University Case Study: Alcohol Addiction Case Plan for Brady

This case study presents a detailed case plan for a 22-year-old man named Brady struggling with alcohol addiction. The assignment begins with background information, highlighting Brady's history of excessive drinking, its consequences (including a lost driver's license and academic struggles), and his family's concerns. The identified issues and challenges include an overwhelming desire to drink, inability to control harmful drinking, withdrawal symptoms, aggressive behavior, lack of awareness of consequences, and memory loss. The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) is used for assessment. The case plan proposes interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy, social support, and pharmacological interventions, with recommendations for a six-month plan using SMART goals focused on abstaining from alcohol and reducing the desire for excessive drinking. The case study emphasizes the importance of patient-centered care, CBT, and Gestalt therapy in achieving these goals and improving the client's overall well-being. The conclusion underscores the impact of alcohol addiction and the need for comprehensive treatment approaches, including assessment, intervention, and support from family and counselors.

Running head: CASE PLAN
CASE PLAN
Name of Student:
Name of University:
Author’s Note:

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Background information..................................................................................................................2
Identified issue and challenges........................................................................................................4
Assessment tool...............................................................................................................................4
Proposed recommendation and goal of programming.....................................................................6
Interventions/therapy...................................................................................................................6
Recommendations........................................................................................................................6
Case plan- Support areas.............................................................................................................7
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................9
Reference.......................................................................................................................................10

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Introduction
The main aim of the study is to formulate the case plan for working with an addicted
client, which focus on identifying the issues. The paper states the evaluation of the case study,
which is related to the addiction to alcohol. Alcoholism is the issue which can lead to health and
behavioural problems like diabetes, liver damage, depression and anxiety. To address these
issues, there is the requirement to assess the patient to conclude the primary rationale for
addiction and provide relevant intervention for better health outcome. The paper aims to evaluate
the case of Brady, who is addicted to alcohol to develop a case plan using SMART goal. Firstly,
the paper reflects on the background information of the client. Secondly, it discusses the
identified issue and challenges observe in Brady. Thirdly, the AUDIT assessment tool is
explained to address the issue of excessive drinking, and lastly, the paper highlights the
recommendation, strategy and case plan for the client.
Background information
The case study focuses on an alcoholic man whose name is Brady and is of 22 years old.
His friends have referred him to overcome the addiction to alcohol. Brady issue of excessive
drinking of alcohol has led to losing her driving licence, which has not significantly affected
him. Brady's mother is conscious about his deteriorating life and wants to get him over his
addiction to alcohol. The counsellor agreed to handle the case of Brady and contacted his mother
Sandra to gather more information about his past and current life. On investigation, it was noted
that her mother is distressed about Brad and pointed out several issues and changes in behaviour
in Brady. He has to be too negative in his behaviour in the last two years. Brady’s mother stated
that he had ADD at the age of 9 years. He is continuously failing in his academic education for

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12 months, as he is not paying any concentration in his studies. He has become verbally
aggressive at home and arrive home late at night and sleep the whole day until his sister is
waking him. Sandra also reported that Brady’s father was an alcoholic and he is becoming like
him, which is a significant concern for her. She thinks he is deteriorating his life, which needs
consideration. Her mother also explained that Brady was a lovely human being before his
drinking habits. She also told about his past incident where he was involved in an accident four
years ago while he was drunk. This has left one of her friends with permanent brain injury.
Her mother stated that they had given him bets education and support so that he could be
a right person. He did well in school and been studying law at university. After explaining the
past life of Brady, her mother said that Brady agrees to communicate and wants an appointment.
In the first session with Brady, physical appearance showed him to be healthy and kempt.
He was 6 feet tall and pleasing man. Initially, he was not willing to engage with the caregiver
and was avoiding any eye contact. On investigation with Brady, it was noted that he was
unaware of the reason for being here. Caregiver explained that her mother is concerned about his
drinking habit. However, Brady defended himself by stating drinking as an everyday habit, and
he drinks everyone does. He also added that her mother is concerned because of the fear that he
will be alcoholic like his father.
Caregiver noticed that he has an issue with memory loss when drinks; however, Brady
defended and said it is a common consequence of drinking. He did not agree on the point that he
tends towards being aggressive.

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Thus, the most important concern about the case study is his deteriorating behaviour and
attitude towards his friends and family and his habit of not accepting the things that are being
noticed in accompanied with excessive drinking habits.
Identified issue and challenges
1. Overwhelming desire to drink- It is evident from a study of the Williams et al. (2018) that
people who are addicted to alcohol are not reluctant to stop drinking which can lead to
the severe health issue.
2. Incompetency to control harmful drinking- The identified issue can lead to an aggressive
attitude.
3. Symptoms of withdrawal from the agreement when asked to stop drinking – It is often
observed addicted people which is due to great desire in drinking
4. Aggressive behaviour- People become unconscious when drink and result in aggressive
behaviour, as indicated in the study of Godino and Renard (2018).
5. Lack of awareness about its harmful consequence- Due to loss of mental stability and
great desire to drink make the people insensible about the lethal effect that can happen to
the person themselves and other people.
6. Lack of interest in regular activities- Addicted people often lose the desire to involve in
healthy practice and adopt unhealthy habits. (Giesen, Zimmer & Bloch, 2016).
7. Issue of memory loss- Biologically, alcohol cause toxicity in the blood, which can impair
the function of the brain (Kaag Goudriaan, De Vries, Pattij & Wiers, 2018)

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Assessment tool
The assessment tool used in the case of Brady is AUDIT, which is stated to as Alcohol
Use Disorder Identification Test. The assessment tool comprises of 10-item question that is
developed by World health organization (WHO) with the objective to assess the behaviour of
alcohol consumption, behaviour and health issue related to it (Davoren, Demant, Shiely &
Perry,2016).
It is evident from the study of Nadkarni et al. (2019), where the author has explained the
importance of AUDIT assessment tool. The author has done a systematic review of 10 RCT
based studies, which has depicted the success rate of 67% in assessing the behaviour of the
alcoholic person. In the assessment tool, there is a need to encourage the patient to answer the
ten questions of the AUDIT. In the assessment, if the patient acquires more than 8 points, it
indicates as hazardous or harmful for the health of the patient (Cortés-Tomás, Giménez-Costa,
Motos-Sellés and Sancerni-Beitia, 2016). Hence, it is the validated tool across a wide range of
ethnic groups for primary care of people; therefore, it will be used to assess Brady regarding his
habit of excessive intake of alcohol.
In order to evaluate Brady, initially, consent will be asked from the patient before starting
the questions related to his drinking habits. If Brady gives the consent, the assessment procedure
will be started by explaining the process of evaluation.
Following ten questions will be asked from Brady, and then the total score will be given
to evaluate the risk related to health.
1. How often do you drink alcohol?
2. How many drinks containing alcohol do you consume per day?

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3. How often do you have six or more drinks on one occasion?
4. How often during the last year, have you found that you were not able to stop drinking
once you had started?
5. How often during the last year, have you failed to do what was normally expected from
you because of drinking?
6. How often during the last year have you needed a first drink in the morning to get
yourself going after a heavy drinking session?
7. How often during the last year, have you had a feeling of guilt after drinking?
8. How often during the last year, have you been unable to remember what happened the
night before because you had been drinking?
9. Have you or someone else been injured because of your drinking?
10. Has a relative, friend, a doctor, or another health worker been concerned about your
drinking or suggested you cut down?
Every answer has a specific point, which will be calculated after intervening the patient.
Proposed recommendation and goal of programming
Interventions/therapy
The interventions opted to improve the identified issue, and challenges of Brady are:
1. Giving cognitive behavioural therapy- The therapy helps in changing the negative
thoughts and aggressive attitude of people, which arise due to drinking (Osilla et al.,
2016).

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2. Giving social support- It is evident from the study of D’Agostino et al. (2017) that
through social support helps in involving the patient in the social activity which can help
to reduce the unhealthy behaviours and attitude.
3. Pharmacological interventions- From the study of Leggio and Lee (2017) medication can
be useful in preventing relapse who are working on abstaining from the habit of drinking.
This would be provided in consultation with the health care professional.
Recommendations
1. Brady could benefit from receiving therapy as mentioned earlier that can help in
improving the aggressive behaviour and colossal desire to drink. It is reported in the
study of Rehm et al. (2016) CBT, pharmacological intervention with social support tends
to lower the unhealthy practice of the alcoholic peoples.
2. The social exclusion and issue of unhealthy attitude would be improved by providing
social support from the family and friends (Daibes, Al-Btoush, Marji & Rasmussen,
2017)
3. In order to overcome drinking habits, effective medication could be beneficial in lower
the desire and adopting healthy habits (Harris et al., 2017).
Case plan- Support areas
Goal Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant Timely
The
patient
will
abstain
from
To lower
the
desire for
excessive
The
decrease in
frequency of
daily
consumptio
 The goal set
for Brady is
attainable by
providing
patient-centred
 Brady will be
aware of the
harmful
consequence
of drinking. It
Will be
given for the
period of 6
months.

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alcohol. drinking- n of alcohol
by 50%.-
First- Daily
investigatio
n will be
conducted
with the
client and
family
regarding
the per day
consumptio
n (Miranda
et al., 2016).
Second-
monitoring
of daily
activities be
done in
relation to
regular
intake of
alcohol.
care to the
patient.
 It will start
with
effectively
communicating
the client by
giving person-
centred care.
 Next step will
involve
motivating the
client to reduce
the daily
consumption
level of
alcohol.
 CBT will be
given to the
client (Olthuis,
Watt,
Mackinnon &
Stewart, 2015).
is reported in
the study of
Abidi et al.
(2016) with
patient-
centred care,
CBT and
Gestalt
therapy has
proved to
reduce the
daily
consumption
of alcohol by
40%.
 Therefore, it
can be said
that the
achievable
intervention
set for Brady
is realistic and
will lower the
The
evaluation of
the progress
of the goal
will be done
on a monthly
basis.
If the client
is not
observed
with any
improvement
in the
addiction to
alcohol, the
intervention
set will be
changed, or
the duration
of a case
plan will be

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Third- All
the changes
will be
recorded to
measure the
progress of
health and
mental
stability.
 Gestalt therapy
will be given at
the last stage to
achieve the
goal (Khan et
al., 2016).
 Thus, through
the above
intervention, at
least 40%
reduction in
consumption
can be
achieved.
daily
consumption
of alcohol.
increased.
Conclusion
Lastly, from the above discussion, it can be said that the aim of the paper to critically
evaluate the case study and structure the SMART goal for support areas are met satisfactorily.
The addiction of drinking alcohol can cause several issues which can be related to harmful
behaviour, relucted to abstain drinking, social exclusion, unawareness, unconsciousness and
adoption of unhealthy attitude. It can also have several health in the patient with alcohol abuse
like diabetes, cardiovascular complication, liver dysfunction and kidney failure. In order to
address this issue, the proper assessment tool is needed, for example, AUDIT to evaluate the risk
and severity of the addiction. For alcoholic people, support should be given by family, friends

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and counsellor for faster recovery. There is a need for self-management of the issue by being
creating awareness. Proper education should be provided such people about the harmful
consequence that can prevail to make the patient conscious. The case plan should be structured
as per the need of the patient, and the relevant strategy must be given to improve the health
outcome. CBT, social support and pharmacological intervention can be beneficial in controlling
the health of a growing population and improving the mental stability of the patient.

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Reference
Abidi, L., Oenema, A., Nilsen, P., Anderson, P., & van de Mheen, D. (2016). Strategies to
overcome barriers to implementation of alcohol screening and brief intervention in
general practice: a Delphi study among healthcare professionals and addiction prevention
experts. Prevention Science, 17(6), 689-699. Retrieved from
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-016-0653-4
Cortés-Tomás, M. T., Giménez-Costa, J. A., Motos-Sellés, P., & Sancerni-Beitia, M. D. (2016).
Different versions of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) as
screening instruments for underage binge drinking. Drug and alcohol dependence, 158,
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D’Agostino, A. R., Optican, A. R., Sowles, S. J., Krauss, M. J., Lee, K. E., & Cavazos-Rehg, P.
A. (2017). Social networking online to recover from opioid use disorder: A study of
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Davoren, M. P., Demant, J., Shiely, F., & Perry, I. J. (2016). Alcohol consumption among
university students in Ireland and the United Kingdom from 2002 to 2014: a systematic
review. BMC public health, 16(1), 173. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-
016-2843-1

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Giesen, E. S., Zimmer, P., & Bloch, W. (2016). Effects of an exercise program on physical
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