Movie Review: Flight - Whip Whitaker's Battle with Substance Abuse and Addiction, Slides of Psychology

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MOVIE REVIEW:

FLIGHT

SYNOPSIS:

Commercial airline pilot Whip Whitaker

(Denzel Washington) has a problem

with drugs and alcohol, though so far

he's managed to complete his flights

safely. His luck runs out when a

disastrous mechanical malfunction

sends his plane hurtling toward the

ground. Whip pulls off a miraculous

crash-landing that results in only six

lives lost. Shaken to the core, Whip

vows to get sober -- but when the

crash investigation exposes his

addiction, he finds himself in an even

worse situation.

TREATMENT

SHORT TERM GOALS:

• Detox

Use healthy coping/communication

skills

Attend NA/AA

LONG TERM GOALS:

Skills to maintain sobriety

Positive commitment

Begin to repair relationships

Career Resources

EFFECTIV

E

TREATME

NT

Detoxification

Medically-assisted detox allows you to rid your body of addictive substances in a safe environment. This is

beneficial because sometimes substance withdrawal can cause unpleasant or even life-threatening physical

symptoms. Because detox does not treat the underlying behavioral causes of the addiction, it is typically

used in combination with other therapies.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

According to American Addiction Centers, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a valuable treatment

tool because it can be used for many different types of addiction including, but not limited to, food

addiction, alcohol addiction, and prescription drug addiction. Not only can CBT help you recognize your

unhealthy behavioral patterns, but it can also help you learn to identify triggers and develop coping skills.

CBT can be combined with other therapeutic techniques as well.

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) could help you recognize your negative thoughts and give

you ways to combat feelings of self-defeat. The goal of REBT is to help you realize that the power of

rational thinking lies within yourself and is not related to external situations or stressors.

Contingency Management

Contingency Management (CM) can be used to treat a wide variety of addictions including alcohol,

narcotics, and tobacco. Contingency management therapy reinforces your positive behavior (ie

maintaining sobriety) by giving you tangible rewards. This type of treatment has been used successfully to

combat relapse, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

12-Step Facilitation

Twelve-step facilitation therapy ("12-step programs") can be used to treat alcohol and substance abuse. It is

a form of group therapy that includes recognition that addiction has several negative consequences that can

be social, emotional, spiritual and physical. This type of therapy begins with acceptance, then moves on to

surrender to a higher power, then eventually transitions to involvement in consistent group meetings.

Programs like the popular Alcoholics Anonymous use group meetings for discussion and mutual support.

Treatment with Medication

Medication can play an important role in recovery when combined with behavioral therapies. Certain

medications can be used to reduce cravings, improve mood, and decrease addictive behaviors. For

example, the FDA recently approved lofexidine to help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms in

patients receiving treatment for opioid addiction. Medications like acamprosate can help reduce drinking

behaviour.