Drugs and alcohol

Question 1

How do you approach drugs and alcohol conversations?

Answer 1

• Non – judgemental
• Understanding potential reasons for the substance
  use
• Appraising the patient’s substance use
• Knowledge of support services
• Value screening
• Routine screening –normalise
• Find a hook – health, finances, family

Question 2

What is the stages of change model?

Answer 2

Enter
- Pre-contemplation
- Contemplation
- Determination
(Potential to exit and re-enter at any stage)
- Action
(potential relapse)
- Maintainence

Question 3

Whats the cycle of change model?

Answer 3

Enter
- Pre-contemplation
- Contemplation
- Preparation
- Action
- Maintenance
- Relapse potential

Question 4

Whats happening in the precontemplation stage?

Answer 4

Pre-contemplation - often not very interested in
hearing about negative consequences or advice to quit
their behaviour

Question 5

Whats happening in the contemplation stage?

Answer 5

Contemplation - typically benefit from non-judgmental
information-giving and motivational approaches to
encourage change

Question 6

Whats happening in the preparation stage?

Answer 6

Preparation- support to prepare, goal planning eg
getting rid of triggers, getting support they require

Question 7

Whats happening in the action stage?

Answer 7

Action – changing behaviour which may require more
support and ways of coping with stress

Question 8

Whats happening the maintenance stage?

Answer 8

Maintenance- challenging as the focus on reaching the
goal has lost its intensity, complacency, stressful

Question 9

How can you broach the topic of being smokefree?

Answer 9

Set agenda: How do you feel about smoking?

Ask about any positive effects of smoking: What do you enjoy about smoking?

Ask about the not so good effects of smoking: What are some things that you wouldnt miss about smoking?

Offer support to cessate smoking: I could help manage your withdrawl symptoms…..Would you be interested in hearing support services available?

Question 10

What are the best terms to use when describing drug use?

Answer 10

• Drug user
• Person with non-problematic drug use
• Person with drug dependence, person with
  substance use disorder
• Person who has stopped using drugs

Question 11

What is the ABC of smoking cessation?

Answer 11

Ask and document about smoking

Briefly suggest that people stop smoking

Cessation: Provide smoking cessation advice and support