Impact of Drug Addiction on Health: Intervention Techniques and Risks

This report describes the impact of drug addiction on the health of an individual. It discusses the intervention technique that is appropriate for this condition and the risk that may be involved when this strategy is used. The report also identifies another health professional in the team and the role that they may play in the intervention process.

Running Head: DRUG ADDICTION 1
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Name
Institution Affiliation

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Introduction
This report describes the impact of drug addiction on the health of an individual.
Drug addiction refers to a disease that affects the brain and behavior of an individual
and hence leading to the inability to control the use of a legal or an illegal medication.
The report discusses the impact that addiction has on their level of function regarding
impairment, daily involvement in activities as well as social life. The report also
discusses the intervention technique that is appropriate for this condition and the risk
that may be involved when this strategy is used. In addition to this, the case study
identifies another health professional in the team and the role that they may play in
the intervention process (Jay& Jay, 2008).
Description of the case
James is third-year medicine at one of the leading medical colleges in Sidney.
James had a great childhood, and he rarely lacked anything both during her primary
and high school education. According to his story, the school was easy for him since
he scored straight As in most of the exams. He was also excellent in athletes and other
games. This made him a darling for his parents and teachers as well. After graduating
from high school, James found himself in the wrong company of boys who were
using drugs such as Marijuana and heroin (Best et al, 2016). He started attending house
parties and soon, he was frequenting nightclubs. By the time James was in his second
year of study, he was already highly addicted to drugs. James started performing
poorly in school since he could no longer concentrate on his studies. His grades
became poor, and he received several warning letters relating to his academic
performance. The social life of James was also greatly affected since he started
avoiding his parents and he wasn’t interested in interacting with his colleagues at the
college. James` parents noticed the change in behavior and decided to take him to
Choice Rehabilitation Center where he has been undergoing treatment.
Description and Justification of the Intervention strategy
Drug addiction affects not only the user but also the individual's network of
friends and other people close to them; It is, therefore, important to have a well-
structured solution-oriented process to help people suffering from drug addiction. An
intervention technique is described as successful when an individual accepts helps

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from family and people close to them (Ramsay & Giovanni, 2017). This is the first
step of the recovery process.
My role as a health profession in this intervention technique is to help the patient
come to terms with their condition and accept that they have a problem and they need
help. Most times, addicts are in denial, and they react angrily and violently when
issues relating to drugs are addressed. My role will, therefore, be to ensure that the
intervention runs smoothly with the help of James` family. My role will also involve
assisting to help individuals transition to rehabilitation programs.
Community Reinforcement and Family Training(CRAFT) intervention model is
used to help James with his addiction problem. The model will help people who are
close to James make positive changes in his life by interacting with him positively
(Morgan& Litzke, 2008). This will eventually ensure that the client is ready for the
rehabilitation phase and has accepted the need for change.
The intervention will target and individuals level of functioning. The intervention
technique will analyze how the client carries out their day to day function when they
are sober and how addiction to drugs has affected them. The technique will target
behavior change through the influence of close family members who will spend most
of the time with the patient during the intervention period.
One of the risks of intervention in drug addiction is that the patient may fail to
make to the rehabilitation stage. This may happen because the client is not ready to
reform and fight the addiction. This risk will be managed by ensuring that the patient
provides all the relevant information that may be necessary for helping the patient
deal with addiction (Monti, 2012). This will increase the chances of success of the
intervention technique.
There is also a risk of the client being violent and noncooperative. People
suffering from drug addiction tend to be irritated easily and violent and therefore, the
person undertaking the intervention is at risk of being hurt (Miller, 2013). This
challenge will be overcome by ensuring that people close to the patient interact with
him more to ensure that they remain calm and realize the need for undergoing
rehabilitation.

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Role of the other health profession
Cate is the psychologist at the Choice rehabilitation center. She has a huge role to
play in the intervention process before the patient is taken for rehabilitation. Her main
role is to conduct psychological therapy on James to help him change his behavior
and be ready for rehabilitation. Cate focuses on Activity and Participation domain.
This focuses on performance qualifiers and capacity qualifier aspects of ICF.
Performance qualifier describes the activities of an individual in their current
environment. The capacity qualifier focuses on an individual’s ability to execute tasks
(Velasquez, 2016). Cate will evaluate the ability of James to perform simple, specific
tasks when he is not under the influence of drugs.
Professionalism characteristics
Maintaining professionalism throughout the intervention process is important.
Professionalism is critical in ensuring that James gets quality services that will help
him to transition to the rehabilitation stage (Barry, McGinty, Pescosolido &
Goldman,2014). Honesty is one of the characteristics of the health profession. It is
important to provide accurate information to the client and give an honest assessment
of their condition.
Reliability is another characteristic of professionalism which is important in the
intervention strategy. Reliability involves being capable of fulfilling the expectations
of the client. It is important to ensure that I provide my expertise, knowledge, and
skills towards helping James recover from the addiction (Sanders, 2011). Promises
made to the client should be fulfilled on a timely basis. I will ensure that I help James
understand the importance of accepting the need to quit drugs and undergo
rehabilitation.
Competence is another professional characteristic that is critical in clinical
intervention. I should be able to demonstrate the ability to perform tasks and activities
related to my professionalism with perfection.
Description and Justification of person-centered strategy
The intervention strategy developed for James is tailor-made to suit the
personality and characteristics of James. It is critical that the strategies are suited to

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the personal needs of James to ensure that the strategy puts into consideration the
needs of the client.
One of the strategies that are used in this intervention technique is organizing one
on one interaction to be able to understand the behavioral change of an individual. I
will organize personal interaction sections which are separate from group interaction
(Everitt & Robbins,2016). This will provide an opportunity for James to express himself
in a free manner and hence to give me an opportunity to understand his social life.
This helps in properly preparing the client for rehabilitation.
The other person-centered strategy that will be used in intervention for James is
ensuring that people who are closest to him spend the most time with him. By doing
this, James will be able to listen to the people that he trusts most, and hence they will
be able to influence him to quit drugs (Paulus & Stewart, 2014). Reformed addicts who
have undergone similar circumstances will also give their testimonies and share
stories on their recovery journey. By doing this, James will be able to easily associate
himself with persons who have been through similar ordeals and hence develop the
desire to overcome addiction.
Conclusion
This paper discusses the impact of drug addiction on an individual and the people
close to them. The paper begins with a description of how drug addiction has
impacted on the level of functioning of an individual and the limitations it has had on
them. The paper also discusses the role of the other health professionals and discusses
the professionalism characteristics that are relevant in this case.

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References
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