Practical Flashcards
Aim?
To investigate the key issue of how drug abuse can be treated and to draw conclusions from two magazine articles related to concepts, theories and/or research from the topic of substance misuse.
What was found online?
Two news articles were found online which related to the topic of how substance abuse can be treated.
How were the articles chosen?
The articles were chosen using an opportunity sample as they were the first articles found using a BBC news search online that fitted the criteria of being about the treatment of substance misuse.
What were both articles related to?
Both articles chosen were related to methadone treatment for heroin addiction.
How was the data analysis carried out?
A qualitative analysis was carried out on both of the articles which consisted of summarising the two articles and then drawing 3 statements related to concepts theories and research from substance misuse.
What was made for each of the articles?
For each of the articles a conclusion was made which related to the success of methadone as a drug therapy for heroin dependence.
RESULTS FOR ARTICLES ONE
The article noted that Methadone is usually prescribed to people trying to overcome heroin addiction…?
According to health psychology methadone is a useful drug therapy for heroin users because it replaces heroin at the synapses and therefore reduces withdrawal symptoms of heroin users because it occupies the user’s opiate receptors.
RESULTS FOR ARTICLE ONE
The article also notes that methadone is a useful drug therapy as it can be given orally…?
Health psychologists argue that being able to give methadone orally is useful as it reduces the risks of infections from injections and because it is free to the user reduces the need for the addict to become involved in criminal activity as they would if they were paying for heroin.
RESULTS FOR ARTICLE ONE
The article also notes that there are dangers with allowing heroin addicts to take home methadone rather than taking it supervised in a clinic.
Health psychologists have argued that one of the weaknesses of unsupervised methadone treatment is that the methadone may turn up on the black market and if used by people who are not use to opiates can be lethal – even leading to death as it depresses breathing and slows down heart rate.
CONCLUSIONS FOR ARTICLE ONE?
In conclusion the article argues that methadone can be a useful drug therapy for heroin addicts as it mimics the effects of heroin and is less addictive. Furthermore methadone is useful because it is given orally and is free which is therefore much safer because the drug is not being injected and the user is less likely to turn to crime to fund their addiction. However, a problem with methadone treatment is that if it is not closely monitored methadone can appear on the black market which can be particularly dangerous for drug users who have not built up a tolerance to opiates.
RESULTS FOR ARTICLE TWO
The article notes that methadone can be used to treat heroin because it mimics the effects of heroin.
Health psychologists have found that methadone provides the user with similar feelings of heroin such as feelings of euphoria and sedation but to a lesser degree.
RESULTS FOR ARTICLE TWO
The article also notes that methadone can be addictive like heroin.
Health psychologists have found that because methadone is addictive that once the methadone treatment has stabilised a process of detoxification should be started. This involves slowly decreasing the amount of methadone enabling the addict to cope with reduced intake without experiencing withdrawal.
RESULTS FOR ARTICLE TWO
The article also notes that methadone treatment works best when highly supervised.
Health psychologists have found that when methadone treatment is not supervised methadone can appear on the black market and when taken in large quantities it produces side effects similar to heroin. These include drowsiness, apathy, confusion, nausea, vomiting, suppression of breathing reflexes and constricted pupils. In excessive quantities it will lead to coma and eventually to death
CONCLUSION FOR ARTICLE TWO
In conclusion the article argues that methadone can be a useful drug therapy for heroin addiction because it provides the user with similar feelings of heroin such as feelings of euphoria and sedation but to a lesser degree. Furthermore the article argues that methadone treatment works well when used under highly supervised situations and includes health checkups. Finally the article notes that if not supervised methadone can appear on the black market and the danger of this is that the effects are similar to heroin and if used in excessive quantities can lead to coma and eventually death.
