CHCDFV001 Volunteer Guide Case Study

Case Study 1 – Ben

Ben is an 18-year-old single male who was born in Melbourne, where he still lives with his mother. His Dad works out of town and is only home on the weekends.

When Ben’s father is home on the weekend he just drinks and watches the football and cricket games on TV. When he gets drunk he yells at his wife and throws things around the house. When he drinks, Ben’s father gets angry. Ben’s Mum also drinks and when they both get drunk they fight. The police have been called to the house several times.

Ben started drinking and smoking when he was in Year 8. He doesn’t like school, because all the kids are talking about is high school and the classes they take, and what they are going to do when they finish school, whereas, he is just trying to figure out where he is going to get money for his next pack of cigarettes. Now he smokes about a pack a day, plus a couple of joints too.

Ben has a cup of coffee in the morning before school. At night he drinks a few beers plus a few shots of vodka. On the weekends he is always partying. Ben says he has played around with lots of stuff - trying to see what’s out there. He has tried pot, coke, mescaline, XTC, mushrooms. He says he has even shot up a few times, but doesn’t think it’s a big deal.

“When I’m partying, I like to mix things up a bit. Maybe do some tequila and mushrooms, depends on what’s going on and who’s around. If I drink too much I blackout. I’ve even OD’d a few times. But, hey, it wasn’t any big deal or nothing. I do like speed though. If any drug is my favourite, aside from cigarettes and coffee, it’d be speed.”

When Ben was eight his parents took him to see a doctor because they said he was out of control. The doctor diagnosed Attention Deficit Disorder and gave Ben Ritalin. According to Ben, that helped a little but now, except for “partying”, he doesn’t take any medication.

Case Study 2 – Nicole

Nicole is a very successful businesswoman in the high-stress high-powered world of corporate finance. She has been referred to you by the company’s Employment Assistance Program (EAP). Nicole is 35-years-of-age and presents herself as a no nonsense business professional, who lives alone. She is frank and honest about the events that have brought her to this position.

Nicole says that although she tells herself that she will only have one or two glasses of wine with dinner, she usually finishes the whole bottle. “About five years ago I started having trouble sleeping and started to take a tranquiliser (5 mg Valium) I normally take one or two pills, two to four times a week to help me sleep through the entire night.”

In the morning Nicole drinks at least 3 to 4 cups of coffee daily, even on the weekends.

She noticed that her sleeping problems developed around the same time her Dad died. He was only in his early 50’s and they were very close. His death hit her hard and she says she wanted to give in to a big depression but she fought it and lost herself in her work.

Nicole makes it a point to work out at least three times a week in the morning before going to work. In addition to the medications already mentioned, Nicole is also prescribed Xanax, as needed, for panic attacks, and diet pills (amphetamine congeners) to control her weight, a problem she had since she was a child. Over the last year she has become more reclusive. She can barely make it to business dinners and after-work functions.

Lately she has noticed that she has been steadily increasing her use of wine.

“More often than not I finish off the bottle before going to bed. I just can’t seem to stop. A lot of times I will come home and tell myself that I’ll only have one glass of wine and no more but by the time I go to bed, the bottle is empty and I’m deciding whether I should open another or not. I never used to drink to excess or take anti-anxiety medication before. Now I can’t seem to stop drinking or taking these downers at social events. I can’t seem to control when I take them and things are happening that I’m not too happy about.

Of course the alcohol adds to my weight problem which then causes me to take more of my Redux. Then I have to increase my Xanax to calm my nerves and also take my Valium to make sure I get a full night’s sleep. It has become a very vicious circle.”

According to Nicole, last week she reached a crisis point. She had to meet the firm's top client at a business luncheon, but could not get out of bed that morning. It took all her willpower to finally get up and get dressed, which made her 20 minutes late.

Nicole was so nervous and sick she had to excuse herself in the middle of her presentation. In the bathroom she took another Xanax to calm her nerves.

Then at the luncheon she could not stop herself from ordering several glasses of wine and had to be assisted to her car after the meeting.

Case Study 3 – Jacob

Jacob is a 23-year-old single male who chose to move to Sydney instead of going to university in his home town. He has been working as a bricklayer apprentice for the last few years and soon will get his trade certificate. “Then I could bid on city jobs and make a very comfortable living”.

Jacob no longer has contact with his parents, who he says are very disappointed in him.

When he wants a bit more spending money, he works on cars and motorcycles on the weekends. He reports an active social life with his friends and all of them do some kind of drug or another. Last year Jacob tested positive for HIV.

“I’m not really sure how I got it. I’m always very careful about my needles, so someone must have spiked the dope. I don’t want to go into it, but I was really pissed off and angry when I got the news. HIV is clearly a Liberal conservative plot to wipe out the workers.”

Jacob cannot rely on his parents for financial assistance or to tap into any health insurance as a student dependent. Furthermore, he does not believe he could get health insurance now. Jacob has prescriptions for AZT and protease inhibitors, but he has not been able to take them consistently because they are too expensive.

“Either way you look at it, I’m screwed.”

Jacob prefers “smack” and he also likes to do “speedballs” when he can score these drugs. He loves the rush. Jacob says he doesn’t do any other drugs but has tried them all.

Occasionally he will drink some Scotch, but lately his stomach has been really giving him trouble. Jacob says that sometimes it will feel like multiple stab wounds in his gut that can go on for hours and scares him. Jacob has seen his doctor and she prescribed some Demerol and an antacid. He’s pretty sure it’s related to his HIV.

Jacob tells you quite frankly that when he gets too bad and too sick from the AIDS he’ll take himself out.

“Hey, I think of suicide from time to time. If it gets really bad, I mean, if the AIDS thing and life gets too unbearable, I know I don’t have to take it.”

Instructions

What you need to do:

• Act out the role play as the client

What you might say:

Ben

• “I really don’t think it’s a big deal.”
• “It is just what I am used to.”
• “I am having fun.”
• “Mum and Dad don’t care.”
• “As if they (Mum and Dad) can talk.”
• “I don’t need medication.”
• “I’ll be right.”
• “If I feel down, I just mix things up.”
• “Pot settles me.”
• “I can’t remember a time I didn’t feel like that.”
• “I have seen professionals before, never helps.”
• “Who would support me anyway?”
• “Would Mum and Dad have to know.”
• “Are you able to help with that.”
• “It sounds like a load of rubbish but maybe you are trying to help me.”
• “Yes, I would like to feel better and not rely on drugs.”
• “I want to be successful in life.”
• “Are you able to do that too?”
• “Maybe I deserve a better life.”
• “Thank you for listening to me.”
• “I hope I can trust you.”
• “Please don’t let me down.”

Nicole

• “My work has referred me to you as they are worried about me.”
• “I am worried about myself too.”
• “I have always been in control.”
• “I am relying more and more on my medication and alcohol.”
• “I am not in a good place.”
• “I have no support.”
• “I have disgraced myself.”
• “What if I just can’t go back to work?”
• “What if they don’t want me there?”
• “I need this work, I really do.”
• “I can’t believe I have let myself get to this.”
• “What can I do?”
• “What can you do?”
• “Are you able to help me?”
• “Is it all confidential?”
• “I know I have a long road ahead.”
• “I can do this.”
• “I have no one to help me.”
• “Yes, a plan would work well for me. A goal, something to strive towards. That’s how operate.”
• “Can you refer me?”
• “Are you able to stay in contact throughout this long journey?”
• “Maybe I never did deal with my Dad’s death.”
• “I have always pushed people away.”
• “I can do this.”
• “Thank you for being so kind and understanding.”
• “Thank you for not judging me.”

Jacob

• “Ah what does it really matter anyway?”
• “I am just going to die and I am starting to feel worse and worse.”
• “I am past getting help.”
• “There is no future for me.”
• “I can’t afford the medication.”
• “Do you help with that kind of thing.”
• “This all sounds too hard.”
• “I would like to feel a little better though.”
• “Do you help people like me?”
• “Not many people even give me the time of day.”
• “Thank you for listening to me.”
• “You probably just think I don’t deserve to be happy.”
• “Why are you being kind to me?”
• “Do you refer me or do I have to do it myself?”
• “Do you check in with me?”
• “Can you check in with me?”
• “Will you call my parents?”
• “I appreciate your support.”

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