley & Sons.
Parvinroo, S., Rouhi Khalkhali Pargam, H., Hosseinzadeh Asli, R., Rafiei, E., & Nemati, S. (2022). Frequency and causes of self-medication in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, North of Iran, 2018–2019. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 279(8), 3973-3980.
Zayfert, C., & Becker, C. B. (2019). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for PTSD: A case formulation approach. Guilford Publications.