Mental Health Substance Abuse Flashcards
What are the potential harms from using illicit drugs?
Psychological e.g stigma
Socio-economic effects on self/family/others
Addiction or diversion inc gateway to others
Physical consequences e.g sedation
Route of admin e.g blood born virus
Self neglect, poor dental hygiene, poor nutrition
Withdrawl symptoms
Poor pregnancy outcomes
What are the potential risk factors for using illicit drugs?
Personal/ FH of substance misuse (inc alcohol)
Hx of pain issues
Easy access of medicines e.g working in healthcare
Time spent in secure environment e.g prison
Difficult life events
Chronic/severe mental/physical healthy problems
Describe the ‘dual diagnosis’ of substance abuse:
People with severe mental health problems- expect 25% misuse- find its 33-50% misuse
People with substance misuse problems- expect 25% have mental health problem- find its 50-75% problem
Describe the relationship between Asian heritage and alcohol?
Decreased risk of alcohol problems due to about 50% having non-functional aldehyde dehydrogenase genes resulting in ‘asian flush’, N&V, (like what happens with disulfiram)
Describe the prevalence of alcohol use in the UK:
In England around 603K dependant drinkers
Alcohol misuse is the biggest RF for death, ill health and disability among 15-49 year olds
What are the risks of long term alcohol intake?
Death= 20,000 premature deaths
Liver damage- 90%, 40% hepatitis
Accidents
Cancer- 3% of cancers are alcohol related
Gut- major bleeds
What are the genetic risk factors for getting an alcohol dependence?
FH: no single gene but up to 400 genes influence
50% of overall risk
What are the other factors for getting an alcohol dependence?
Starting at an earlier age
Mental health problem
Sweet tasting
What are the risks of chronic alcohol consumption in the CNS?
Cognitive impairment
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
Describe how chronic alcohol consumption can cause cognitive impairment?
Alcohol is neurotoxic, causes cognitive impairment:
alcohol dementia, neuropathy, cerebral atrophy (smaller/holes)
Describe what Wernicke-Korsakoff is:
A neuropsychiatric disorder of acute onset caused by thiamine deficiency and includes confabulation (memory gone)
Wernicke’s Encaphalopathy is a neurodegerative brain disorder caused by severe lack of thiamine and presents as confusion, apathy, disorientation, vomiting and disturbed memory
What can Wernicke-Korsakoff be treated with?
Pabrinex (thiamine supplementation)
What is the acute treatment for Wernicke-Korsakoff?
One pair of ampoules IM or IV for 3-5 days- essential
What is the chronic treatment for Wernicke-Korsakoff?
100mg TDS is common but oral absorption is poor
Humans can only absorb up to 4mg an hour so OD dosing is pointless, has to be spread out
What are the first set of symptoms of alcohol withdrawl and when do these occur?
Onset 6-8 hours
Peak 10-30 hours
Subsides 40-50 hours
Generalised hyperactivity, tremor, sweating, nausea, retching, mood fluctuation, tachy, increased resp, HTN, pyrexia
What are the second set of symptoms of alcohol withdrawl and when do these occur?
Onset 0-48 hours
Withdrawl seizures
What are the third set of symptoms of alcohol withdrawl and when do these occur?
Onset: 12 hours
Duration: 5-6 hours
Auditory and visual hallucinations
What are the last set of symptoms of alcohol withdrawl and when do these occur?
Onset 48-72 hours
Delirium temens: coarse temor, agitation, tachcardia, delusions, hallucinations- classically ‘lilliputian’= snakes, spiders
Name benzodiazepines used in alcohol detoxification:
Main- chlordiazepoxide
Lorazepam, oxazepam in hepatic impairment
Describe the use of benzodiazepines in alcohol detoxification:
Chlordiazepoxide:
-long acting benzo, anticonvulsant, cross tolerant with alcohol
-no need to wait for withdrawl
-usual dose range 20-40mg QDS, then decrease over 9 days
When required ‘on demand’ doses should be prescribed
Withdrawl symptoms measured using CIWA (clinal institute withdrawl assessment for alcohol)
Name special care groups when using benzodiazepines for alcohol detoxification:
Elderly and those with hepatic impairment may need to decrease dose as risk of accumulation (use short acting benzodiazepines)
Name different drugs used in the maintenance therapy of alcohol dependence:
Disulfiram (Antabuse)
Acamprosate (Compral)
Naltrexone
Nalmefene
Describe the use of disulfiram for alcohol dependence:
A pro drug, activated in liver, prevents conversion of acetaldehyde to acetic acid and dopamine to NA
An adversive therapy
When a person consumes a small amount of alcohol, mild symptoms of acetaldehyde and dopamine excess is experienced; vasodilation, palpitations and headache
Combo with alcohol can be fatal
Describe the use of acamprosate for alcohol dependence:
Glutamate antagonist, better safety profile, decreased reward
Effectiveness overall is marginal but can help some people
Describe the use of naltrexone for alcohol dependence:
Licensed for alcohol misuse disorder, opioid antagonist
Well tolerated and has a significant effect on drinking behaviour
Blocks the opioid r that modulate release of dopamine in the brain reward system thus blocking the rewarding effects from heroin and alcohol
Describe the use of nalmefene for alcohol dependence:
Also an opioid antagonist
It effectively decreases heavy drinking days by decreasing the reward
Can be used on a ‘when required’ basis
When can nalmefene be used on a when required basis?
People who have failed to achieve abstinence and for whome a decrease strategy would be more suitable
Those who can’t achieve abstinence but require some form of intervention with psychosocial support
How many units are in:
-pint lager
-pint bitter
-white wine (175ml)
-single spirit
-bottle of wine
-bottle of lager
-pint lager= 3
-pint bitter= 2.3
-white wine (175ml)= 2.3
-single spirit= 1
-bottle of wine= 10
-bottle of lager= 1.7
What are the CMO’s low risk drinking guidelines?
People are safest not to regularly drink more than 14 units a week
Spread drinking over 3 days or more
Have atleast 2 drink free days each week
What is IBA?
Alcohol Identificant and Brief Advice
Simple brief advice, identify how much patient is drinking and what effects they have
What are the steps in IBA?
Gain permission to talk- do at beginning
Screen for alcohol consumption levels (FAST)
Complete a validated screening questionnaire:
-AUDIT/C
Give advice, refer, resources
Describe the FAST test:
Fast Alcohol Screening Test
An overall total score of 3 or more on the first or all 4 questions is a FAST positive
Describe the AUDIT test:
If FAST positive, complete an AUDIT
A total of 5+ score indicates a higher risk of drinking
12 is the highest score
Should you advise someone to stop drinking alcohol suddenly if they use it chronically?
No- can leads to seizures- death