Jack is a 25 year old, Caucasian college student. He began drinking in high scho
ID: 3490879 • Letter: J
Question
Jack is a 25 year old, Caucasian college student. He began drinking in high school and considers himself a “social” user. He reports drinking one to two evenings a week, usually 5 to 8 drinks over a couple of hours. He acknowledges he used to stop at three drinks but he now needs at least four to feel any "buzz". He is presenting today after another big fight with his girlfriend. She became very upset with him over the weekend when he wrecked a four wheeler and injured himself (broken arm). This is the third time he has hurt himself in the past six months while drinking. He and his girlfriend have fought about his use and recent accidents several times over the past year. She is threatening to leave if he doesn’t quit. He has also been warned for the third time about being late to work after a night “partying”. Jack reports frequent headaches and acknowledges he has not had a physical for three years. He asserts he does not have a problem as he has never blacked out, does not feel ill after drinking, can go days without alcohol, and has no problems accomplishing his assigned tasks as a data analyst at work, even if he is occasionally late.
Provide a diagnosis for Jack. Note what criteria you believe Jack meets to provide support for your diagnosis and provide your best guess about his functioning level given the description provided.
Explanation / Answer
The diagnosis provided for Jack could be Alcohol Use Disorder with Binge drinking.
Jack has a Alcohol Use Disorder with binge drinking as he drinks 5 to 8 drinks over a couple of hours,in one or two days.
Binge drinking of AUD is drinking more than 5 units in one seating to get intoxicated.
Jack is developing resistance to alcohol as he used to get the"buzz" at 3 units ,has now increased to 5 to 8 units.His dependence on alcohol will increase.Though he asserts that he never had been blacked out and that he never had issues going without alcohol but his binge drinking is indicating his vulnerability to dependence on alcohol. Once he develops a dependency or heavy drinking his functioning level will be more adversely affected,as his functioning level at this stage is already been negatively affected.His Alcohol Use Disorder will affect his relationship, his career and his physical health in an adverse manner which has already started to deteriorate at this present stage.Hence,Jack requires an immediate interventions best suited to his condition. we
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