JustineWeir_SimulationReflection

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1 Simulation Reflection Paper Justine Weir Simmons University SWO 422: Substance Use & Social Work Dr. Mari Stiles September 19th, 2023

2 Introduction Over the course of practice, practitioners meet a variety of people with various backgrounds and identities. It’s important that we recognize our own identities and the impact it may have on our clients as well as seeing all the various identities that our clients may have. It allows us to challenge our own implicit biases so that we are not doing any injustice to them. More importantly, it allows us to ensure that we’re being ethical and offering the proper treatment plans as well as support during their process. In this paper, I will be addressing my own identities and their impacts. I will also be addressing the social injustices that the client, Jerry, has faced and the suggested treatment plans for him. Identities and Self Reflection Each of us have a multitude of identities that we may not fully recognize all the time. Each of these identities impact our experiences and the way we handle things. Personally, I am a cisgendered, able-bodied white woman. I am not religious, but I do believe in spirituality. I have come from a broken home while being a mother to my own children now. I’ve had alcoholic family members and have had to recognize that the likelihood of addiction for myself is higher. I have come from a lower middle-class family which is where I would identify my own family to be in now. I have graduated both high school and college which would classify me as ‘educated’. Each of my identities put me at a chance to possibly be able to relate to my clients better and likely to feel safe or confident around me. It also puts me at risk for separating myself from them and not appearing to be a place for them to open up to. As Social Workers, we adhere to the Code of Ethics. Amongst those code of ethics, there are specific values that are especially important in working with our clients. For cases like this, I

3 often reflect on the importance of human relationships, dignity and worth of a person, and social justice. (NASW, 2021) Often social workers make be viewed as sitting in a position of power especially when there are differences between us and our clients. When considering the identities of Jerry, he classifies as an African American, cisgendered, able bodied male. He’s become homeless after a past of heavy drinking and drug use. He was married and divorced as well as has lost a daughter to cancer. He has a close relationship with his sister although his drinking is a source of conflict for them. When comparing our identities, it’s important to realize that while there are areas that could create connection and understanding with Jerry. But there are also areas that could create friction as well as emphasize the privilege that I have and the oppression that Jerry has experienced. Social Justice When looking at the history of African Americans especially African American men, they’ve faced many areas of oppression and injustice. Within the history of prohibition, black men were often the ones that were targeted to be the consumer of alcohol while the rich white men made a profit (Lawrence Schrad, 2021) . It was considered a means to oppress them even further and prevent them from rising against the white folks. African Americans have frequently been subjected to oppression throughout history. Alcohol as already stated has acted as another way to oppress African Americans especially African American men even now into current day. While working with Jerry, it’s especially important to not fall into the ‘moral panic’. Moral panic is described as “a social constructivist view of social problems and deviance and suggested that social critics be vigilant in under-standing how, by whom, and why a particular behavior or phenomenon is defined as deviant, whose interests are affected, and how” (Eversman & Bird, 2017) Social workers especially need to be mindful when working with African

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4 American clients or any other person that we don’t fall into the idea of morally right or wrong based of societal standards. It’s important to take into context the various things a person has faced and accepting that practitioners may not be able to fully understand what clients have gone through. In Jerry’s case, we need to understand what things may be fighting against his proper recovery such as the practitioners that have previously played a hand in his pain pill addiction as well as the lack of support he received after the death of his daughter. While social workers are to adhere to our code of ethics including social justice, it doesn’t mean that every other individual and professional that Jerry has interacted with has always had his best interest in mind but rather let their own implicit biases effect being able to properly support Jerry. Treatment Recommendations Per the USAUDIT questionnaire that Jerry filled out, he drinks around 4 drinks every day and at least once a week he drinks 5 or more drinks. The questionnaire shows that he has harmful use. Per the USAUDIT, it is suggested that with harmful use there is a mixture of monitoring as well as brief outpatient treatment. When considering the frequency of his drinking and recommendations from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, it would be beneficial to take a multi-faceted approach. Personally, I would recommend consistent behavioral counseling but also with multiple approaches. On one hand, I believe that Jerry would benefit from cognitive-behavioral therapy to help him process through the death of his daughter, divorce from his wife, and his past issues with substances. In order to truly address his substance use, it would be best to get down to the root of it and help him truly getting to the root of his substance abuse. When taking into consideration Family Systems Theory, it could help Jerry significantly to attend counseling with his sister. By attending counseling with his sister, it could

5 encourage Jerry to face the generation addiction issues that have followed his family as well as boundaries and proper supports within his family. (Helm, 2023) Arthur Blume wrote in his article that toughed on treatment processes that have shown to be beneficial in minority groups especially African Americans. Within the article, it speaks on drink-refusal skills and mindfulness. Both of these options would be quite beneficial for Jerry with his history of addiction and relapse (Blume, 2016). It’s important to be able to check in with Jerry to understand what he feels his own capabilities are. As well as looking at the hands- on treatments with providers, I think that it would be also helpful for Jerry to consider other ways to occupy his time. It would be beneficial for him to find a hoppy or something that he enjoyed that he could do instead of drinking. Due to his past of having a herniated disc in his back, it may be beneficial to consider walks or slow movements like yoga. It would also be helpful to Jerry to consider finding a hobby that he may enjoy keeping his mind busy whether it was to be to puzzles, fishing, or anything else that may require him to be mentally busy without needing a drink. Considering that he is homeless and has been without work, finding a part time low stress job could also help with his recovery process as well as to help get him back on his feet. Conclusion Jerry is a complex individual. He has faced many hardships and faces oppression in ways that I would never be able to fully understand or experience. As a practitioner, it’s important that we recognize our own privileges as well as to greet our clients with grace. We need to support and encourage them on their recovery journey to be able to become the best versions of themselves as well as to set them up for success along the way. In order to do so, we need to be truly honest with ourselves about our own identities and their impact on our clients as well as the impact of the client’s own identities on their recovery journey.

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7 References Blume, A. W. (2016). Advances in substance abuse prevention and treatment interventions among racial, ethnic, and sexual minority populations. Alcohol Research: Current Reviews , 38 (1), 47–54. Eversman, M.H., & Bird, J.D.P. (2017). Moral panic and social justice: A guide for analyzing social problems. Social Work , 62 (1), 29–36. HELM, K. M. Family systems theory. Salem Press Encyclopedia of Health , [s. l.] , 2023. Disponível em: https://research-ebsco-com.ezproxy.simmons.edu/linkprocessor/plink? id=7dfbfd8c-7c57-3f02-aaa2-0ca2d3227751. Acesso em: 19 set. 2023. Lawrence Schrad, M. (2021, February 6). The Forgotten History of Black Prohibitionism . POLITICO. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/02/06/forgotten-black-history- prohibition-temperance-movement-461215 National Association of Social Workers. (2021). Code of Ethics . NASW, National Association of Social Workers. https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of- Ethics-English U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022). Treatment for Alcohol Problems: Finding and Getting Help . National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/treatment-alcohol- problems-finding-and-getting-help

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