PSYC FPX 4300 Assessment 2 Off To The Intervention We Go
December, 2024
Intervention: Sam & Brad’s Drug-Filled Codependency
PSYC FPX 4300 assessment 2 The episode “Sam & Brad’s Drug-Filled Codependency” depicts a very interesting look at the lives of two interlocked individuals who are locked in a battle with substance use disorders. Sam and Brad’s relationship is deeply rooted in their shared addiction, bringing forth a toxic dynamic that allows mutual enablement into the perpetuation of dependency on drugs. Their daily existence revolves around seeking, using, and recovering from substance use, leaving little room for personal growth, healthy interaction, or stability. The episode reveals the physical and emotional cost that addiction has cost them in terms of deteriorating health, legal issues, and damage to family relationships (Gupta et al., 2024). The strain on their relationship, though, is strong and unhealthy because they help one another out in ways that can only perpetuate more negativity.
It would reveal to them the severe impact their substance use had on those around them families, who express anger as well as heartbreak at the view of their self-destruction. The structured intervention process, led by addiction specialists, forces Sam and Brad to confront the severity of their addiction and the extent of damage it has caused. The series probes the question of whether they are prepared to do what is needed to be healed, probing into the intricate process of moving free not just from the substances but from the codependency that has become central to their lives (Neufeld, 2023). The series presents viewers with the very individual story of someone in desperate need of having individualized plans to treat their substance use while focusing on the relational dynamics in place.
Comparison of Addiction Concepts
This episode confronts a common social understanding of addiction and instead brings to light its complexity, moving far beyond stereotypes about moral weakness or a lack of willpower. The case of Sam and Brad reveals the chronic disease that is addiction, spurred by the interplay between genetic makeup, trauma, and environment. While many think of addiction as a choice, in this episode, they’re made clear to be compulsions with people who so crave the substance that they could not logically make any choice but indulge. In such a view, it would make their case best fitted within the medical model of addiction, as it reveals that changes in brain function, leading to dependency, have nothing to do with defectiveness about moral standing. The view further helps demystify such notions of stigmatization over addiction, thus creating grounds for effective treatment by empathy and evidence-based interventions.
Meets the Substance Use Disorder Criteria
From the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition by Pacchiarotti et al. (2020), it is obvious that Sam and Brad both fit the DSM-5 criteria for substance use disorders. The DSM-5 requires that substance use disorder be a pattern of substance use that leads to clinically significant impairment or distress. Features include the inability to control the use, continued use despite physical or psychological problems occurring because of the use, and tolerance or withdrawal symptoms. In the episode, the two characters are found to have an uncontrollable urge for drugs, which is far greater than their health, personal relationships, and other obligations. For instance, Sam’s physical health is visibly deteriorating as a result of long-term substance abuse, and Brad often resorts to actions such as theft to sustain his addiction. Both of them withdraw extremely when they cannot obtain substances, hence making it even more obvious that they are physiologically dependent. According to academic studies, chronic drug abuse alters brain function. This includes impaired decision-making and consolidation of addictive behaviors (Volkow et al., 2016). By such instances and evidence, it would manifest that both Sam and Brad qualified under having severe substance use disorders to call for urgent treatment intervention.
Current stage
As far as behavior and attitudes are concerned, it appears that Sam and Brad are at the contemplation stage of change by the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) (Siewchaisakul et al., 2020). It is during this stage that a person becomes aware of his or her problem but is not prepared to commit themselves to doing something about it. The two characters depict moments of realization that substance abuse has adversely impacted health, relationships, and even the future. They do, however, present fierce ambivalence; for the most part, most of them either rationalize or exhibit the fear of facing problems as they recover. This places the individuals in the contemplation stage because they have an urge to seek help yet are still not fully committed. That now means preparation toward action means the process should include some motivational support and education on the benefits of change concerning fears and doubts about their ability to recover.
Rehabilitation Appropriateness
The rehabilitation approach adopted by Sam and Brad appeared apt since it addressed the use of substances by both to address the underlying codependency in their relationship. The intervention process focused on the need for separation of the couple for treatment as their toxic relationship seemed to be one of the main obstacles to recovery (Osborn & Rajah, 2020). This approach is evidence-based practice in which it appears that with the inclusion of unhealthy relational patterns as co-occurring issues, chances for better-sustained recovery are enhanced. The medically supervised detoxification, planning long-term aftercare therapy for their underlying emotional and psychological traumas went into the plan. This, however was contingent on whether they were ready for full commitment with the procedure. It indicated that even when one of the partners progresses so well in their course by quitting substance use, while the other does not care to make such commitments. The gap pointed out that interventions have to be individualized toward individual readiness and needs, and this case was an example of how much complexity existed in treating both substance use disorders and codependency.
PSYC FPX 4300 assessment 2 Conclusion
In a concluding note, “Sam & Brad’s Drug-Filled Codependency” is indeed an episode that profoundly brings home the message of how complicated addition is, as well as very intricate codependency behaviors within a relationship. Clear analysis on both through criteria of the DSM-5 and Transtheoretical Model clearly explains that both persons are significantly deep within substance use disorders that have considerable barriers to change. Whichever appropriateness they represented, the interventions and rehabilitation served notice that the complexity involved in fighting, not merely the addiction but even much more the relational patterns to preserve it, is remarkable as attention to the particular difference in the treatment approach with respect to each one is being taken with a better, evidence-based treatment method for the strategies required with physiological and psychological scope over treating this addiction. It serves to remind everyone of just how much resilience recovery demands besides how important supportive environments should befit sustainable change is the intent.
PSYC FPX 4300 assessment 2 References
Gupta, M., Ladegard, K., Gupta, N., Khurana, P., & Krasner, A. (2024). Antecedents and trajectories of the child and adolescent mental health crisis. The Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders, 26(5). https://doi.org/10.4088/pcc.24nr03747
Neufeld, S. D. (2023, December 12). Ending stigma for whom? A critical community-based participatory research project to examine Canadian substance use-focused anti-stigma campaigns. Summit.sfu.ca. https://summit.sfu.ca/item/37885
Osborn, M., & Rajah, V. (2020). Understanding formal responses to intimate partner violence and women’s resistance processes: a scoping review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 152483802096734. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838020967348
Pacchiarotti, I., Kotzalidis, G. D., Murru, A., Mazzarini, L., Rapinesi, C., Valentí, M., Anmella, G., Gomes-da-Costa, S., Gimenez, A., Llach, C., Perugi, G., Vieta, E., & Verdolini, N. (2020). Mixed features in depression. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 43(1), 59–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psc.2019.10.006
Siewchaisakul, P., Luh, D.-L., Chiu, S., Yen, A., Chen, C.-D., & Chen, H.-H. (2020). Smoking cessation advice from healthcare professionals helps those in the contemplation and preparation stage: An application with transtheoretical model underpinning in a community-based program. Tobacco Induced Diseases, 18(57). https://doi.org/10.18332/tid/123427
