Sheree Adams

Offering solid foundation in healthcare and genuine interest in patient welfare, eager to learn and develop within correctional facility. Brings ability to quickly acquire necessary medical protocols and emergency response techniques required for this role. Ready to use and develop patient care and clinical skills in License practical nurse role.

Healthcare professional with extensive experience in high-stress environments, looking to transition into new field. Developed critical skills in patient care and crisis management within correctional facility. Adept at maintaining safety, administering medical treatments, and fostering supportive atmosphere, ready to contribute these skills to new challenge.

• Case Study Analysis: Drew’s Addiction Development, Maintenance, and Recovery
• Sheree Adams
• Southern New Hampshire University
• Instructor: Cassandra McDade
• December 7, 2025

• Describe the risk factors that may have influenced the development of addiction in the case study.
• Drew’s development of addiction was influenced by multiple significant risk factors, including early trauma, emotional neglect, parental addiction, and a lack of social support. After the sudden death of his father at age fourteen, Drew experienced profound grief and emotional instability. His mother’s withdrawal into alcohol misuse resulted in Drew becoming responsible for caring for his younger brother. This early parentification introduced chronic stress and emotional exhaustion into Drew’s life. Research shows that untreated trauma and emotional neglect during adolescence contribute strongly to addiction risk, as youth attempt to cope in maladaptive ways. Additionally, Drew’s lack of meaningful friendships and declining academic performance further increased his vulnerability to both behavioral and substance addictions.
• Describe the social structures influencing the addiction in the case study.
• Family/Home Life: Drew grew up in a home marked by instability, grief, emotional abandonment, and alcoholism. His mother was physically present but emotionally unavailable, leaving Drew without support.
• Peer Group Identification: Drew struggled socially and eventually found belonging in online gaming communities, where his identity was shaped by escapism. Later, he connected with coworkers who introduced him to alcohol and normalized excessive drinking.
• Geographical Location: He lived in a working-class community with limited mental health resources or extracurricular activities, contributing to isolation.
• Cultural Considerations: As a biracial male, Drew may have encountered cultural expectations discouraging emotional expression and seeking help.
• Educational Background: Struggles in school, discipline issues, and eventually dropping out removed Drew from structured environments that could have mitigated risk.
• Explain how the process and substance addictions developed.
• Drew’s process addiction developed first through online gaming. Following his father’s death, gaming became a coping mechanism that provided emotional escape, identity enhancement, and temporary relief from loneliness. Over time, the reinforcement cycle of gaming—leveling up, gaining tokens, and social validation—led to compulsive use. Later, substance addiction began when coworkers offered him alcohol and marijuana. Alcohol allowed Drew to feel socially connected and reduced his insomnia. These substances quickly became coping tools, transitioning from social use to dependence as he began drinking daily.
• Explain how the process and substance addictions were maintained.
• Drew’s addictions were maintained through both negative and positive reinforcement. Gaming allowed him to escape emotional pain and feel powerful. Alcohol reduced anxiety, sadness, and insomnia, making it difficult for him to stop. His environment lacked accountability; coworkers encouraged drinking, and his home life provided no boundaries. His emotional state—depression, trauma, low self-esteem—reinforced continued use of both gaming and alcohol as coping mechanisms.

• Identify the social factors that played a role in the case study.
• Personality Traits: Drew displayed avoidance behaviors, low self-confidence, and poor distress tolerance.
• Isolation: He lacked close friendships and withdrew socially, increasing his reliance on gaming and substances.
• Relationships: His family relationships were damaged, inconsistent, and lacking emotional support.
• Identify the psychological factors that played a role in the case study.
• Drew likely experienced symptoms consistent with major depressive disorder, including insomnia, appetite changes, and prolonged sadness. Trauma from witnessing the aftermath of his father’s death and the emotional abandonment by his mother were central psychological contributors. Emotional neglect can serve as a form of psychological abuse, shaping long-term mental health struggles.

• Psychological and social factors interacted to intensify Drew’s addiction. His trauma and depressive symptoms increased his isolation, while isolation further worsened his depression. The lack of nurturing relationships deprived him of healthy coping models, making him susceptible to addictive behaviors. Social stressors and internal distress fueled each other, creating a reinforcing cycle of addiction.
• Explain how social circumstances and cultural influences may have affected the individual’s concept of addiction.
• Socioeconomic Status: Limited financial resources and living in a working-class community may have shaped Drew’s belief that addiction was a normal or unavoidable outcome.
• Education: Dropping out of school contributed to feelings of failure and hopelessness.
• Cultural Background: As a biracial male, Drew may have internalized cultural norms encouraging emotional suppression, preventing early intervention or seeking help.
• Explain how personal social networks impacted addiction.
• Initially, Drew’s social networks reinforced addiction—online gaming peers normalized excessive gameplay, and his coworkers normalized heavy drinking. Later, positive networks such as his supervisor, AA sponsor, and treatment peers provided emotional support, structure, and accountability that encouraged recovery.

• Describe how personal social networks could support addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery.
• Peer groups in treatment settings like AA offer shared experiences, accountability, and encouragement. A supportive living environment reduces exposure to relapse triggers. Mentors or sponsors provide continued guidance, motivation, and emotional connection.
• Discuss the roles of personality traits, isolation, and relationships in treatment and recovery.
• Individuals with avoidance or impulsive traits may require focused therapeutic interventions such as CBT. Reducing isolation increases treatment engagement and enhances resilience. Positive relationships provide emotional support and help replace addictive coping strategies.
• Compare the strengths and limitations of the addiction treatments used in the case study.
• Strengths included inpatient detoxification, individual and group therapy, alcoholics anonymous participation, and transition to an intensive outpatient program. These treatments offered structure, emotional support, and relapse-prevention skills. Limitations included lack of trauma-focused therapy, no treatment addressing gaming addiction, and minimal involvement of family systems therapy.
• Describe important aspects of treatment that can enhance sustained recovery.
• Client Motivation: Drew’s desire to keep his job increased his treatment engagement.
• Treatment Type: Combining inpatient and outpatient treatment created a continuum of care.
• Support Groups: AA participation offered consistent peer support and accountability.
• Explain the role of social factors in addiction treatment and recovery.
• Social factors including supportive mentors, structured living conditions, and positive peer networks played essential roles in Drew’s recovery. These factors helped counterbalance years of isolation and trauma by providing connection, consistency, and encouragement.

• American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.).
• Hooper, L. M., Doehler, K., Wallace, S. A., & Hannah, N. J. (2011). Parentification, trauma, and psychological functioning in adolescents and young adults. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 20(5), 610–620.
• Schellekens, A. F., de Jong, C. A., Buitelaar, J. K., & Verkes, R. J. (2015). Co-occurrence of depression and substance use disorders. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 28(4), 301–307.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Treatment improvement protocol (TIP 42): Substance use disorder treatment for people with co-occurring disorders.