Habit Summary

For the habit assignment, I decided to try to break my habit of constantly eating unhealthy snacks and junk food. I chose this behavior because it is a habit I have been trying to break for a while. Also, the positive bonus benefits of a healthier diet and possible weight loss appealed to me. However, it was very hard for me to change my snacking behavior. Sometimes, I would eat a cookie or a piece of cake not even realizing what I was doing. Hours later, I would think to myself “I wasn’t supposed to do that!” It had become an unconscious habit. I needed to put my goal in the forefront of my mind to be able to avoid junk foods. It was not until I started reminding myself repeatedly that I couldn’t have junk food that I made any progress with my goal.

My friends were very supportive of my goal to break this habit. They would remind me that I was not to eat junk food. However, sometimes they would also forget of what I was trying to do and offer me something sweet. When the weather started to get nice, and my friends realized that summer was right around the corner, they also started to watch what they were eating. This was a tremendous help in trying to break my habit. When everybody around you has the same goal, it is much easier to reach it. We would hold each other accountable to our aspirations and remind each other of what we could and could not eat.

            Another thing that was helpful in trying to break my habit was an action plan. After a few weeks of not being successful, I realized I needed additional conditions to my plan so that I would not eat sweets. First, I stopped buying junk food (which I had bought for occasions when other people would come over to my house). Also, I noticed that when I worked out in the mornings I was less likely to eat sweets for the rest of the day because I did not want to ruin or waste my workout by eating something unhealthy. I successfully switched my workout routine around to accommodate my new discovery. It was much easier to reach my goal after making these adjustments.

            Things that I learned about myself from this project were numerous. Firstly, I learned what my triggers are for eating sweets. When I was stressed I noticed that I ate significantly more junk food. I also did this when I was bored or with my friends on the weekends. This realization will make it that much easier to junk food in the future. I also learned a snack does not have to be sweet or unhealthy to be enjoyable to me. When I stopped eating junk food, I began snacking on healthier things, such as yogurt and granola. I also learned some things about my own mentality when it comes to trying to accomplish a goal. I have tried several times before to cut junk food out of my diet with no success. I would make excuses for myself and give up before I really even started. For this project, however, after failing for the first couple of weeks, I reevaluated the situation and formed a plan. It was much easier after this. From now on, I will approach every change I am trying to make in the same way.

            Based on this experience, I think it would be very difficult for someone with an addiction to change their behavior. Since an addict’s brain and body changes due to the substance they are addicted to and they crave the particular substance every day of their life, it would be much harder to overcome than any bad habit. Some addicts would also have to be deal with withdrawal symptoms and pains while trying to overcome their addictions, which is an extra struggle. I also struggled with breaking my bad habit, but not as much as an addict would struggle. An addict would need the support of friends and family. They might also need the support of a counselor, psychologist or medical staff. Depending on their addiction, they might need the added support of medication to cure their addiction. I also think a harm- reduction approach would be helpful for some types of addicts. I found this approach very helpful when trying to break my habit. I could not immediately abstain from junk food and that approach was keeping me from making any process. I found that eating less and less junk food each day was much more successful in my situation. Completely abstaining might not work for certain addicts. However, every addiction is different, and some addicts might need to completely abstain from the substance right away and for the rest of their life to function and survive.

After taking this course and trying to break my own bad habit, I believe that the road to breaking a habit or curing an addiction is long, but possible! An addicted person might always have the desire for whatever substance they are addicted to, and it is true that their brain structure may be forever altered to crave a certain substance. However, they can choose not to partake in that behavior. People change for the better every day. The will to change is essential in the process. To break a habit that has become a central part of your life requires 100% effort and perseverance.  In the process of curing an addiction, it requires special services and possibly medication. Depending on the circumstances, it could require love and support from others, or somebody may have to reject an addicted person before they realize they have a serious and life-threatening problem. Every situation is different, but just as hard. With the proper plan, support, desire and commitment, I truly believe that people can change!

Article Summary

Butch/femme differences in substance use and abuse among young lesbian and bisexual women: Examination and potential explanations

 

Within substance abuse research, disparities in substance use, abuse and misuse between homosexual individuals and heterosexual peers has been a primary focus. Lesbian and bisexual women report higher levels of alcohol, marijuana and tobacco use and greater symptoms of substance misuse than heterosexual women, yet they do not report high levels of heavy alcohol use. Gender atypicality has recently become a focus in this research. Butch (male) and femme (feminine) personalities affect lesbian women in many ways. Butch lesbian women seem to be at greater risk for stress, emotional distress and discrimination. They are also at greater risk to use substances such as alcohol and marijuana as coping strategies. Also, since heavy drinking is seen as a masculine behavior, butch women may be more susceptible to alcoholism and addiction.          

In this study, butch and femme personalities were looked at as an influence of substance abuse and addiction. Female and male youths aged 14 to 21 were interviewed, with young lesbian women serving as the focus. All participants were assessed three times over the course of one year by answering several questionnaires. These questionnaires focused on substance use during the past 6 months, the youth’s self-identification as butch or femme, how others label them, their experiences of gay-related stressors and level of emotional distress. The interviewer’s view on the participants as butch or femme was also included. Experience of gay-related stress was operationalized as arguments with other, losing a close friend, or being physically assaulted due to their sexuality. A rate of internalized homophobia (their comfort with their own sexuality) was also assessed. Emotional distress was operationalized as depression/anxiety, conduct problems (skipping school, stealing, fighting, running away, etc.), and social desirability.

The results of this study supported the main hypothesis set by the researchers. Young women with a butch self-presentation were more likely to use alcohol, marijuana and smoke cigarettes and to use larger quantities. Potential theoretical for this finding were also examined. Gay-related stress, both internalized homophobia and external stressful events, was found to be a factor. Also, emotional stress was found to be more prevalent in women with a butch self-presentation. The emotional and gay-related stressors cause the women to use the substances as coping mechanisms. For the women who did not experience stressors, other factors such as sensation seeking personalities and following masculine norms of alcohol consumption accounted for the high prevalence of substance use.

These findings have important research and intervention implications. It emphasizes the need to consider gender atypicality as a factor in substance use and abuse. Interventions with addicted lesbian clients should target butch women and should also address experiences of gay-related stress and emotional distress.

 

 

Rosario, M., Schrimshaw, E. W., & Hunter, J. (2008). Butch/femme differences in substance use and abuse among young lesbian and bisexual women: Examination and potential explanations. Substance Use & Misuse, 43(8-9), 1002-1015. doi:10.1080/10826080801914402



Chapter 10 Article Summary

Latino/a Culture and Substance Abuse

This article provides descriptions of the relevant research that is related to Latino/a use and abuse of alcohol and other substances. Discussions of treatment interventions, prevention, clinical implications and directions for future research are included.

What We Know         

It is unclear how Latino/Hispanic substance abuse compares to that of other cultures, but several findings indicate that Hispanics have the highest rate of substance abuse in the United States. This rate of abuse is thought to be increasing, especially among Hispanic adolescent populations. An interesting finding indicates that U.S. - born Hispanics report higher rates of experimental drug use, abuse and dependence that immigrants do. It was also found that Hispanics born in the United States were likely to have more behavioral disorders, mental illness concerns and problems with gambling than Latino/Hispanic immigrants. This suggests that there is something unhealthy about acculturation into the US culture. However, it is unclear what the causal factor is: is substance use caused by the stress that accompanies acculturation, or is substance use a product of Hispanic acceptance of US norms?

Another concern is that substance abuse begins early, with the highest prevalence rates among young adults between the ages of 18 and 25. Alcohol, inhalants and marijuana were the most abused substances in the Latino adolescent population. Lifetime alcohol use rates have been shown to decrease among ethnic groups, but this trend is not apparent in the Latino population. Intervention must begin early and should focus on the cluster of problems that comes with substance abuse, including risky behavior, delinquency and academic failure.

Guidelines for Intervention and Treatment

All helping professionals are encouraged to explore their attitudes and beliefs about culture and ethnicity. As humans, we are shaped by our cultural beliefs, and some of these can detrimentally influence our perceptions and interactions with individuals who are ethnically and racially different from ourselves. Every professional must assess their possible biases and consider culturally appropriate responses to their clients. They are encouraged to recognize the importance of multicultural sensitivity and how a history of oppression and diversity may affect potential ethnically diverse clients.

Clinical Implications

There is a need to increase the amount of ethnic minority helping professionals to meet the needs of the substantial amounts of ethnic minorities suffering from substance abuse and addiction. If this is not possible, White helping professionals must enhance their ability to provide competent services to ethnic minorities with a focus on cultural beliefs and values. One suggestion is to focus on a certain ethnicity and see what type of treatment is best for them. For the Latino population, it has been found that brief strategic family therapy is helpful in treating drug abuse. This therapy draws on the cultural importance of the family structure. Also, strategies for intervention have been developed to engage the therapist in the family structure by joining the family and supporting them. Helping practitioners must be able to advocate for their clients and give them the skills, knowledge and attitudes to help them cope with stress and difficulties.  

Research Recommendations

Genetic research is needed to help understand racial differences and biological factors related to drug abuse and addiction. There are genetic differences in how alcohol is metabolized by the body. Also, Hispanic men have a different biological response to alcohol and Hispanic men in the US have nearly twice the mortality rate for alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver. Additional research must be completed to examine racial differences with regard to medication. Supplementary recommendations focus on promotion of research organizations at minority-serving institutions.