1
ALCOHOLISM CASE STUDY ANALYSIS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
Patients Analysis and Intervention Towards Alcoholism
Reggie is a 42-year-old African American living with his partner Bob. He has a problem
with alcoholism and has a family history with his father, who drank himself to death at 56. He
was recently referred for outpatient, but he confessed that he is back drinking alcohol. However,
Reggie made an effort to abstain from alcohol for 19 years and admits it is not easy for him to
refuse it. He attended some AA meetings but failed to maintain that; he continuously drank
alcohol once or twice every night. Reggie and Bob, his current partner; since his partner has a
zero-tolerance policy for alcohol, Reggie is desperate to fix things with Bob and avoid alcohol.
This analysis will examine the current situation of Reggie to provide recommendations and
assessments of his condition.
The patient has a significant addiction to alcohol and has been referred to his PCP for
outpatient treatment. Reggie's strong attachment to alcohol, his behavioral activity toward
alcohol, and his relationship with those closest to him are all variables in the current situation.
Alcoholism, or alcohol addiction, is a condition that affects people from all areas of life. Experts
have tried to identify variables that may drive someone to alcohol addiction, such as heredity,
sex, race, or socioeconomic status (Fingerhood, 2020). However, there is not a single reason for
this. The condition can be caused by a combination of psychological, biological, and
environmental causes (Fingerhood, 2020). Considering the historical background of the patient,
, 2
the fact that his father and sister have been involved in the same addiction might bring the
absolute chances of getting it through his environment and influence of the family, which affect
him psychologically. Another consideration is his race. African Americans still receive unequal
treatment in the community in most areas and cultures, which may trigger his mind to adapt to
what his father and sister do because of pressure. Knowing these factors may help to understand
the patient's root cause of alcoholism, which is the first step in arriving at possible treatment.
Pharmacological therapies are helpful when used with extensive education, psychological
therapy, and social support as part of the overall treatment strategy. For the treatment of
alcoholism, three oral medicines, acamprosate, naltrexone, and disulfiram, as well as one
injection medication, extended-release injectable naltrexone, have been approved. Disulfiram has
an adverse effect, so either naltrexone and acamprosate are advisable fot the patient since they
are an anticraving agent, which reduces relapse rates and cravings increase abstinence rates
(Soyka & Müller, 2017). These drugs are suitable for the patient since they can improve alcohol's
abstinence factor. In terms of non-pharmacological treatment, since the patient already engaged
with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) support group for alcoholism, it might not be the most
suitable for a non-pharmacological approach. Relationship and community engagement is an
effective intervention toward alcoholism (Stone et al., 2011). Counseling, nutritional changes,
and interactive association to good community or engagement to a productive workshop can be a
suggestion for the patient as primary non-pharmacological treatment. Since the patient has a
history of unpleasant environment and vises from famil, it can be helpful for him to be engaged
with good influences, which will change his perspective towards some issues that the patient had.
This intervention will help the patient divert his attention from alcohol.
ALCOHOLISM CASE STUDY ANALYSIS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
Patients Analysis and Intervention Towards Alcoholism
Reggie is a 42-year-old African American living with his partner Bob. He has a problem
with alcoholism and has a family history with his father, who drank himself to death at 56. He
was recently referred for outpatient, but he confessed that he is back drinking alcohol. However,
Reggie made an effort to abstain from alcohol for 19 years and admits it is not easy for him to
refuse it. He attended some AA meetings but failed to maintain that; he continuously drank
alcohol once or twice every night. Reggie and Bob, his current partner; since his partner has a
zero-tolerance policy for alcohol, Reggie is desperate to fix things with Bob and avoid alcohol.
This analysis will examine the current situation of Reggie to provide recommendations and
assessments of his condition.
The patient has a significant addiction to alcohol and has been referred to his PCP for
outpatient treatment. Reggie's strong attachment to alcohol, his behavioral activity toward
alcohol, and his relationship with those closest to him are all variables in the current situation.
Alcoholism, or alcohol addiction, is a condition that affects people from all areas of life. Experts
have tried to identify variables that may drive someone to alcohol addiction, such as heredity,
sex, race, or socioeconomic status (Fingerhood, 2020). However, there is not a single reason for
this. The condition can be caused by a combination of psychological, biological, and
environmental causes (Fingerhood, 2020). Considering the historical background of the patient,
, 2
the fact that his father and sister have been involved in the same addiction might bring the
absolute chances of getting it through his environment and influence of the family, which affect
him psychologically. Another consideration is his race. African Americans still receive unequal
treatment in the community in most areas and cultures, which may trigger his mind to adapt to
what his father and sister do because of pressure. Knowing these factors may help to understand
the patient's root cause of alcoholism, which is the first step in arriving at possible treatment.
Pharmacological therapies are helpful when used with extensive education, psychological
therapy, and social support as part of the overall treatment strategy. For the treatment of
alcoholism, three oral medicines, acamprosate, naltrexone, and disulfiram, as well as one
injection medication, extended-release injectable naltrexone, have been approved. Disulfiram has
an adverse effect, so either naltrexone and acamprosate are advisable fot the patient since they
are an anticraving agent, which reduces relapse rates and cravings increase abstinence rates
(Soyka & Müller, 2017). These drugs are suitable for the patient since they can improve alcohol's
abstinence factor. In terms of non-pharmacological treatment, since the patient already engaged
with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) support group for alcoholism, it might not be the most
suitable for a non-pharmacological approach. Relationship and community engagement is an
effective intervention toward alcoholism (Stone et al., 2011). Counseling, nutritional changes,
and interactive association to good community or engagement to a productive workshop can be a
suggestion for the patient as primary non-pharmacological treatment. Since the patient has a
history of unpleasant environment and vises from famil, it can be helpful for him to be engaged
with good influences, which will change his perspective towards some issues that the patient had.
This intervention will help the patient divert his attention from alcohol.
