S5 - Substance Misuse Flashcards
What is substance misuse?
Use of psychoactive substances in a harmful/hazardous way.
What is the alcohol harm paradox? And possible reasons for this?
That lower socioeconomic status groups consume less alcohol but experience more alcohol-related problems.
- Drinking alongside other bad health habits (smoking, bad diet)
- Binge-drinking
- Less access to healthcare
What is dependence?
It can be physical or psychological.
Physical: experiencing symptoms associated with withdrawal from a substance
Psychological: having impaired control
What is used to screen for alcohol dependence at a population level?
Audit-C
What are 6 risk factors for drug use?
- Family life issues
- Mental health
- Social groups
- Previous drug use
- Biology (if positive effects, more likely to continue)
- Adverse childhood experiences
Name 3 theories of dependence.
- Learning theories
- Imitation theories
- ‘Rational’ choice theories
What are learning theories in terms of dependency?
Think of the classical conditioning model - dependence from environment and drug effects (being positive).
Conditioned so when see/smell/etc something, crave the substance.
Linked to biology - body becomes reliant on it? E.g. when blood alcohol levels drop, start craving it.
What are imitation theories in terms of dependency?
Learning through observation and listening to others
E.g. role models, family members, social circle
What are ‘rational’ choice theories in terms of dependency?
Making rational choices that favour benefits of dependency over costs. People are motivated by what they want/preference
What are the 3 treatment models for dependency?
- Medical model
- Disease model
- Behavioural model
What is considered good treatment?
The patient is supported to do what they want to do (e.g. choosing which model they think will be most suitable for them)
What are the 5 treatment types?
- Harm reduction
- Psychosocial interventions (applies to all substances)
- Stabilisation (substitute prescribing, not for alcohol)
- Detoxification
- Relapse prevention (anticraving/alcohol deterrent)
What is the medical treatment model?
Focuses on the physical condition and usually involved pharmaceutical treatment.
E.g. using detox or substitute prescribing
What is the disease treatment model?
Combined in-patient with therapy and groups.
The idea is that addiction is an illness and genetic (so predetermined). So stopping and avoiding are the only treatment options.
E.g. using AA and step facilitation
What is the behavioural treatment model?
Addiction isn’t real - it’s instead a mislearnt coping mechanism. Due to learnt experiences (social, economic and familial). Treatment involves giving alternative coping mechanisms.
E.g. using CBT and motivational interviewing
