case studies
CASE STUDIES
1. Jason
Jason is a 38-year-old factory worker who came into the treatment center after being arrested for drinking and driving (DUI/DWI). His attorney has suggested that he quit drinking and enter treatment at least until his trial, which is scheduled in two months. Jason does not anticipate serving jail time, but he believes that treatment could strengthen his legal case. After his first arrest for DUI two years ago, he simply paid a fine and attended a special driver's education program for six weeks. Jason found the program to be "a waste of time."
Jason has been married for 10 years and has two sons aged 8 and 6 years. He has had numerous arguments with his wife, Melissa, concerning his drinking. He gets very angry and defensive when she confronts him about his heavy drinking, and he asserts that he is not an alcoholic. He knows this is true because his father was an alcoholic, and Jason says that he is not like his father. His father died as the result of a fight that occurred in traffic when he was drunk. Jason says that his father used to "beat the tar out" of him and his brother when he was drunk and that his father always belittled, taunted, and threatened their mother, whether he was drunk or sober.
Jason drinks with his buddies from the plant and does not think that his drinking is any more than what they do. He was just "unlucky" and got caught doing what everyone else seems to get away with. Jason's drinking is very predictable: he drinks 8 or 9 beers on a weeknight. Several of these are consumed at the bar with friends, the remainder at home over the course of the evening. He usually falls asleep in front of the television. On weekends, he often drinks 3–4 twelve packs between Friday and Sunday. A typical Saturday involves getting up at 10:00 a.m., playing soccer with friends, and going to the bar for the rest of the day and night. This pattern leads to arguments with Melissa, who calls him a "lousy father." At times, Jason has had
1. Jason
Jason is a 38-year-old factory worker who came into the treatment center after being arrested for drinking and driving (DUI/DWI). His attorney has suggested that he quit drinking and enter treatment at least until his trial, which is scheduled in two months. Jason does not anticipate serving jail time, but he believes that treatment could strengthen his legal case. After his first arrest for DUI two years ago, he simply paid a fine and attended a special driver's education program for six weeks. Jason found the program to be "a waste of time."
Jason has been married for 10 years and has two sons aged 8 and 6 years. He has had numerous arguments with his wife, Melissa, concerning his drinking. He gets very angry and defensive when she confronts him about his heavy drinking, and he asserts that he is not an alcoholic. He knows this is true because his father was an alcoholic, and Jason says that he is not like his father. His father died as the result of a fight that occurred in traffic when he was drunk. Jason says that his father used to "beat the tar out" of him and his brother when he was drunk and that his father always belittled, taunted, and threatened their mother, whether he was drunk or sober.
Jason drinks with his buddies from the plant and does not think that his drinking is any more than what they do. He was just "unlucky" and got caught doing what everyone else seems to get away with. Jason's drinking is very predictable: he drinks 8 or 9 beers on a weeknight. Several of these are consumed at the bar with friends, the remainder at home over the course of the evening. He usually falls asleep in front of the television. On weekends, he often drinks 3–4 twelve packs between Friday and Sunday. A typical Saturday involves getting up at 10:00 a.m., playing soccer with friends, and going to the bar for the rest of the day and night. This pattern leads to arguments with Melissa, who calls him a "lousy father." At times, Jason has had