Assessment and intervention in Addiction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Assessment and intervention in Addiction - Essay Example Paul, a 27 year old, has been an injecting drug user and has been presented at a local Alcohol and Drug Assessment Service, six weeks after release from prison. He opposes treatment but attendance is a condition of his parole and has numerous convictions for burglary, assault and possession of drugs for supply. Paul has been convicted for burglary, assault and possessions of cannabis, numerously. Initially, he had had a motor cycle accident at 19 and has not worked since. Since then, he has had anger and impulse control problems. Assessment reveals that Paul had no specific plans to harm anyone in particular, but possesses a firearm and states his willingness to shoot himself and others with him. The head injury also left him prone to anger, impulse control problems, short-term memory impairment, poor concentration and inability to work. Paul has a history of childhood conduct disorder and abuse of drugs and substances such as alcohol and cannabis, benzodiazepines and polydrug. He also used intravenous opioids regularly from 19 years of age and continues to use cannabis daily and occasional benzodiazepines. On direct questioning, Paul has admitted to depressive symptoms since his most recent incarceration, and met DSM IV-R criteria for a diagnosis of Major Depressive Episode over the past six weeks. The patient is also hepatitis C positive and admits to having shared needles, besides engaging in unprotected sex especially when using benzodiazepines. He has also had little contact with his family and lives with friends who use intravenous opioids on a daily basis. From the foregoing it is clear that there may have been correlations between the prevailing affairs in Paul’s social environment and his penchant for substance reliance and drugs abuse. This is underscored by the fact that Paul began to engage in drugs abuse and substance reliance at a relatively young age. Particularly, Paul has a history of childhood drugs and substances abuse of such as alcohol