Carlito's Way

In the film Carlito's Way, the person needing treatment services was Dave Kleinfeld, Carlito's lawyer. No history is given of Kleinfeld's drug dependency. The first time we see him taking drugs is in his office, after his meeting with the Mobster Convict. The fact that Kleinfeld is taking drugs in his office indicates that he is unable to resist using cocaine whenever it is available. Kleinfeld is snorting lines of coke from off his desk. His secretary interrupts Kleinfeld with a phone call, but she could have just as easily walked in on him.

Typical of persons with cocaine addiction, Kleinfeld has resorted to illicit activities to support his habit. Kleinfeld steals $1 million that the Mobster Convict had intended for his son. Consequently, Kleinfeld finds himself in a life-threatening situation. His reaction to this is to increase his cocaine intake.

Kleinfeld became treatment ready immediately following his meeting with the Mobster Convict, who informs Kleinfeld that there is a contract on his life. The Mobster Convict paints a graphic picture of Kleinfeld at the bottom of the East River with eels and crabs crawling out of his eyes. When Kleinfeld leaves the prison he looks into the East River and the prospect of being murdered completely unnerves him.

The meeting with the Mobster Convict makes Kleinfeld treatment ready because he is at a turning point in his life. If Kleinfeld gets help now, it is possible he can find a legitimate escape route; if Klei

that Kleinfeld tell the guy how he feels. Kleinfeld goes totally over the top and shouts racial slurs that nearly cause a fight. Later, Kleinfeld again uses cocaine at the table and he leaks information to Gail about a clandestine rendezvous that Carlito is involved in. Carlito explodes and shouts at Kleinfeld, but never directly mentions his cocaine use. Another person who could possibly have intervened in Kleinfeld's active addiction was Stephie, his new girlfriend. At a party at Kleinfeld's estate, Stephie mentions to Carlito that Kleinfeld is taking so much cocaine that he has become sexually dysfunctional. It is likely that Stephie has attempted to intervene, but realizes the situation is hopeless. Her status as a party girl and someone that Kleinfeld probably is not interested in having a long-term relationship with undoubtedly hampers her efforts. Although Stephie uses cocaine, she is probably not addicted because males are more likely than females to succumb to cocaine-related disorders (APA, 1994, p. 228). Although Carlito is a longterm friend of Kleinfeld's, it is possible that his intervention would have proved fruitless. Kleinfeld is at the stage in his cocaine addiction where he is experiencing social isolat

Category: Film - C