Gia Carangi

The client’s name is Gia Carangi, she is a white young model that became addicted to cocaine and heroine. She is in a lesbian partnership with no children. She was born in Philadelphia with a not so great childhood. Gia had two brothers that also endured a tough upbringing due to their father’s alcohol addiction. At the age of 11 her parents split up because her mom left the family. Her alcoholic father became the sole provider for the children. The loving and caring relationship that she shared with her mom was gone once she abandoned them. She ended up working as a waitress in a family owned restaurant.

Gia moved to New York City to be a fashion model at age 18. With her unique style and sexy features she became a top model in no time. With the fame and the fortune came so much temptation. She started off using a little cocaine, which increased over time. Eventually she was using heroine any way that she could get it. Gia quickly became consumed by sex and drugs as she became popular and loved by many. She met a female photographer and was compelled to start a lesbian relationship. Gia’s self-destructive behavior put a strain on her relationship.

The drug use eventually caused Linda to separate herself from Gia. Even though they are separated Gia’s addiction still hurts Linda. Her interpersonal relationships and troubled past caused her to replace her loneliness with drugs. Her relationship motivated her to attempt to get treatment. Gia spent a short time in a methadone clinic but relapsed. She was also referred for a psychological evaluation at the age of 26. She showed up to the evaluation high and barely coherent. The counselor noticed that she her hygiene wasn’t great and she showed signs of drug use. Her body structure looked thin and fragile, as if she was unhealthy.

Her adult life consisted of depression, unhealthy interpersonal relationships, loneliness, and she was emotionally unstable. She is no longer able to perform her day to day activities, or modeling jobs.

Gia is dependent on the drugs and will do anything to get them. She has been raped and started to share needles with anyone. Her addiction is escalating and putting her in harmful situations. She has been exposed to diseases from sharing needles. Gia has contracted HIV and is becoming very sickly. Her arms are riddled with needle tracks from the heroine use. A psychological evaluation while Gia is unimpaired would help better understand her psychodynamics. This information will be beneficial in treatment and intervention will Gia’s addiction.