By Corrina Walters

ADDICTIONS

Description of addictionAnalysis of issues

One strategy of wellnessCounsellor Strengths and Challenges

Self care planReferences

INTRODUCTION

maintaining a relationship with something despite the known negative consequences.(Ngawaka-Nathan,2012)

obsessive thinking and compulsive need for drugs, alcohol, food, sex, or anything despite the resulting negative

consequences.(Recovery Connection,2005-2012)

It is, at root, a SPIRITUAL concern, because it represents a misdirected attempt to achieve wholeness, to experience

inner completeness and satisfaction(Weil, 2004)

DESCRIBE ADDICTION

alcoholic means a person whose persistent and excessive indulgence in alcoholic liquor is causing or is likely to cause serious injury to his health or is a source of harm, suffering, or serious annoyance to others or renders him incapable of

properly managing himself or his affairs

Drug addicts: addiction to intoxicating, stimulating, narcotic, or sedative drugs is causing or is likely to cause

serious injury to his health or is a source of harm, suffering, or serious annoyance to others or renders him incapable of

properly managing himself or his affairs.

(Parliament Counsel Office, 2008)

ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ADDICTION ACT 1966

Tolerance, as defined by either of the following: A need for markedly increased amounts of alcohol to achieve intoxication or desired effect or

markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of alcohol.

Withdrawal, as defined by either of the following: The characteristic withdrawal syndrome for alcohol (refer to DSM-IV for further details) or

Alcohol is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Alcohol is often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended.

There is a persistent desire or there are unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control alcohol use.

A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain alcohol, use alcohol or recover from its effects.

Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of alcohol use.

Alcohol use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by the alcohol (e.g., continued drinking despite

recognition that an ulcer was made worse by alcohol consumption).

(American Psychiatric Association, 2000)

DSM-IVCRITERIA FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE

“addiction is no respecter of person. It doesn’t matter whether you are working class or middle class; young or old; male or

female, or married or single. Addictions can affect anyone of us and the way they do so varies between individuals”(Medic8,n.d)

Once an addict, always an addict

Health

Family

ISSUES

ONCE AN ADDICT, ALWAYS AN ADDICT

ONCE AN ADDICT, ALWAYS AN ADDICT

1. Frustration and internal pain, that leads to anxiety and a demand for relief

of these symptoms

2. Fantasizing about using alcohol and drugs or behaviours to relieve the

uncomfortable symptoms

3. Obsessing about using drugs and alcohol and how his or her life will be

after the use of substances

4. Engaging in the addictive activity, such as using substances in order to gain

relief (acting-out)

5. Losing control over the behaviour (substance use)

6. Developing a feeling of remorse, guilt, and shame, that lead to feelings of

dissatisfaction

7. Making a promise or resolve to oneself to stop the behaviour or substance use

8. After a period of time, the pain returns, and the addict will again begin to experience the fantasies of using

substances

(Recovery Connection,2005-2012)

ONCE AN ADDICT, ALWAYS AND ADDICT

Alcoholism is a major health problem and ranks with cancer and heart disease as a threat to health. The alarming rates

at which drug addiction is on the rise make it a massive threat in its own right

Use of alcohol and drugs is one of the leading causes of death and injury among teenagers and young adults

Around one in three adults drink at levels that put them at risk of developing a number of related health conditions,

including alcoholism and liver disease

(Lehmann,2012)

HEALTH

It impairs memory and thinking ability, ranging from one-time

"blackouts," in which the person cannot remember a night of hard

drinking, to permanent brain damage and dementia (confusion

and memory loss).

It raises the risk of cancers of the lip, mouth, neck, oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, and breast

In men, it can cause impotence (inability to have an erection).

In women, it can cause infertility (inability to have a baby).

(Human Diseases and Conditions,2012)

HEALTH

HEALTH

FAMILY

FAMILY

Family members avoid sharing subjects that might lead to more pain they often wind up avoiding genuine connection with each other.(Dayton,n.d) Denial towards the addiction

codependent person may not realize that they are reinforcing their loved one’s addiction with their

“supportive” behavior.(The Recovery Place,2010) which in turn is enabling their addiction

FAMILY

(The role of the family in addiction and recovery,n.d)

THE ADDICT

THE HERO

THE SCAPEGOAT

THE MASCOT

THE LOST CHILD

THE CARETAKER

STRATEGY OF WELLNESS

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.

2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that

out.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

12 STEP PROGRAM

Self Help Groups

Open group

Closed meetings

Participation meetings

Step meetings

Big Book Meetings

IMPLEMENTING 12 STEP PROGRAM

OPEN MEETINGS

CLOSED MEETINGS

PARTICIPATION MEETINGS

STEP MEETINGS

BIG BOOK

The difficulty in treating addicted people due to factors such as relapses, poor impulse control, emotional reactivity,

and/or lying to protect their addiction

The lack of knowledge (techniques) on how best to treat them

Negative personal as well as professional experiences working with addicts

Counter-transference for ex-addicted counsellors

Changes in public policy

(Miller, 2005)

CHALLENGES

Knowledge of own limitations

Acknowledgement of ones own past

Multicultural competency

STRENGTHS

Counsellors “work in a demanding field that consistently exposes themselves to the dysfunctional behavior of humans that can be discouraging, disheartening and

stressful”(Miller, 2005)

SELF CARE

SELF-CARE

Shower after sessions to wash away the counselling

Sit in calm quiet space with no thoughts

Karakia/Prayer

Spend time with whanau whenever possible

Talk to whanau, just to talk

Go on a date

Wairua Whanau

TE WHARE TAPAWHA

Read books, magazines, something that interests you

Do puzzles, jigsaws

Playing games

Go for a walk/exercise

Food

Sleep

Hinengaro Tinana

TE WHARE TAPAWHA

Description of addiction

Analysis of issues

One strategy of wellness

Counsellor Strengths and Challenges

Self care plan

References

CONCLUSION

Alcoholism. (2012). Retrieved June 13, 2012, from Human Diseases and Condition: http://www.humanillnesses.com/original/A-As/Alcoholism.html

American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders(4th ed., text re.). Washington: American Psychiatric Association.

Dayton, T. (n.d). Living with addiction. Retrieved from Nacoa: http://www.nacoa.org/pdfs/the%20set%20up%20for%20social%20work%20curriculum.pdf

Human Diseases and Conditions. (2012). Alcoholism. Retrieved from Human Diseases and Conditions: http://www.humanillnesses.com/original/A-As/Alcoholism.html

Lehmann, C. (2012). Alarming and Disturbing Alcoholism Facts. Retrieved from Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Help: http://www.alcoholism-and-drug-addiction-help.com/alcoholism-facts.html

Medic8.com. (n.d). Types of addictions - drug addictions. Retrieved from Medic8: http://www.medic8.com/drug-addiction/types-of-addictions.html

Miller, G. (2005). Learning the language of addiction counselling. New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons Incorporated.

The role of the family in addiction and recovery. (n.d). Retrieved from 12 Step Treatment: http://www.12-step-treatment.com/treatment/role-of-the-family-in-addiction-recovery.htm

Ngawaka-Nathan, M. (Composer). (2012). Addiction Definition. Hamilton, New Zealand.

Parliament Counsel Office. (2008). Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Act. Retrieved from New Zealand Legislation: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1966/0097/latest/whole.html

Recovery connection. (2005-2012). Cycle of Adddiction. Retrieved May 28, 2012, from Recovery Connection: http://www.recoveryconnection.org/cycle-of-addiction/

The Recovery Place. (2010). Codependency and recovery from codependent relationships. Retrieved from Recovered Family: http://www.recoveredfamily.com/codependency.aspx

Weil, A. (2004). Natural Health, Natural Medicine. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.

REFERENCES