Karissa's Addiction: A Case Study

Karissa is a 28 years old female Caucasian. Karissa is single at this moment. Karissa prefers to dress like a man, also she has visible tattoos in her arms. Karissa declares to be lesbian and her last girlfriend died in a motorcycle accident five years ago since them, Karissa has not been able to be with another couple seriously. Karissa and family lives in Village of Central Square , NY; which is a small town in upstate NY. Karissa is living with his brother Steven which is a strong support for her. Working in the restaurant Karissa was surrounded by her family, her mother Robin, aunt Tricia, aunt Cheri, stepfather Terry, and father Ray. There was a continuous involvement of the family in Karissa’s addiction, but nothing serious. Karissa

is always stating that she will stop drugs whenever she wants to stop. Furthermore, Karissa claims to be a functional addict. Karissa is a full time Kitchen Manager Cook at her mother restaurant. Karissa seems to be an excellent cook and she has a passion for cooking.

Karissa claims that since childhood she recognized to be a lesbian. Also, Karissa grow up in small town, which did not welcome same sex relationship. Karissa was basically hidden from this reality, which drove her to start hanging with friends. During the program Karissa stated that she sexually abuse at the age eight. It happened numerous times over the next four years. Karissa did not want to disclose more information about this matter. Aside from this catastrophic event Karissa had what it can be consider a happy and normal childhood. She grew up in a nuclear family. However, Dad decided to go own his own way, and divorced Mom when Karissa was about 10 years old. As per Karissa this event did not affect her at all, because she already had her own friends which call it family. Anyway, no one in the family noticed at that point about her traumatized event. When Karissa was 12 years old she was introduced to marihuana and her mother girlfriend’s asked her to sell pills, it was not mention what type of pills, in the school. After few years of hanging with the wrong people, Karissa was introduce to Oxycontin for the first time. Karissa stated that she felt in love with it. At the same time, Karissa started to carry illegal drugs; it was not specified what type of drugs; back and forth for her mother’s friend. In one of those trips Karissa was apprehended by the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) for possession of drugs. Karissa was send to rehab, court cases, but she did not spend any time in jail because of her young age. This event did good in Karissa’s life. Karissa got clean and she looked like the type of person that everyone wants to be around. After, one year and a half of sobriety, Karissa relapsed followed by a break up and she started to use heroin via intravenous.
As stated before Karissa is a functional addict.

Karissa works for her drugs, however she has been always supported indirectly or directly by her family. For instance, the mother gives her monety every week in advance, the aunt usually is taking care of her addiction to tobacco. The father and stepfather gives Karissa money for anything that she may need. This issue create a new dilemma about Karissa been a functional addict. In other words the family is helping her to support her addiction. At this point, Karissa was addicted to heroin. At the same time, Karissa was buying benzodiazepines and she mixed them with heroin to reach a bigger and longer high. As per the National Institute of health “Mixing Benzodiazepines with heroin can cause respiratory failure”. Further, Karissa uses Suboxone which is an opioid medication used to treat narcotic addiction. Heroin is an expensive addiction or at least the the type of heroin that Karissa was using is expensive. Karissa was spending close to $1400 a week in heroin. It was not clear how she exactly got the money to satisfy her addiction, but she was able to handle it. For instance, Karissa got her prescription from her Doctor for Suboxone. However, Karissa almost immediately sells the Suboxone for $480 which is good for 10 bags of heroin. During the interview, Karissa stated that she needs a least 30 to 32 bags of heroin and at least 20 mg of benzodiazepines to get the ultimate high. After Karissa shoots all those bags she can barely walk or breath. She can barely verbalize what she is speaking. As mention before Karissa lives with her brother and he is the only one who is able to help her if she overdose to the point that the brother has a Narcan kit pack which is a medication used to reverse the effect of opioids during an overdose episode. At the time that Karissa has to get to work she needs to shoot 10 bags to function normally. There was any history of drug or alcohol abuse in the family. There was any psychiatric,

health or medical history reported during the intervention. There was any psychiatric prescription or hospitalization reported. Even though, there was a sexual abuse chapter in Karissa’s life, she is not able to talk about it. Despite, this brief description during the intervention Karissa present serious aggressive behaviors when Karissa is not getting her fit.
The intervention finally happened and as expected Karissa was denying the help. After, few moments of talking to Karissa; she finally accepted the assistance and she was willing to go to the Safe Horizon Treatment Center for Women in Costa Mesa, CA. Karissa completed 45 days of treatment and she left against medical advice. After, 27 days of sobriety Karissa relapse and overdose. Karissa overdosed one more time and she almost died. After this traumatic episode it was liked an eye opener for Karissa. She returned to rehab. Karissa started a 12 steps program. Karissa is still working at her mother;s restaurant. Karissa has been clean since them.