Case Presentation

Brenna Smith
University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Client Background Info

White Female
Two Children (4, 5)
No family except husbands family
Husband works 12 hour shifts at Smithfield Packing
Mom does not work
Addicted to prescription pills

Problem Statement
Dad was at work, mom was in the house under the
influence. No one came to meet the bus at the drop off
spot. Bus driver called the moms phone several times, but
got no answer. Bus driver had to take children back to
school. Bus Driver and Principal called mom and dads
phone repeatedly; dad was at work and could not answer
and mom was under the influence and was not functioning
properly. Principal drove children in her car to their home
where she had to bang on the door repeatedly before mom
answered the door. The principal returned to the school
and called and made a report.

Services
Mom attends QSAP appointments which helps her with
her substance abuse. Mom has been attending her
appointments as scheduled.
Mom attends parenting classes which will help her with
proper supervision, and discipline.
Mom has had a psychological assessment done to
determine if she has any mental health issues that need to
be addressed.

Strengths and Limitations

Strengths:
Family has stable income,
appropriate housing, reliable
transportation
Adequate amount of food
School reports children have
always been groomed well
and perform well in school.
Mom was willing to complete
plan set by SW instead of
being forced to.

Limitations:
Mom does not have much
help because dad works
from 3PM until 3 AM,
and moms family lives in
Ohio and dads family
lives in Fayetteville.
The doctor says he has
to wing mom off of the
medication to prevent her
from seizing out.

Biases
Mom is some pill popping lazy parent. Dad is out working
his butt off and mom is in the house passed out and cant
even get up to get the children off the bus. These are
innocent children who deserve someone who can love and
care for them unconditionally.

Differences
There were not many differences. Client believed that she
needed help so she could be there for her boys, she stated
my children are everything to me, it seems like after my
back surgery I have been failing them. I cant go out and
play with them because I hurt, so I use the pills to make
me feel better, but they make me sleepy.
Client does believe in GOD being a healer, she values
marriage and adores her children.

Life Experiences
Mom was employed with at a Nursing home in
Elizabethtown. One day during a her daily routine of
washing a client, she felt a sharp pain her in back that
would not go away. Mom went to the emergency room to
have her back examined and found out she had damaged
her spine. Mom had surgery two months ago, but has now
become dependent on the medication to make her feel
better.

Staff Decisions
Staffing every Thursday 9AM
Staffed recommended Mom completes substance abuse
assessment and follow the recommendations given by the
QSAP worker.
Parenting classes and follow the recommendations given by the
facilitator.
Complete a psychological assessment with Southern Professionals
to determine if there are any mental health issues that need to be
addressed.
Once everything is complete and all recommendations are
complete the case will most likely be closed.

Research
Many addictions to prescription meds develop post surgery. People who are
prescribed medications with highly addictive characteristics can develop a
dependency unintentionally. Prescription drug addiction is a rising epidemic in the
United States.
Many times doctors prescribe strong medications without asking if there has ever
been a history of substance abuse
The lack of preventative education and ease of access are catalysts to addiction. The
unfortunate reality is many who develop prescription drug addiction had no intention
of abusing their prescription. Prescription pain medications carry a high risk of
dependence because of the addictive components.
The best way to deal with pill addiction is to slowly wing oneself off of the medicine
and find another way to cope (Howard, n.d.).

Agency Recommendations
I do not have any recommendations at this time.
The agency referred the client to the QSAP worker that
works in the agency and the QSAP worker is working with
the client and her addictions.
The agency also referred the client to parenting classes
with a lady that is linked with the agency.

Competencies and Behaviors

Used
Competencies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10
Behaviors: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3,1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.2, 4.3,
4.4, 5.2, 5.3, 6.2, 7.1, 8.2, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6

References
Howard, S. (n.d.). Drug addiction related to post surgery
prescription
medicine. Retrieved from:
http://www.thehillscenter.com/addiction/prescription-meds-postsurgery/