Substance Misuse Flashcards
What’s the definition of substance misuse?
Harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs.
What are the different types of substances with examples?
-Stimulants: feel more alert, energetic and confident (tobacco, cocaine, speed)
-Hallucinogens: mind altering, changes perception/mood/senses (LSD, magic mushrooms, ecstasy)
-volatile substances
-Depressants: feel relaxed (alcohol, heroin, cannabis) suppresses CNS
What are some risk factors for drug use?
Lack of parental supervision
Substance abuse (peer pressure)
Drug availability (peers)
Poverty
Outline the effects of drug use (physical, social. Psychological, mental health)
-physical: poverty, blood-borne virus transmission, constipation
-social: imprisonment, poor work/academic performance, social exclusion
-psychological: craving, guilt
-mental health: depression, anxiety, increased aggression, paranoia
What are the different types of dependence?
Physical- relates to withdrawal symptoms
Psychological- impaired control, desire to repeat action
What tool can be used to assess alcohol dependence?
Screening, Audit-C (test for at risk/increasing risk/high risk individuals)
What are the theories of dependence?
-learning theories: classical conditioning. Drug dependence arises from environment. Effects paired with drug use, cue/conditioned stimulus
Imitation theories: learning through observation, modelling (see others do it), expectation(reward), self efficacy (own ability to enact)
Rational choice theories: making rational choices that favours benefits of dependence> cost. Motivate by own goals and desires
What are key elements to treatment?
Reduce harm to user, families and community
Improve lifestyle
Reduce crime
Reduce amount of illicit drug use
Treatment for newly presenting drug users?
Health check
Screening for blood borne virus
Signposting (debug regal, counselling)
Sexual health advice (contraception)
What are some common health regimens for drug users?
Substitute for drugs (methadone)
Counselling (support groups)
Detoxification of substance
Recovery capital, proven to reduce mortality, crime and risk of blood borne viruses
What agencies can alcohol and drug users be referred to?
NICE guidelines
Lessons for medical professionals when working with substance misuse
No single treatment appointment for all individuals
Treatment needs to be readily available
Effective treatment attends multiple needs, not just substance abuse
