Week 4: Evaluating Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders

What would you say if someone made the following statements to you?

“So what if I bought a few more toys for the kids? I can afford it.”

“It helps me relax if I walk around the block three times before going to school.”

“I don’t see anything wrong with a few glasses of wine after work. I deserve them.” Week 4: Evaluating Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders.

Your answer would likely depend on many factors, such as what your relationship is to these individuals, how much is “a little” or “a few,” your evaluation of what constitutes normal behavior, and how this behavior is affecting this person’s or your own life. If you knew the particulars of these situations, would you be able to determine whether these individuals were behaving normally, as they imply, or are they exhibiting signs of an addiction or a compulsion? Is there value in knowing the difference?

This week, you examine and differentiate between addictions and compulsions. In addition, you begin to learn how to assess for addictions through an intake process.

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Learning Objectives
Students will:
Learning Resources

Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.

Required Readings

Miller, G. (2015). Learning the language of addiction counseling (4th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.)

 

Garcia, F. D., & Thibaut, F. (2010). Sexual addictions. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 36(5), 254–260.

 

Focus on the similarity between excessive sexual behavior and other addictive behaviors.

Garcia, F. D., & Thibaut, F. (2010). Sexual addictions. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 36(5), 254–260.

 

Go Ask Alice! (2009). What’s the difference between an addiction and a compulsion? Retrieved from http://goaskalice.columbia.edu/whats-difference-between-addiction-and-compulsion

 

Focus on the similarities and differences between compulsions and addictions.

 

Shaw, M., & Black, D. W. (2008). Internet addiction: Definition, assessment, epidemiology and clinical management. CNS Drugs, 22(5), 353–365.

 

Focus on the characteristics of Internet addiction.

Wareham, J. D., & Potenza, M. N. (2010). Pathological gambling and substance use disorders. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 36(5), 242–247.

 

Focus on the similarities between pathological gambling and substance abuse disorders.

Document: Sample Intake Form (Word document)

Note: You will use this document to complete this week’s Assignment.

Optional Resources

Hartney, E. (2011). The difference between an addiction and a compulsion. Retrieved from http://addictions.about.com/od/howaddictionhappens/a/addcompulsion.htm.Week 4: Evaluating Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders.

Capuzzi, D., & Stauffer, M. D. (2020). Foundations of addictions counseling (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Focus on text that discusses possible differences between addiction and compulsion. See the sidebar on Internet usage.

DiFranza, J. R., Ursprung, W. W. S., & Contreras, G. A. (2011). Assessment of tobacco addiction in adolescents. International Journal of Mental Health, 40(1), 65–84.

 

Focus on the characteristics of nicotine dependence and how nicotine addiction develops.

Levine, S. B. (2010). What is sexual addiction? Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 36(3), 261–275.

 

Focus on the description and definition of sexual addiction. 

Discussion: Compulsions and Addictions

Have you ever heard someone refer to himself or herself as a “social drinker” or “social smoker”? Many people enjoy caffeine or alcohol, spend a little too much on a shopping trip, and even gamble in moderation. For the most part, individuals are capable of engaging in these and other activities in a controllable way. Almost any behavior has the potential to transform into a compulsion or addiction, however.

Determining when a behavior is a compulsive or an addiction can be a challenging process. Although there are guidelines such as diagnostic criteria and statistics for both, there are few scientific rules regarding what constitutes a compulsion versus an addiction. Is one worse than the other? Is one more common than the other? Experts in the field of addictions typically determine what is considered healthy and normal and what is considered problematic. Addictions professionals recognize the signs of both compulsion and addiction in individuals and the difference between these two conditions.

To prepare for this Discussion:

Go Ask Alice! (2009). What’s the difference between an addiction and a compulsion? Retrieved from http://goaskalice.columbia.edu/whats-difference-between-addiction-and-compulsion. Week 4: Evaluating Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders.

By Day 4

Post a brief explanation of the difference between compulsion and addiction using one of the behaviors above. Then, explain why it is important to know the difference. Be specific and use the week’s Learning Resources in your response. 

Assignment: Designing an Intake Process

Assessing a client for addiction can be a challenge, especially if the client has not chosen to voluntarily seek treatment. What are the key outcomes needed from an intake process in order to effectively assess clients? This Assignment will familiarize you with the rationale and process behind assessment.

To prepare for this Assignment:

By Day 7

Submit a 4- to 6-page paper that includes the following:

Submission and Grading Information

To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 4 Assignment Rubric

 

Check Your Assignment Draft for Authenticity

To check your Assignment draft for authenticity:

Submit your Week 4 Assignment draft and review the originality report. Week 4: Evaluating Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders.

Submit Your Assignment by Day 7

To submit your Assignment:

Week 4 Assignment

Week in Review

This week you differentiated between addictions and compulsions and applied an addiction intake process to assess addiction.

Next week you will analyze the influence of a counselor’s personal experience on provision of addictions treatment and examine the impact of defense mechanisms on behavior and the treatment process.

Sample Intake Form: Not for actual use.

 

PRESENTING COMPLAINT:      __________________________________________________________________________

 

Psychological:

DEPRESSION:   Appetite Change  Depressed Affect      Anhedonia        Sleep Disturb.      Low Energy     Conc./Memory

Social Withdrawal     Suicidal Thoughts     Hopelessness     Helplessness     Crying      Onset ___________________________

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Recurring:  Y/N

 

ANXIETY:  Ruminating    Nervousness   Worry   Panic Attack   Avoids Situations     PTSD    Onset:  ____________________

 

SLEEP QUALITY:  Good      Difficulty Falling Asleep       Wakes up early    Nightmares    Onset:  ______________________

 

OTHER:  Anger      Irritability       Mania    ___________________________________________________________________

 

                Guilt       Perfectionism//Eating         Abuse/Trauma     Addiction:  Gambling         Pornography         Shopping

 

Family history of psychological problems:  Y/N

If yes, please describe: ___________________________________________________________________________________

 

Current Stress:  ______ Stressors:  ____________________________  Coping:  _____________________________________

 

Self-Esteem:  __________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Appearance:  Well-groomed              Unkempt               Unusual Other:  _____________________________________________

 

Cooperation:  Cooperative                Indifferent            Dependent            Defiant       Manipulative     Guarded        Hostile

 

Affect:  Normal      Flat      Blunted  Constricted          Labile      __________________________________________________

 

Speech:  Normal      Slow      Too detailed         Pressured            Incoherent            Slurred         Perseverating

 

Mood:  Normal    Depressed              Anxious                 Euphoric/Manic  _____________________________________________

 

Thought Content:  Coherent      Illogical         Delusions      Hallucinations___________________________________________

 

Orientation:  Person  _____              Place______        Time______

 

Judgment:  Intact      Impulsive        Immature              Impaired  __________________________________________________

 

Motor:  Relaxed/calm        Restless    Agitated              Tense     Tremors     Tics ______________________________________

 

Attention/Concentration:  Normal   Mildly Distractible      Majorly Distractible

 

 

Employment:  Title:  ______________________ Tenure:  ________  In field:  ______  Work supportive:  Y/N  ___________

 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Education:  Highest Grade:  _______________________  Special Ed: Y/N    Held back: Y/N      LD: Y/N  _______________

 

 

 

Medical:  _________________________________________________ Allergies:  Food____________ Meds_____________

 

Meds:  ________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Hit in Head/Knocked Unconscious:  Y/N  __________________________________________________________________

 

Current Exercise:  Y/N Type:  ____________ Frequency:  ____________ Duration:  ____________ Onset:  ___________

 

 

 

Previous Counseling: 

 

Type: ______________ Date:  ______________   # Sessions:  ___________ Response:  _____________________________

 

Type: ______________ Date:  ______________   # Sessions:  ___________ Response:  _____________________________

 

Suicide Attempt:  Y/N  __________________________________________ Homicide Attempt:  Y/N  __________________

 

 

Spiritual Life:  _________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Substance Abuse: 

 

Nicotine:  Y/N Frequency:  _______________________________________________________________________________

 

Alcohol:  Y/N  _____________________________________________ Past:  ______________________________________

 

Drugs:  Y/N  _________________________________ Past:  ____________________________________________________

 

Legal:  _______________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Notes:  _______________________________________________________________________________________________

 

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 Week 4: Evaluating Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders