Mental Health and Substance Disorders in the New Zealand Justice System

Mental health and
substance disorders with
clients in the New Zealand
justice system

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Substance abuse is defined as the excessive use of drugs or illicit medications which can
have adverse and even life threatening effect on individual. Mental disorders such as anxiety and
depression have strong correlation with the substance abuse. Mental health problems can lead to
use of alcohol and drugs, as individual with mental health issue can adopt such practices for self
medication. Mental and substance disorder can have some underlying causes, which can include
various changes in brain consumption, stress, trauma and genetic vulnerabilities. Substance use
problem may occur with certain mental health problems that can be anxiety disorders,
depression, personality disorder and Schizophrenia.
In the above study report is prepared on the basis of case study of a thirty-four years old
Mario women Rua, who is suffering from mental disorder, distress, addiction to drugs, alcohol,
smoking and violent nature. The loneliness, conflicts from family members, unemployment and
lack of money are major factors which resulted in the alcohol addiction of Rua. Due to practices
such as abuse, violence, theft under the influence of substance overdose and needs she got a
imprisonment of fifteen months as well. On the basis of case study several questions are
answered which are various mental health issues and substance abuse problems facedy Rua in
the case. The legislation, system and process related to the case are also described. Further the
report carried forward with the evolution of role of court recommendations and subsequent
treatment which has been received by victim. The report ends with the various assessment
methods and proposed alternative that can be effective. And exploring various ethical issues and
role of stakeholders in the treatment.
MAIN BODY
Mental health issues and abuse problems which are faced by the Rua -
Rua was very depressed and a woman with mental disorder. She was prison for fifteen
months for the various drugs intake and violence related issues. Due to the mental disorder and
in the influence of alcohol and drugs she had broken the jaw and the arm of the flatmate who had
taken her shoes without her permission. The violence and aggression in her behavior was result
of her loneliness and substance abuse. She was somehow facing a serious mental disorder so his
father also does not want that her child's Lana aged four and Ben aged five years should live with

her. She was also addicted to drugs and drinking problem due to all this she was suffering from
mental health issues. Due to the excessive drink problem and past experience she used to
consider it very hard to trust or discuss her emotions with anyone. She had sex relation with one
of his flatmate without any emotional connection. It shows that she was in need of emotional
support but due to depression she was not able to take steps for recovery of her mental health.
And all this done after the excessive drink done by her. For paying the house accommodation
rent she stole cigarettes. She was also sexually abused by one of his father's friend which was not
believed by her mother and father. Thus her childhood experience can also be considered as one
of the significant aspect which contributed in behavioral changes. From early age she used to
believe that she does not have any emotional support and thus to overcome the pain and grief she
began to found substance abuse as effective measure. Result to this she was suffering from Post
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). So she has intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings for her
worst experience so that she was full of fear, anger, and feel detached or estranged form people.
And for reducing stress she used to drink excessive alcohol, and she used to take three cheap
wine from supermarket daily which was result to a liver disease in her. And when she is
excessive drink she was not in state to understand anything and thus she was sexually committed
with his flatmate with whom she was not emotionally attached. After this mental health issues
she was diverted from his passion of becoming a teacher. She completed her teaching course for
one year but further she didn't continue her studies. When there lots of things such as depression,
stress, discrimination and cultural differences on the basis of her aboriginal community happens
to her. She became very much disturbed and influenced by these events and even tried to
physically harm herself. She was very depressed because of her brother's death in accident by the
drunken driver in last six weeks. She was not able to attend the funeral or tangi of her brother
which made her more depressed and raised the consumption of cigarette and alcohol. She was
also awaiting the court date to driving without a license and driving while drunken as this was
her first driving offense, but she was afraid of losing contacts with her child as if she would
agree to move to the impatient treatment center. She also deals in illicit drugs for her expenses of
drinking, drugging and smoking in the past. Nobody is connected with her emotionally as she
has a such bad habits even her family members dose not want that her children's should live with
her, but she is concerned about her children's and thus this let her feel more distress, so she more
and more move towards in performing such bad practices which is harmful for her body and