1

Interview with a person who has resolved their addiction.

Immanuel Lance-Onyeiwu

Yorkville University

PSYCH 6353: Addiction Counselling

Dr. Inverpal Braich

March 16th, 2025

A person who is addicted is dependent on an uncontrolled impulse to engage in a

behaviour that negatively impacts their emotional, social, and psychological well-being. NIDA

(2020) defines addiction as a chronic, relapsing condition that is typified by obsessive substance

seeking and use in spite of negative outcomes. In order to answer preliminary question, this

paper aims to synthesize addiction concepts like co-occurring disorder, kindling effect,

transtheoretical model, relapse, moral and disease model, backed up by additional literature. It

does this by using purposeful follow-up questions from someone who has overcome their

addiction. The participant's experience and viewpoint on addiction will be better understood in a

clear, comprehensive, and profound way as a result. For the sake of confidentiality, this

individual will be given the pseudonym Mr. A and any identifying factors will be concealed.

Development of the problem

Mr. A has a drug and alcohol addiction. In terms of alcohol, he drank whiskey and other

harsh liquors. He used crack cocaine, and opiates like hydro morphine, which are used to treat

cancer. He attributes situational and contextual circumstances for the emergence of his addiction.

His family dynamic wasn't stable. He comes from a low-class family, with his parents dealing

with severe mental health illness and addiction that impacted their ability to parent, leading Mr.

A to CFS. His addiction developed as a result of the stress of seeing his parent’s mental and

physical health deteriorate, having to step in and take on parental duties at a young age, and

being involved in the system. He got introduced to these substances from peers who were also

going through life’s hardship. His susceptibility to drugs and alcohol was influenced by the

commonality he shared with his peers. According to Sinha (2008), there is considerable evidence

from population-based and clinical studies supporting a positive association between

psychosocial adversity, negative affect, and chronic distress and addiction vulnerability. This
3

evidence points to the fact negative life events such as loss of parent, parental divorce and

conflict, low parental support, physical violence and abuse, emotional abuse and neglect,

isolation and deviant affiliation, and single-parent family structure have all been associated with

increased risk of substance abuse. This also draws parallel to my personal philosophy statement

on addiction, being that people primarily turn to drug addiction as a coping mechanism for life's

challenges, such as marital issues, financial strain, job loss, etc. Additionally, this adds to the

feeling of freedom. According to Mr. A, this freedom is the absence of stress, obligations, and

repercussions. This “freedom” has been linked to pleasure, according to research. Endorphins,

the body's endogenous opioids, and other neurotransmitters in certain areas of the basal ganglia

(the reward circuit) are among the chemical signaling components that increase during pleasure

or euphoria, the high from drugs (NIDA, 2020). Dopamine is released whenever a healthy,

enjoyable experience triggers the reward circuit, indicating that something significant is

occurring that should be remembered. Changes in brain connections brought on by this dopamine

signal facilitate habit building or addiction by making it simpler to perform the behaviour

repeatedly without giving it any thought (NIDA, 2020).

Signs and Symptoms

He described physical symptoms like panic attacks in addition to the psychological

impact that drugs and alcohol had on him, which rendered him numb to life's challenges. He was

frequently admitted to the hospital due to heart palpitations, sweaty hands, pale skin, and

hyperventilation. He also recognized the emergence of depression and anxiety. According to Mr.

A’ s symptoms and indicators, he was coping with co-occurring disorders like substance abuse

and mental health problems. Miller (2021) asserts that the severity of an addiction condition and
4

the quantity of substances consumed are positively correlated with co-occurring disorders.

Addiction and panic episodes are closely related since they can both set off and reinforce one

another in a vicious cycle, claim Soraya et al. (2022). Substances like alcohol and stimulants

(e.g., cocaine) can trigger panic attacks by increasing heart rate and anxiety. He also seems to

have been affected by the kindling effect, according to his narrative. Miller et al. (2019) define

the kindling effect as when certain drugs cause mental disorders, increasing the likelihood that

the person may experience more severe episodes in the future. Mr. A stated that his anxiety and

panic attacks were caused by marijuana.

Problem recognition and willingness to get help

As mentioned above, Mr. A was admitted to the hospital several times. It was his most

fatal trip to the hospital that brought him to the realization that he had an addiction problem. This

insight set him on a path of introspection and contemplation, as he reflected on his past and

realized that he was descended from a family of addicts. In addition to that, he had no support

system. His friends were enablers, and his mental illness was also not helping. Mr. A seems to be

following the stages of change model at this point in his addiction journey. Change is a process,

and the stages of change model helps us understand where clients are in the process of change

(Aasheim, 2020). He had come to the realization that he had a problem and needed help. In the

contemplation stage of the transtheoretical model, the client is aware there is a problem and is

thinking seriously about changing it but has not made a commitment to do so (Aasheim, 2020).

His desire to seek help from a friend who was also struggling with addiction and wanted

assistance helped him move from the contemplation stage to the preparation stage. They chose to

join support organizations like Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
5

and motivated one another to make changes. These groups not only assisted him in developing

his resilience, but he was also taken aback by the presence of people he recognized as

professionals from respectable occupations, such doctors and lawyers, at the gathering. He felt

comforted by the peer support he received from these individuals. According to Tracy and

Wallace (2020), peer support is the process of providing and receiving nonprofessional,

nonclinical help from people who are going through similar things in order to achieve long-term

recovery from alcohol, drug, and/or mental health issues.

Unsuccessful attempts to change

Relapses are a common occurrence for those in recovery from various types of addiction

and are now accepted as an almost unavoidable aspect of the healing process (Guenzel &

McChargue, 2023). Relapses cause countless people to lose their jobs, families, freedom, and

possibly their lives (Guenzel & McChargue, 2023). During his road to recovery, Mr. A

experienced a relapse. The woman he was seeing was also struggling with a meth addiction. In

retrospect, he had promised himself that their relationship and his sobriety would be all right as

long as he didn't use drugs with her. They both had dealt with a lot in the past, with harsh up

brining. This created a bonding experience for them. With warm persuasion, she would invite

Mr. A to take part in drugs so they could both forget their traumas. All it took was a little dabble

and he fell back into old habits. Like Guenzel and McChargue (2023) mentioned, relapse can

cause people to possibly loss their lives. Mr. A almost lost his life during his relapse.

Realization of success and what is different today

According to Mr. A's report, success to him was realized when he had developed the

ability to say no. No to drugs, alcohol or the invitation. He put it as “the world is full of

temptation, but I constantly have to keep saying no”. This resilience was cultivated from his time

in the support groups he attended, AA and NA. He gained a new sense of purpose to protect and

advocate. He protects his family from substances, and he advocates for people who don't have

the strength to say no. Group therapy plays a critical role in helping clients with addiction build

resilience, which is the ability to cope with stress, manage triggers, and bounce back from

relapse. Miller (2021) discusses groups that promote goal setting and progress monitoring, such

as SMART Recovery or Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), which can help clients become more

resilient, self-efficacious, and accountable. Clients who have accountability and support from

their peers are more motivated and self-efficacious, which helps them believe that they can

change.

Mr.A’s worldview, values, attitude and social location impacting his experience with

addiction

Talking to Mr. A, he encapsulates his current view on addiction as “once you become an

addict, you are forever an addict”. He has seen his mother, in particular, struggle with addiction.

He has seen friends and intimate partners struggle with addiction as well. He found all kinds of

people dealing with addiction by going to meetings. This led him to believe that addiction is a

universal condition. At first, it appeared that addiction exclusively affected those with low

socioeconomic status, unstable homes, and homelessness. After realizing that everyone can be

impacted, this later altered. According to research, a person’s vulnerability to addiction is greatly

influenced by their brain chemistry and genetic predisposition. For example, hereditary features
7

may increase the risk for those with a family history of substance use disorder (Wein, 2015).

From a psychological standpoint, addiction frequently acts as a coping strategy for people like

Mr. A. who are living with mental health issues like depression, anxiety, or trauma. The

emergence and persistence of addiction are significantly influenced by social variables, including

peer pressure, familial dynamics, and cultural influences. People who grow up in settings where

substance use is accepted, for example, can be at greater risk (Grinspoon, 2021). Returning to

Mr. A's assertion that you are a lifelong addict, he was suggesting that an addict must always

struggle to resist the impulse. Something a non-addict will experience. Respecting your addiction

will change the way you see it, which will increase your sense of self-efficacy. Even if someone

abstains from alcohol for 20 years, they may still be fighting the impulse to revert to their former

behaviours.

I asked him if his social location affected his perspective on addiction. Although he

understands the benefits of approaching addiction from a disease viewpoint, he respects cultures

who perceive it as a moral failing. Cultures that embrace a moral model do so by holding

individuals responsible for their actions. He thinks that the prevalence of addiction will decline if

everyone agrees that it is a dishonorable behaviour. On the other hand, it might provide an

excuse and allow people to act knowing they will receive assistance if society acknowledges that

it is an illness and that you need help. Recalling his earlier claim that temptation is present

everywhere, Canada virtually encourages addiction with liquor stores and marijuana vendors on

every corner. According to Mr. A's depiction of addiction and recovery, the disease model is

more empathetic and open to treatment and insurance coverage, which is beneficial when

someone needs help, however, society would see less if the moral model were embraced.
8

Counselling skills and conclusion

I had the honour of hearing firsthand about the strength of addiction and the conditions

that can support it during this interview. More importantly, I was able to get the information by

using my counselling skills. From completing the volunteer consent form and discussing

confidentiality with Mr. A, to establishing a friendly and secure environment for him to talk

about a subject that can be challenging for others to discuss. Reflecting meaning in his words

was something I was good at. This provided the facts I was hearing and comprehending. In the

parts where I thought there was more to reveal, I also used skillful probing to get more

information from him.

In conclusion, understanding that addiction can affect anyone has deepened my empathy

and commitment to supporting individuals on their path to healing. This perspective will allow

me to build meaningful therapeutic relationships and foster positive change in the lives of my

future clients. By recognizing the resilience and strengths within each client, I can empower

them to navigate their recovery journey with dignity and self-compassion.

References

Aashiem, L. L. (2020). Motivational interviewing. In D. Capuzzi & M. D. Stauffer (Eds.), Foundations

of addiction counseling (4th ed., pp. 137–157). Pearson.

Grinspoon, P. (2021, September 28). Poverty, homelessness, and social stigma make addiction more

deadly. Harvard Health; Harvard Medical School. [Link]

homelessness-and-social-stigma-make-addiction-more-deadly-202109282602

Guenzel, N., & McChargue, D. (2023). Addiction Relapse Prevention. [Link]; StatPearls Publishing.

[Link]

Miller, W. R., Forcehimes, A. A., Zweben, A. (2019). Treating addiction: A guide for professionals.

Guilford.

NIDA. (2020a). Drug Misuse and Addiction. National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Institutes of

Health. [Link]

addiction

NIDA. (2020b, July 6). Drugs and the Brain. National Institute on Drug Abuse.

[Link]

Sinha, R. (2008). Chronic Stress, Drug Use, and Vulnerability to Addiction. Annals of the New York

Academy of Sciences, 1141(1), 105–130. [Link]

Soraya, S., Mahdavi, M., Saeidi, M., Seddigh, R., Nooraeen, S., Sadri, M., & Najafabadi, A. J. (2022).

Prevalence of anxiety disorders and its co-occurrence with substance use disorder: a clinical

study. Middle East Current Psychiatry, 29(1). [Link]

Tracy, K., & Wallace, S. (2020). Benefits of Peer Support Groups in the Treatment of Addiction.

Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation, Volume 7(7), 143–154. [Link]

Wein, H. (2015, October). Biology of Addiction. NIH News in Health.

[Link]

Yamashita, A., Yoshioka, S., & Yajima, Y. (2021). Resilience and related factors as predictors of

relapse risk in patients with substance use disorder: a cross-sectional study. Substance Abuse

Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 16(1). [Link]