The Drug Use And Opioid Addiction

Nurses, especially nurses working on an Addiction Medicine unit, are well-positioned to provide patient and family education on opioid addiction (Manworren, 2015; Painter, 2017). Effective patient and family education can theoretically improve the capacity for patients at risk for opioid dependence and/or patients experience opioid dependence to cope with the problem, reduce risks, and prevent relapse (Costello et al., 2016; McNeil et al., 2015). Nurses working on an inpatient unit provide patient education as part of regular daily care and during the course of discharge planning and management (Costello et al., 2016). Patient and family education related to the patient’s diagnosis and/or reason for admission is standard practice on most units. However, nurses, including nurses working on an addiction treatment unit, may lack sufficient knowledge in opioid addiction prevention and management to provide suitable patient-centered education to patients and their families (Costello et al., 2016). Moreover, there is currently no established model or protocol for nursing-directed patient and family opioid addiction education (Costello et al., 2016; Manworren,

“Harm reduction is based on the premise that people are responsible for their behaviour, that they maker personal choices that affect their health and well-being, and that they can make safer and better decisions if given useful and honest information” (Mathre, 2002, p. 106). Harm reduction recognizes people’s unhealthy choices while also attempting to reduce the harmful effects that come from these unhealthy behaviours (Marlatt, 1998 as cited in Brown, Luna, Ramirez, Vail, and Williams, 2005). Using a harm reduction approach has a positive effect on drug users, as it helps to reduce the negative consequences that come from using drugs. Although harm reduction aims to reduce the harm from illegal drug using, it is viewed as

Harm reductions recognizes an individual’s willingness to make a change in their life, there is a wide range that these individuals may be along, from not thinking about change, to contemplating change, to taking action, to maintaining change and the other way around. The method of harm reduction first begins with focusing on what stage the individual is on with their drug use. As earlier stated the active participation of individuals who use drugs is at the heart of harm reduction. These individuals are the best source of information in terms of their own drug use and are determined with the help of other service agencies to determine the best form of intervention. There have been many success stories from having injection sites as a form

Proponents of harm reduction argue that instead of penalizing individuals for partaking in illicit drug use, it is more productive to create policies and procedures that reduce the likelihood of harmful consequences of such drug use (14). Naloxone, an opioid antagonist and overdose reversal medication, has been shown to be a highly effective harm reduction strategy. If used quickly, naloxone can prevent and overdose and reverse the effects of opioids (15). Previously only used by EMT’s and other medical professionals, allowing laypersons to access and use naloxone has successfully prevented opioid-related overdoses (13, 16-18). While naloxone is the most studied and validated harm reduction method, others have been employed nationally. Though not validated through peer-reviewed literature, Project Lazarus and the Harm Reduction Coalition, two harm-reduction centered non-profits, advocate that when using drugs, people should use together, and avoid mixing drugs as a means of reducing the likelihood of overdose (19-22). Many fatal-overdoses result from poly-substance drug use and therefore, the recommendation of avoiding poly-substance use bares significance even if this harm reduction strategy has not been analyses in a scientific context

It is no secret that the United States is currently experiencing a shortage of nurses . “The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics ( 2009 ) estimated that more than one million new and replacement nurses will be needed by 2018 to meet the increased demands of the health care workforce” (). The stressful conditions under which nurses work, due in part to the nursing shortage, are among the risk factors that contribute to nurses’ abuse of illicit drugs and alcohol. Nurses are unique in that they work in an environment where they not only have access to controlled substances, but also are exposed to critically ill patients, traumatic situations, death and dying, the stress of which can increase the risk of substance abuse. (Epstein, Burns, & Conlon, 2010). Unfortunately, it is the patient that suffers the most.

According to the SAMHSA (2010) report on the national survey on drug use and health almost 22.5 million people are reported to be associated with substance abuse disorder (SAMHSA, 2010). This illness was found to be very common in all age groups, both sex, and seniors. There are several effects on these individuals and their families. Many people who suffer from substance abuse disorders fail to acknowledge these serious consequences. First of all, no response of pain relief can be seen with smaller doses of pain medications, as their bodies are used to high levels of various substances at the same time. Nurses become frustrated when they try to treat and help these patients with pain. Sometimes it is difficult to think about ethical principles when nurses have to deal with such patients with pain and suffering.

There are many ways in which people who are addicted to intravenous drugs are perceived by our society. People sometimes believe the addicted person is to blame for their circumstance and substance dependence and some feel serious drug addicts are a “lost cause” due to a lack of values or flawed character. “Persons who struggle with addictions often are depicted as criminals or prostitutes, weak, lazy and morally corrupt” (Bartlett, R., Brown, L., Shattell, M., Wright, T., Lewallen, L. (2013). These stereotypes paint people with addiction negatively; a percentage of people who live with serious addiction are capable of recovery with the right attitude, support and healthcare. Street level healthcare services such as; safe injection sites, provide accessable resources at street level for people to make the choice to live healthier lifestyles. Govement funding and support is needed to make these projects possible to improve the health of Canadians. Safe injection sites are proven to be positive contributions to communities, save lives, reduce harm and open doors towards recovery for people from the grip of addiction.

We also have to ask if we are in line with Canada's Drug Strategy definition of harm reduction, which, in general, is to lower sickness, death, social misery, crime, violence and economic costs. Has it reduced the harms associated with alcohol and drugs to individuals, families and communities or is the drug still in control? Some effects of drugs are too powerful to manage. Paranoia, a common effect of cocaine use, can cause violent and erratic behavior. Sometimes users experience 'coke bugs': imaginary bugs crawling over their skin. Heroin causes euphoria, which is followed quickly by sadness,

The United States currently faces an unprecedented epidemic of opioid addiction. This includes painkillers, heroin, and other drugs made from the same base chemical. In the couple of years, approximately one out of twenty Americans reported misuse or abuse of prescriptions painkillers. Heroin abuse and overdoses are on the rise and are the leading cause of injury deaths, surpassing car accidents and gun shots. The current problem differs from the opioid addiction outbreaks of the past in that it is also predominant in the middle and affluent classes. Ultimately, anyone can be fighting a battle with addiction and it is important for family members and loved ones to know the signs. The cause for this epidemic is that the current spike of opioid abuse can be traced to two decades of increased prescription rates for painkillers by well-meaning physicians.

Many people consider New Hanover County as a nice place to live. The website 10Best.com recently selected the waterfront in downtown Wilmington as the best American waterfront. However, all nice places have issues under the surface just like alligators living under the surface of the water in the Cape Fear River. The wicked problem facing New Hanover County is the opioid epidemic. Many communities across the United States share in this struggle. Over two million people become dependent on prescription pain pills and street opioids every year in the United States . Of those addicted, the deaths because of a heroin overdose have increased 533% between 2002 and 2016 in the United States. If the opioid crisis

In the wake of listening back to my recorded interviews and analyzing my findings I undeniably discovered more about my participants than I expected, and I’m sure all six of my participators could say the same for themselves. From what I observed while interviewing each participant, I noticed each respondent expressed that they never thought of most of the questions I was asking. That was my initial plan for these thought-provoking interviews; to not only ask questions in order to get results back, but to guide participants to gain further insight of their illicit drug use. At one point during my interviews, all of my participants eventually admitted they never examined how much their drug use had impacted their lives, just as I anticipated. My sixth participants “Key”, even humorously claimed, “It never once crossed my mind.” The concepts of my interview questions were what ignited these light bulb moments.

In the last two decades, opioid addiction started affecting more and more Americans. But who is at fault for this epidemic? The pharmaceutical companies. They make and distribute their drugs to doctors and pharmacies and are making billions off the American worker’s dollar. All while, lying to doctors about these miracle drugs effectiveness and advocating against protective measures for the drugs.

In order to successfully decrease the cases of drug addiction, society needs to remember that we cannot change the physiological effects of drugs, but we can prevent individuals from turning into them. In other words, the primary focus should be on the individual and not the drug.

Many social stigmas are associated with drug use within our society. At one point in my life I shared the negative connotations associated to drug abuse with the vast majority of the population of this country and the society in which I live. As I matured and began forming my own opinions based on several personal experiences, I began to disagree with the believed norm that drugs are bad for our society. They are a means of escape for some just the same as alcohol and tobacco is for millions of others in this country. Those legal substances are just as bad for your body and habit forming as other illegal substances. Why do so many people frown on those of us who need our help? Drug addiction is a disease yet it’s

For any professional working in the substance abuse treatment field, they will very likely come across situations and be presented with dilemmas relating to personal beliefs, judgments, and values. Drug or substance use and abuse have been a controversial and heated topic around the world for centuries. Drug abuse, in a way, is a facet of human culture that has been present for a great deal of human history in general. Every culture handles the issue of drug abuse differently. The history of how a society views persons with addictions is intermeshed with emotion, misperceptions, and prejudice that directly affects the care of drug abusers. This is a kind of awareness that drug users and those who provide drug treatment or rehabilitation should have. They may be susceptible to treating patients different because of their own personal views or because of the culturally normative views of that particular society. Just like teenagers may be automatically considered dangerous or irresponsible, it is fairly normative in a health care setting for a patient to be perceived negatively just because that person is a known drug user. Because of the highly charged emotional nature of the substance abuse treatment field, providers should possess the tools to explore ethical dilemmas objectively. By doing so, and by examining their own reactions to the situation, providers can proceed with the most ethical course of action. Ethical practice is