The Alcoholic Anonymous is a program targeted to help individuals on their road to recovery from alcoholism. Founded in 1935, the program has since then changed the stigmas associated with alcoholism and substance abuse, and has allowed individuals to join the meetings with dignity. This paper focuses on a first hand account of a nursing student’s experience at an Alcoholic Anonymous meeting. This paper also focuses on the effects of substance abuse on the mental health of people and the Twelve-Step programs associated with helping people overcome substance abuse. The data and information in this paper was derived from my attendance of the meeting as well as professional literature.
On Wednesday, September 14th, me and two other classmates …show more content…
twenty years ago. The nice lady went through a traumatic experience, and never revealed the details of it, thus coping by drinking.. She said that she had gone through a major depression and had no interest in any communication. Instead, she drank her worries and problems away. Today was the first day after twenty years coming back to the A.A. group and almost a week without having any alcohol. She stated that she actually did not want to come today because she feels like a failure, but she was reading the bible and got inspired to do better for herself and came to the meeting. She told the story of the prodigal son; who made mistakes, but was still accepted back by his father. She said, “Twenty years ago, I felt like this is my home. Today, I feel like the prodigal son, coming back home.” She expressed that she is looking for a sponsor who will guide her. She stated that she is ready and willing to work hard to achieve a non-alcohol life. Substance abuse affects the person’s mental, physical, and social status. According to SAMHSA’s 2014 national survey on drugs use and health an estimated 43.6 million (18.1%) ages eighteen and up experience some form of mental illness (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2016). About 20.2 million adults (8.4%) had a substance use disorder and from these 7.9 million had both a mental and substance disorder (Substance …show more content…
One reason is that many people are usually aware that they have mental illness. So many people treat undiagnosed mental illness symptoms their own way, which usually consist of drinking and taking drugs. Another reason is that people with mental illness take medications have unpleasant side effects. Some medications for schizophrenia cause depression. To combat the depression, some individual smoke marijuana and/or drink alcohol. However, the individual that is abusing substances causes more physical and mental for himself or herself. Nurses should help clients with substance abuse by aiding them in social interaction, instilling hope, developing self-worth, teaching and educating about their disorders and compliance to their prescribed medication regime. During the assessment, the nurse should be aware that clients are usually in denial and avoidance when asked about their substance abuse. So nurses, must be empathetic and understanding to their situation, which will allow clients to be more open. Nurses must reassure the client and build a therapeutic relationship that will help in the client’s
On Wednesday, September 14th, me and two other classmates …show more content…
twenty years ago. The nice lady went through a traumatic experience, and never revealed the details of it, thus coping by drinking.. She said that she had gone through a major depression and had no interest in any communication. Instead, she drank her worries and problems away. Today was the first day after twenty years coming back to the A.A. group and almost a week without having any alcohol. She stated that she actually did not want to come today because she feels like a failure, but she was reading the bible and got inspired to do better for herself and came to the meeting. She told the story of the prodigal son; who made mistakes, but was still accepted back by his father. She said, “Twenty years ago, I felt like this is my home. Today, I feel like the prodigal son, coming back home.” She expressed that she is looking for a sponsor who will guide her. She stated that she is ready and willing to work hard to achieve a non-alcohol life. Substance abuse affects the person’s mental, physical, and social status. According to SAMHSA’s 2014 national survey on drugs use and health an estimated 43.6 million (18.1%) ages eighteen and up experience some form of mental illness (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2016). About 20.2 million adults (8.4%) had a substance use disorder and from these 7.9 million had both a mental and substance disorder (Substance …show more content…
One reason is that many people are usually aware that they have mental illness. So many people treat undiagnosed mental illness symptoms their own way, which usually consist of drinking and taking drugs. Another reason is that people with mental illness take medications have unpleasant side effects. Some medications for schizophrenia cause depression. To combat the depression, some individual smoke marijuana and/or drink alcohol. However, the individual that is abusing substances causes more physical and mental for himself or herself. Nurses should help clients with substance abuse by aiding them in social interaction, instilling hope, developing self-worth, teaching and educating about their disorders and compliance to their prescribed medication regime. During the assessment, the nurse should be aware that clients are usually in denial and avoidance when asked about their substance abuse. So nurses, must be empathetic and understanding to their situation, which will allow clients to be more open. Nurses must reassure the client and build a therapeutic relationship that will help in the client’s