Misuse of drugs act 1

Question 1

What sorts of drugs are misused?

Answer 1

• OTC medicines
• Prescription medicines
• Plant material
• Volatile substances
• Caffeine
• Tobacco
• Alcohol

Question 2

What is meant by harm reduction?

Answer 2

Intended to reduce adverse effects of drug misuse as far as possible until mis-user has decided, or is able, to stop misusing the drug

Question 3

What are the three principles of harm reduction?

Answer 3

1. Misuse of drugs accepted but not approved of
2. User should be treated as a normal human being
3. Harm reduction need not necessarily lead to the longer term goal of ridding the world of drug misuse

Question 4

What are the controversies with harm reduction?

Answer 4

• It does not focus on abstinence
• Maintenance treatment - some patients can abuse their treatment
• Attitudes of some pharmacists
• Cost of drug services
• Government targets distorting clinical priorities

Question 5

Describe the role of pharmacists in harm reduction.

Answer 5

They deliver harm reduction approaches to support people until they are ready to stop misusing drugs