Canadian psychologists, examine the complex reality of functional addiction. This article explores how individuals can maintain integrated and healthy lives despite significant substance use, a common challenge in clinical settings. Enhance your CEU by understanding this nuanced presentation of addiction.
Do functional addicts exist?
In practice, we often encounter clients who have some kind of relationship with a substance. Even where the substance use is not the primary presenting problem, it may feature as part of the client's narrative.
At times, the client may appear 'functional': a client holds down a job involving significant responsibilities, and has a spouse and family. The client may be using a substance on an almost daily basis while maintaining these elements of a functional life. Can a client function in an integrated and healthy manner while substances play a central role in their lives?
Dan Wolf, psychologist and Director of Houghton House Addiction Recovery Centres, addresses this question in this short clip. If you're interested in learning more about addiction while earning CEU points, watch Dan's full talk here
-Leanne