Working with Addicted Population Case study 2022

Working with Addicted Population
Name of Student
Institutional Affiliation
Name of Professor
Date

INTRODUCTION
The presenting issue of Brad is drug addiction, he drinks excessively. He had also been
diagnosed of ADD, to mean he suffers memory loss. Due to this situations Brad cannot perform
his assigned duties effectively.
The case of Brad seems to be tricky, but the fact is that he needs to be helped. In the above
scenario I will make up a next appointment with Brad. Where I will be able to have good time
with him and try to access his main problems and device critical ways to handle him.
I will device a case plan of how to help Brad as shown below.
A Case Plan for Brad’s case would be;
1. writing a brief History of Brad
2. I would determine strategies or wellness makers for Brad
3. I will note the triggers
4. I would also highlight the negative effects
5. Setting plan on how to manage the crisis
6. I would implement the Plan
SOME OF THE ASSESSMENT TOOLS WOULD INCLUDE
Drug abuse screen test
Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT BRAD
Brad is a 22 years old boy born in a family of history of drug and substance addiction. Brad is a
drug addict but seemingly this hasn’t been the care before. Despite this, Brad was diagnosed with
of ADD, poor working memory, at the age of 9. The mother of Brad cares for him and wants the
best for him. He had accorded him the best education opportunities but still, he could not make
it. He gets into excess trouble due to drinking e.g. he has just lost a driving license, unable to
work and concentrate. He also suffers memory loss and dizziness.
CHALLENGES THAT BRAD FACED
ADD Attention: Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; this is a situation where one feels poor,
inadequate or has a poor working memory (Mobley, 2016).
Addiction: A physical or psychological inability to stop consuming a drug or substances even if
it is harmful to your health and wellbeing.
RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO HELP BRAD
I would encourage an integrated interventional approach to help in this case due to dual
diagnosis. This is because a single-handed approach would not be beneficial.
I would also recommend a talk therapy from those whom have reformed and refrained from drug
and substance addiction and are leading their normal life ("Supplemental Material for
Dependency and Self-Criticism in Treatments for Depression", 2016).
Show him videos and plays of those who have reformed from addiction, and I would also
encourage peer support. This will help to support Brad psychologically and physically.

Assessment tools to access Brad
Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention for Youth: A practitioners Guide
This guide helps health care professionals to quickly identify youth risk for alcohol-related
problems early and address them at early before the client conditions are worse.
Drug Abuse Screen Test
Center for Addiction Mental and Mental Health, 2006, used by older youths and adults to
provide a brief instrument for clinical screening and treatment evaluation.
IDENTIFIED ISSUES AND CHALLENGES FACED
Mistrust: Brad tend not to have trusted over the counselor
BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR THE CLIENT
Brad is a drug addict and is 22 years old. He has been a very good nice man before he becomes
an addict. His lineage has the aspect of drug addiction. Brad suffers from ADD which includes
poor working memory; he is affected much by his drinking and poorly performs his daily
activities. He has lost a driving license due to careless driving while drunk and have also caused
an accident. He does not perform well at school and ever fails in the university. He experiences a
memory loss and can easily involve in a fight often with friends. Brad is also dizzy and sleeps a
lot which is a result of excessive drinking. Brad is loved and cared for by the mother who wants
the best for him. She even takes his son to the best education centers but is only disappointed by
the very bad results that she receives from his son due to addiction.
Brad tend not to mind much about his state and tends to think that everything he is undergoing is
normal. He believes that he has taken after his dad in regards to drug addiction. He has closed his

ears to everybody who is trying to offer him intervention on his situation including close friends,
he only believes that these people are making fool of him.
Brad is seriously affected by this state of being a drug addict to the extent that he hardly take
care of himself, his job and even very key roles and responsibilities (Sherman, 2018). He needs
integrated support that he may receive the best therapy to help him recover quickly.
The medical and the mental health doctors are also important instruments to help in the treatment
plan of Brad. This because he had been priory been diagnosed by brain-related disorder (Lueck,
2018). This may be a highly contributing factor to being a drug addict. The caregivers should
also take into consideration that Brad has a genetics related aspect of being addicted. This one
should be taken care of while handling him. In the above scenario, I would treat Brad so
carefully and I would be very tactful to help in getting key information that can help to get the
key details of his history (Li et al., 2017). Even if he would scrap me off I believe he has a
problem and he needs argent assistance to get out of it. I take his contacts and advise him that it
is necessary to accept change.
I would create appropriate linkages and uphold communications to all key stakeholders that are
very important to help Brad and his situation, e.g. social workers, mental health doctors, and
psychotherapists and counselors to help curb this problem.
ISSUES AND CHALLENGES IN BRADS CASE STUDY.
Memory loss by the client
Brad was diagnosed with ADD, a condition that is always associated with memory loss. Brad
tends to lose focus and attention during the engagement with the counselee. This makes the
counselor have a very tough time of being able to address the client specific need. Brad cannot

stay physically and psychologically upright to be able to relay accurate information to the
counselor. The counselor had to observe professional ethics and competence to get further ways
of how to help Brad
Mistrust
Brad tends not to have trust with the counselor who is handling him. When he is asked why he is
at the counselors' office he responds that he is not aware. There seems to be a push and pull over
on inquiring of the information from Brad. This sets a very tough ground for the counselor and
the counselor may even feel belittled. This can even also lead to a cruel ground for the counselor
and even lead to fighting, abuse and quarrels with the clients if not controlled at an early stage of
counseling (Noble, Ashby & Gnilka, 2014).
Dual diagnosis (comorbidities)
Brad has several and multiple challenges that contribute to the problems he has in life. This both
tamper with behavioral, mental performance and accurate performance of the daily tasks. It is
due to these challenges that Brad even become verbally aggressive even towards himself. This
indication that Brad can easily harm himself.
Anxiety disorder
This is a mental illness that bars one from performing daily activities as is expected of him. In
several occasions, Brad fails and he is unable to perform his assigned duties as is expected of
him. Brad has been failing in the university due to this condition, he had also caused an accident
and could not perform well despite the very good school that her mom enrolled him in.
Unconcerned

Brad is reluctant with where her mom had brought him to be counseled. Even though her mom
tends to believe that he is trying the best to her his beloved son. Brad tend not to have interest in
all these. When her mother drops him he does not want to engage with me, he has even refused
to maintain eye contact with me as a counselor. This creates a hard time for the counselor to set a
pace for starting the counseling season.
ASSESSMENT TOOLS TO BE USED IN BRADS CASE STUDY
Substance Use Screening, Brief Interventions and Referral to Treatment for Pediatricians
This tool focuses on assessing the drinking patterns and alcohol-related behavior, some
interventions are to be provided may be due to the actual condition of the client. The client is
also again referred to be treated by pediatricians (Koldjeski, 2015). This treatment will actualize
the client as though the client was a baby, this will facilitate quick recovery by the clients. This
tool is necessary for Brad since, after screening have been done there is an urgent need that
arises, he needs to be offered immediate assistance. The memory loss that is realized even
prompts the counselor to refer the client to a medic.
Drug Abuse screen test (DAST)
This tool is suitable for youths and adults. The self-report is used to provide a brief instrument
for clinical screening and treatment evaluation. This test is very key information gotten is used to
devise a way on how the client is supposed to be helped to cope with this condition. The future
life of the client is taken care of and treatment plan is also devised and integrated (Knopf, 2019).
I have used this tool because Brad is a youth and has multiple problems which need to be looked
into and treatment procedure to be evaluated. In Brad's case, maybe addressing the ADD may be

more appropriate than addressing drug addiction at once. To mean one factor may act as a
catalyst for the other behaviors.
Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)
This approach tries to offer early intervention to the clients as well as treatment to the clients
with substance use disorder. Those at risk of developing these disorders are taken care of. The
SBIRT quickly assesses the severity of the substance use and identifies the very appropriate level
of treatment.
This tool is appropriate to Brad since there is an early intervention put in a plan to try to help in
any prevailing condition. This tool also detects the brads severity of drug abuse and it will
automatically code the appropriate way on how to help Brad. This tool is very appropriate since
Brad suffers from duo problems. This tool will be able to prompt the appropriate treatment
criteria that would help Brad (Knopf, 2015).
Online Screening Tool
This is a confidential and online screening which help a particular individual to assess their
alcohol consumption patterns. This helps them to determine whether their drinking patterns are
most likely to harm their health and life. This tool would be very practical for Brad. This is
because this tool may use an installed up which is used online (Kantak & Dwoskin, 2016). Brad
will simply be guided by the counselor on how to use the app. The information given to the
client by the app will act as a surprise and also warn the client. E.g. the application may warn
Brad by indicating. Stop too much of consumption of alcohol lest you will run madly into the
streets.

PROPOSED RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WOULD HELP BRAD
Brad has comorbidities
This is a condition where he has been diagnosed to be suffering from more than one condition;
this affects both him behaviorally and in his memory.
I recommend an integrated intervention approach.
This condition always occurs and is treatable. I propose that this condition of Brad should be
treated simultaneously (Sigdel, 2016). I will make further and thorough research on this strategy.
This is because if this treatment is handled using this criterion it will serve as long term treatment
for Brad. The treatment would include offering one intervention alongside other interventions.
E.g. Medication to Brad alongside group counseling, peer support, special counseling as well as
behavioral counseling.
FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT BRAD COULD BENEFIT FROM THE
FOLLOWING
Talk therapy
This is appropriate especially from fellow peers who had once fall victims suffering from the
same condition as Brads. Peers could act as a convincing engine for Brad and can influence his
personal decision to make the appropriate change. This would help Brad to make an appropriate
change that will help him in the future.
Psychological support

Brad needs psychological support from close friends, relatives, and immediate parents. This is
due to close and blood attachment that they always have which always makes them intimate to
the clients (Fam, Chen & Wang, 2013). They can always have high standards of convincing
clients who are suffering from conditions as Brad.
Integrated intervention approach
Because of dual diagnosis, Brad should be supported with multiple but joined system that can
help him to curb both the challenges he has. The integrated approach should be done
simultaneously. E.g. offering medication to Brad alongside such talk therapy, behavioral
counseling, psychological support, and peer support. This would help to achieve complete
treatment of Brad's condition.
Peer support
Brad has an attachment with fellow peers. The peer friends are very important instruments that
can easily influence ones motive, thoughts, feelings and behavior (Dodge, Sindelar & Sinha,
2014). The counselor would there identify close peers of Brad and create a necessary attachment
with them. This will also include peers who have been in the situation of Brad and was helped
through counseling. This will help to attain the quality of life of Brad.
Detailed counseling
This would be very appropriate for Brad as it will look into specific problems of the client to be
addressed. Brad needs a lot of attention to identifying a specific area where he needs support.
This is due to his multiple problems that Brad suffers from. It would require the counselor to be
very vigilant as he handles Brad specific issues (Case, Sawhney & Stewart, 2017).
GOALS SET TO HELP BRAD

Facilitate behavioral change for Brad to attain quality life
Facilitate attachment and relationship with others E.g. Peers and close relatives.
Enhancing coping skills of the client
Facilitate decision-making process and facilitating client's potential
Enhancing future development and self-reliance of the client
SMART GOAL
This refers to a goal which a sense of direction, motivation and a clear focus as well as clarifying
the importance of that goal. The SMART is an acronym that means; S-Specific, M-Measurable,
A-Achievable, R-Realistic, and T-Timely. This goal incorporates all criteria that help one to
focus all the efforts and increase the chances of achieving the goal.
SMART GOALS FOR EACH CASE
Dual diagnosis
Brad suffers from dual diagnosis, I would, therefore, organize a 1-hour treatment plan for the
integrated treatment twice a week. This will run for one year. I will work full time in conjunction
and cooperatively with a medic and help offer integrated support to Brad to achieve quality life.
Anxiety disorder
Brad has an anxiety disorder; this has a negative implication of in his life. I would plan for a 30
minutes daily meeting with him as a counselor for a period of 3months. I will enhance maximum
attachment with him. I will remind him of our meeting in good time to help in saving time

Mistrust
Brad has mistrust to the counselor. I will, therefore, organize a session of 10 minutes once we
meet to help crest a good rapport with him. I will further clarify o him the importance of such
engagements with the client. This will help boost positive implications of Brad towards the
counselor.
Memory Loss
Brad suffers from memory loss. I would organize 20 minutes daily assessment with a doctor.
This will run for 1 year. The doctor will have to administer appropriate medication to Brad and
this will be assessed personally by the doctor to help improve the positive and quality life for
Brad
Unconcerned
Brad tends to appear unconcerned with his very prevailing condition. He is not interested in the
fact of being brought to be counseled. As a counselor, I would set up a plan of assessing this
condition for 15 minutes daily. This will run for three months to help ascertain the cause of this
unconcerned nature of Brad. And finally, it would be addressed to help Brad to attain quality life.
CONCLUSION
Drug and substance abuse is one of the prevailing issues in the contemporary society. Ways of
how to handle these issues must be put in place on how to help such people. Inter-agency
collaboration is needed to handle situations of excessive drinking appropriately. This is highly
recommended in Brad’s case because of the dual diagnosis. In Brad’s case, a single focus could
not help much in order to achieve healing. This is because, may be one issue, e.g. excessive
drinking would be a trigger to memory loss and vise-vasa. Even though Brads suffers dual

diagnosis. He can still be helped and heal from both his situations. The medic together with
psychotherapy would be a critical approach to handle his case.
References
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