ADHD Medication Case Study Essay
Dennis currently lives with his mother and his siblings. Dennis has run away from home seven times. There were no reports of him being kicked out of the home. Mr. Noah Smith, the mother’s fiancé also resides in the home. He is the father of Dennis’ half-brothers. Mr. Dennis Cooke, the biological father resides in the city of Portsmouth, according to Ms. Barner. She reported he has had engagement in Dennis’ life, but he is currently incarcerated due to his failure to pay child support. Dennis obeys some rules. Dennis is sometime subject to appropriate consequences for bad behavior and sometimes receives appropriate rewards for good behavior. Ms. Barner reported she usually withholds Dennis’ allowance and cell phone when he fails to comply with the rules of the home. She also stated when he does what is asked and expected of him, she rewards him with
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money and activates his cell phone. His mother sometimes supervises inappropriately. His mother clearly disapproves of his behavior. She reported she is perplexed with Dennis’ behavior because he is a very smart child, but he can be very manipulative and untruthful at times. Dennis’ home includes some conflict that is distressing, to include verbal aggression between Dennis and his mother. Dennis reported he also has verbal confrontation with Mr. Cooke. Ms. Barner and Dennis said they are able to manage their differences by permitting each party the space to cool down and readdress their disagreements when appropriate. Dennis’ family provides ongoing opportunities for growth, but inconsistently provides love, caring and support.
Dennis has a close relationship with his mother, father and siblings. He reported his relationship with Mr. Cooke is okay, and he said Mr. Cooke is often distant from him, but they have “heart to heart” conversations occasionally. There is a moderate social support network for Dennis’ family. Dennis reported his uncle and grandparents are very supportive and they often give him good sound advice and allowances. Dennis and his family participates in activities like going to the movies, out to dinner, cooking out at the community park, and playing video and board games in the home. Ms. Barner is unemployed and she said Mr. Cooke provides for the family financially. She did not wish to disclose his income.
Dennis and his family reside in a four bedroom single family home located in the Churchland section of the city of Portsmouth. The home has two full baths, an eat-in kitchen, and a family room. The area consists of a diverse group of people of various income levels. The socioeconomic status of the neighborhood is listed as residents making a low to moderate income annually. The home is located within close proximity to local businesses, schools, churches, a library, and community centers. The family is aware of local community resources and has transportation. This officer observed the living environment on January 23, 2017. The home’s appearance was fine and it was furnished well. There were no observable issues to the outside or inside structure. The family has resides at the resident since 2008.
According to Ms. Barner, the family has not had any involvement with the Department of Social Services in any locality. There have not been any reported Child Protective Services investigations. Dennis has never been in foster care or ever had any out of home placements.
Currently, Dennis is enrolled in school full-time at Chesapeake Juvenile Services as a 10th grader. His current grades are Biology 95, Economic/Personal Finance 88, English 80, Algebra 1B 50, Physical Education (PE) 93, and Art/Character Education 95. Dennis has participated in school at the detention center as required. Prior to being placed at detention he was attending the Churchland High School in grade 10. In the last three months, Dennis has had five or more full-days unexcused absences. Dennis academic performance at the school was poor and he was failing most classes, but no behavioral problems have been reported.
Dennis’ general attitude toward education is positive. He believes there is a benefit to his education and somewhat believes the school environment is encouraging and supportive. Dennis has received twenty out-of-school suspensions and over twenty-five in-school suspensions. The suspensions were a result of Dennis walking out of the class without permission, defiance, using profanity, failure to comply with rules of the school, taking a video of a student in the bathroom stall, a verbal altercation with a student, and for him being disruptive in the class. The discipline log is attached to the report. There are some positives in the school situation; Dennis is interested playing football and baseball, but not involved in any school activities. There are no staff members at the school Dennis feels close to. Dennis has no special education status. Historically, Dennis has done poorly academically and behaviorally.
Dennis reported no alcohol or drug use. Dennis has no record of participation in treatment for alcohol or other drug use. There are no reports of Dennis’s function being disrupted or of him being under the influence of any illegal substance at the time of his committing offenses. There are no assessments for drug usage to attach and Dennis has never been referred for drug treatment. Dennis has never been administered a substance abuse assessment or evaluation. Dennis does not have any negative impact from illegal substance or alcohol usage.
Dennis has peers who have a positive and pro-social influence and peers who have a negative, delinquent influence with whom he has been associating for about 49 months. Some of his friends are age appropriate and he listed several being around 19 years of age. Dennis currently spends all or nearly all of his free time with negatively influencing peers. Some factors mitigate the influence of Dennis' negative peers. There are indications that Dennis' admiration for his delinquent peers is limited and he only sometimes follows their lead. Dennis is also helped by the positive influence of people with whom he has good relationships. Dennis maintains contact with some peers who are responsible and goal-focused and admires older adolescents in school and/or work. He has five positive adult relationships in the community. Ms. Barner reported Dennis participated in a pro-social program within the community provided by Youth Challenged Advised and Positively Promoted (Y-CAPP), but she could not remember the name of the program. Dennis and his mother denied he has had any gang involvement.
Dennis has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) by a physician with the Churchland Psychiatric Associates for medication management.
In the past, Dennis has received medication for a mental health problem. Dennis was prescribed psychotropic medication to treat his ADHD, according to his mother who also reported Dennis did not take his medication as required. The dosage and the name of the medicine are unknown. Dennis has received therapeutic day treatment with Y-CAPP while attending Churchland High School and Hodges Elementary School. According to his mother, he received services with the Churchland Psychiatric Associates. Dennis has shown no indications of homicidal ideation and no indications of suicidal thoughts. There is no evidence that he was ever physically or sexually abused. Dennis has been subject to bullying. There are no indications that he has been sexually aggressive. Dennis is currently not being treated for his past diagnoses. There are no reports of a psychological evaluation and records have been requested from Churchland Psychiatric Associates for his past
assessments.
money and activates his cell phone. His mother sometimes supervises inappropriately. His mother clearly disapproves of his behavior. She reported she is perplexed with Dennis’ behavior because he is a very smart child, but he can be very manipulative and untruthful at times. Dennis’ home includes some conflict that is distressing, to include verbal aggression between Dennis and his mother. Dennis reported he also has verbal confrontation with Mr. Cooke. Ms. Barner and Dennis said they are able to manage their differences by permitting each party the space to cool down and readdress their disagreements when appropriate. Dennis’ family provides ongoing opportunities for growth, but inconsistently provides love, caring and support.
Dennis has a close relationship with his mother, father and siblings. He reported his relationship with Mr. Cooke is okay, and he said Mr. Cooke is often distant from him, but they have “heart to heart” conversations occasionally. There is a moderate social support network for Dennis’ family. Dennis reported his uncle and grandparents are very supportive and they often give him good sound advice and allowances. Dennis and his family participates in activities like going to the movies, out to dinner, cooking out at the community park, and playing video and board games in the home. Ms. Barner is unemployed and she said Mr. Cooke provides for the family financially. She did not wish to disclose his income.
Dennis and his family reside in a four bedroom single family home located in the Churchland section of the city of Portsmouth. The home has two full baths, an eat-in kitchen, and a family room. The area consists of a diverse group of people of various income levels. The socioeconomic status of the neighborhood is listed as residents making a low to moderate income annually. The home is located within close proximity to local businesses, schools, churches, a library, and community centers. The family is aware of local community resources and has transportation. This officer observed the living environment on January 23, 2017. The home’s appearance was fine and it was furnished well. There were no observable issues to the outside or inside structure. The family has resides at the resident since 2008.
According to Ms. Barner, the family has not had any involvement with the Department of Social Services in any locality. There have not been any reported Child Protective Services investigations. Dennis has never been in foster care or ever had any out of home placements.
Currently, Dennis is enrolled in school full-time at Chesapeake Juvenile Services as a 10th grader. His current grades are Biology 95, Economic/Personal Finance 88, English 80, Algebra 1B 50, Physical Education (PE) 93, and Art/Character Education 95. Dennis has participated in school at the detention center as required. Prior to being placed at detention he was attending the Churchland High School in grade 10. In the last three months, Dennis has had five or more full-days unexcused absences. Dennis academic performance at the school was poor and he was failing most classes, but no behavioral problems have been reported.
Dennis’ general attitude toward education is positive. He believes there is a benefit to his education and somewhat believes the school environment is encouraging and supportive. Dennis has received twenty out-of-school suspensions and over twenty-five in-school suspensions. The suspensions were a result of Dennis walking out of the class without permission, defiance, using profanity, failure to comply with rules of the school, taking a video of a student in the bathroom stall, a verbal altercation with a student, and for him being disruptive in the class. The discipline log is attached to the report. There are some positives in the school situation; Dennis is interested playing football and baseball, but not involved in any school activities. There are no staff members at the school Dennis feels close to. Dennis has no special education status. Historically, Dennis has done poorly academically and behaviorally.
Dennis reported no alcohol or drug use. Dennis has no record of participation in treatment for alcohol or other drug use. There are no reports of Dennis’s function being disrupted or of him being under the influence of any illegal substance at the time of his committing offenses. There are no assessments for drug usage to attach and Dennis has never been referred for drug treatment. Dennis has never been administered a substance abuse assessment or evaluation. Dennis does not have any negative impact from illegal substance or alcohol usage.
Dennis has peers who have a positive and pro-social influence and peers who have a negative, delinquent influence with whom he has been associating for about 49 months. Some of his friends are age appropriate and he listed several being around 19 years of age. Dennis currently spends all or nearly all of his free time with negatively influencing peers. Some factors mitigate the influence of Dennis' negative peers. There are indications that Dennis' admiration for his delinquent peers is limited and he only sometimes follows their lead. Dennis is also helped by the positive influence of people with whom he has good relationships. Dennis maintains contact with some peers who are responsible and goal-focused and admires older adolescents in school and/or work. He has five positive adult relationships in the community. Ms. Barner reported Dennis participated in a pro-social program within the community provided by Youth Challenged Advised and Positively Promoted (Y-CAPP), but she could not remember the name of the program. Dennis and his mother denied he has had any gang involvement.
Dennis has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) by a physician with the Churchland Psychiatric Associates for medication management.
In the past, Dennis has received medication for a mental health problem. Dennis was prescribed psychotropic medication to treat his ADHD, according to his mother who also reported Dennis did not take his medication as required. The dosage and the name of the medicine are unknown. Dennis has received therapeutic day treatment with Y-CAPP while attending Churchland High School and Hodges Elementary School. According to his mother, he received services with the Churchland Psychiatric Associates. Dennis has shown no indications of homicidal ideation and no indications of suicidal thoughts. There is no evidence that he was ever physically or sexually abused. Dennis has been subject to bullying. There are no indications that he has been sexually aggressive. Dennis is currently not being treated for his past diagnoses. There are no reports of a psychological evaluation and records have been requested from Churchland Psychiatric Associates for his past
assessments.