Answered: Why did Danny become dependent on drugs…

Ciccarelli: Psychology_5 (5th Edition)

5th Edition

ISBN:9780134477961

Author:Saundra K. Ciccarelli, J. Noland White

Publisher:Saundra K. Ciccarelli, J. Noland White

Chapter1: The Science Of Psychology

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 1TY

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At the age of 43, Danny was in jail, awaiting trial on vehicular manslaughter charges stemming from a DWI accident that left one woman dead. Danny grew up in the suburban United States, the youngest of three children. He was well-liked in school and an average student. Like many of his friends, he smoked cigarettes in his early teens and drank beer with his friends at night behind his high school. Unlike most of his friends, however, Danny almost always drank until he was obviously drunk; he also experimented with many other drugs, including cocaine, heroin, “speed” (amphetamines), and “downers” (barbiturates). After high school, Danny attended a local community college for one semester, but he dropped out after failing most of his courses. His dismal performance in school seemed to be related to his missing most classes rather than to an inability to learn and understand the material. He had difficulty getting up for classes after partying most of the night, which he did with increasing frequency. His moods were highly variable, and he was often unpleasant. Danny’s family knew he occasionally drank too much, but they didn’t know (or didn’t want to know) about his other drug use. He had for years forbidden anyone to go into his room after his mother found little packets of white powder (probably cocaine) in his sock drawer. He said he was keeping them for a friend and that he would return them immediately. He was furious that his family might suspect him of using drugs. Money was sometimes missing from the house, and once some stereo equipment “disappeared,” but if his family members suspected Danny they never admitted it. Danny held a series of low-paying jobs, and when he was working his family reassured themselves that he was back on track and things would be fine. Unfortunately, he rarely held a job for more than a few months. The money he earned had a magical way of turning into drugs, and he was usually fired for poor job attendance and performance. Because he continued to live at home, Danny could survive despite frequent periods of unemployment. When he was in his late 20s, Danny seemed to have a personal revelation. He announced that he needed help and planned to check into an alcohol rehabilitation center; he still would not admit to using other drugs. His family’s joy and relief were overwhelming, and no one questioned his request for several thousand dollars to help pay for the private program he said he wanted to attend. Danny disappeared for several weeks, presumably because he was in the rehabilitation program. However, a call from the local police station put an end to this fantasy: Danny had been found quite high, living in an abandoned building. As with many of these incidents, we never learned all the details, but it appears that Danny spent his family’s money on drugs and had a 3-week binge with some friends. Danny’s deceptiveness and financial irresponsibility greatly strained his relationship with his family. He was allowed to continue living at home, but his parents and siblings excluded him from their emotional lives. Danny seemed to straighten out, and he held a job at a gas station for almost 2 years. He became friendly with the station owner and his son, and he often went hunting with them during the season. However, without any obvious warning, Danny resumed drinking and using drugs and was arrested for robbing the very place that had kept him employed for many months. Although he received probation for that offense upon promising to attend drug treatment, his pattern continued. Years later while driving under the influence of multiple substances, he hit another car and the 28-year-old driver of that car was killed. 1. Why did Danny become dependent on drugs when many of his friends and siblings do not?

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