Dual Diagnosis Risk in Adolescents – A Case Study on Substance Use and Emotional Stress

Dual Diagnosis Risk in Adolescents – A Case Study on Substance Use and Emotional Stress

Appropriate Screening/Assessment Measures

Sally is a 16-year-old Asian female presenting features of high risk of substance use and maybe dual diagnosis. The Problem-Oriented Screening Instrument for Teenagers (POSIT) could evaluate her behavioural and emotional problems, and the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-20) could evaluate her substance dependence. A trauma assessment would consider the effects of her stressful family situation and inadequate parenting from her mother.

Risk for Dual Diagnosis

Consequently, it is possible that Sally has a dual diagnosis since she struggles with stress in her home environment, began using substances at an early age, and has been affected by her father’s heroin addiction. As a result of the overwhelming responsibilities and the emotional stress that she is bound to experience, she may develop depressive disorder in addition to substance use disorder (MedlinePlus, 2019).

Application of Etiology Models

Based on Genetic Theory, it can be suggested that Sally might have possessed a gene for addiction because her father was a heroin addict. Further, according to Behavioral Theory, this behavior is maintained by the short-term positive outcomes obtained from substance use, which makes it hard for her to change (Klonoff, 2019). Lastly, according to (Sociocultural Theory, Greener & Storr, 2023), the fact that her environment is the project and the absence of parental guidance might have made her embrace substance use as a way of coping, which has worsened her situation.

References

Greener, M. R., & Storr, S. J. (2023). Conflicting theories on addiction aetiology and the strengths and limitations of substance use disorder disease modelling. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, p. 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2023.1166852

Klonoff, D. C. (2019). Behavioural Theory: The Missing Ingredient for Digital Health Tools to Change Behavior and Increase Adherence. Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, 13(2), 276–281. https://doi.org/10.1177/1932296818820303

MedlinePlus. (2019). Dual Diagnosis. Medlineplus.gov; National Library of Medicine. https://medlineplus.gov/dualdiagnosis.html

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DB 8.2
Sally is 16 years 16-year-old Asian female who lives with her mother and 8-year-old brother in the “projects” in Cleveland, Ohio. She started smoking cigarettes at age 12 by stealing from her mother. She took her first drink of alcohol when offered by a teenage babysitter at age 10 and started drinking regularly with peers at age 12. Her father is in and out of her life due to a heroin addiction. Her mother works long hours at a local dry-cleaner and Sally frequently provides after-school daycare for her brother which she “hates.” Sally feels trapped and forgotten by both parents and overwhelmed by the demands of her coursework and caregiving. In addition, she makes meals and does the housekeeping at home. Consequently, her grades have dropped and she may have to repeat her sophomore year of high school. Sally recently tried cocaine and found it extremely pleasant. She has since used cocaine at every opportunity offered to her and is beginning to do “favors” for friends to get access to the drug. When Sally’s mother caught Sally drinking alcohol, she told Sally that she was “just like her father.”

Dual Diagnosis Risk in Adolescents

Please discuss the following questions:
1. What type of screen or assessment measure would be appropriate to use with Sally? Are there any others that we have not discussed that could be applicable and useful?
2. Do you think that Sally is at risk for a dual diagnosis? Why or why not?
3. In thinking about the etiology of substance use, please pick at least 3 models and explain how they could apply to Sally’s case. Please be sure to give examples.
NOTE: You must make at least 1 substantial posting and 2 substantial replies to this thread. You must participate in the Unit discussion board (making postings/replies) at least 3 days per unit to qualify for full credit and also have at least 1 posting by Wednesday at midnight. You also must use APA style in your posting and replies so please use in-text references and provide a reference to give proper credit to the authors.