week 12 - specific populations

Question 1

do all indivisuals within a community have the same harms associated when it comes to alcohol/drug use?

Answer 1

• no, subpopulations exist within a community/country in which different harms are associated with them.

Question 2

what are some of the sub-population groups that have different harms/impacts associated with AOD use?

Answer 2

Injecting drug use 
women 
abo/TSI
rural/remote
LGBTI
young people/older/mental illness

Question 3

what are some harms associated with injecting drug users?

Answer 3

• more susceptible of blood bourne viruses - HEP C
• psychosocial issues
• imprisonment
• homelessness
• mental illness

Question 4

Although the % of ppl injecting drugs in Australia, what are some positives within these groups of ppl in Australia?

Answer 4

• Although AUS has a very high % of ppl injecting, the % of ppl having HIV IS VERYYYY low
• although countries Russia + SA have lower % ppl injecting HIGHER % of HIV
• this is explained by the needle and syringe program AUS has implemented

Question 5

what are some interventions for injecting drug users?

Answer 5

• interventions are based on harm minimisation rather than abstience
  1. NSP
  2. peer interventions - getting people whom IDU to talk to other ppl that are IDU to educate them in the proper way administering drugs
  3. general psychoeducation
• safer injecting
• vein care
• community/safety disposal
• overdose

Question 6

Generally, women have a much higher % for the risk of SA, why is this?

Answer 6

1. women usually taking care of children
2. social differences
   - stigmitisation -> more socially acceptable men to drink/drink higher amounts
   - women < men to seek help/be honest/more fearful
3. beliefs and social beliefs
   - believes will get -ive attitude from health professional
   - fear of getting blamed/
   - more stigma
4. patterns of use
   - women higher % of taking prescription medication
   - develop probems more quickly/easier (biology related)
   - private/ hide their use because of fear of being judged (stigma)

Question 7

what are some barriers in treatment when it comes to treating the women sub-population?

Answer 7

1. many of treatment services are male orientated
   - uncomfortable for women to come forward/honest
   - many women sexally abused men - might feel uncomfortable being in a male-orientated setting
2. many women have children
   - fear of loosing children if they come forward about their drug problem

Question 8

what are the different drug/alcohol use between ppl living in rural areas and inner citiies? How can these differences be accounted for?

Answer 8

1. in general rural ppl have a much higher % alcohol use
2. rural ppl have higher % drug use
3. drugs such as ecstacy higher in inner cities
4. drugs such as MA higher in Rural areas
   - rural areas have less access to service + higher stigma-> higher suceptibility in risky substance abuse

Question 9

do LSE or HSE areas have higher % of smoking and alcohol rates? why

Answer 9

• higher % smoking in LSE
• higher % alcohol drinking in HSE
• may be due to HSE having more money to drink

Question 10

what are some of the best practises when treating CALD populations?

Answer 10

1. having imagery of ppl from different cultures in service centres -> allows ppl to understand they are accepted/included in community and are not alone
2. having a translator when someone from CALD comes into treatment services
3. different languages available
4. providing culturally centred tretament services that is similar to the norms/expectancies and culture of different CALD groups

Question 11

what are the trends in alcohol/drug use within ABO/TSI?

Answer 11

• much higher % and higher risk than NON-abo sub populations

Question 12

what are some reasons as to why ABO/TSI population groups are at risk?

Answer 12

1. racism and social isolation
2. poverty - LSE
3. removal of children from their families
4. dysfunctional family/behaviour patterns

Question 13

what are some of the best ways in addressing the needs of ABO/TSI to reduce risky levels of substance abuse?

Answer 13

• community and service centres that are run by ABO/TSI ppl
• ## services run by ABO/TSI treatment services that take into account factors such as culture/ spiritiural needs of the population group

Question 14

was AOD in LGBT community higher or lower when compared to heterosexuals in AUS?

Answer 14

• 2-4 x higher than heterosexual

Question 15

was the % of mental health seen greater in LGBT communties or in heterosexual communties?

Answer 15

• 40% in LGBT communities

- 20% in heterosexual communties

Question 16

How can the % rates of AOD in LGBT communties be explained?

Answer 16

• LGBT are rejected in normal social groups
• because LGBT are judged/rejected from normal social settings, they go to LGBT clubs/bars in which drug use is prevelant -> constantly surrounded by drugs/alcohol
• external and internal homophobia (getting yelled on the street because you are gay and you dont like the way you are )
• minority stress - coming out creates prejudice

Question 17

what are some of the best ways we can practise treatment for LGBT community?

Answer 17

1. address homophobia/bullying of LGBT community to schools
2. involve LGBT community in educaton/prevention programs
3. workforce development training of LGBT community
4. provide support groups for LGBT community