Why Is Illicit Drug Abuse Most Frequently Associated With Poor Oral Health?

Good oral health is important for a person's sense of well being and quality of life (Fiske, 2001). Inadequate oral hygiene can lead to pain, tooth loss, oral disease,

Did you know your oral health can actually provide big clues about your health overall? Were you also aware that issues within your mouth could affect the rest of your body too? Understanding the intimate connection between your oral health and your overall health can help you hugely. If you aren’t aware of the links between your overall wellbeing and oral health however, then you may never be able to see the small clues that your mouth is telling you about the rest of your body.

Knowing the cause of drug abuse for each individual case is essential in creating a comprehensive and effective treatment accordingly because.

The negative impact the drugs and alcohol abuse and addiction has on the overall health of the user must be considered. Every process and system in the body is adversely affected by the over-indulgence of drugs and alcohol. Some of the health problems regularly noted include organ damage, kidney and liver disease, organ failure, congestive heart failure, respiratory depression, memory lapses, brain damage, infection, stroke, heart attack, and overdose.

Dental insurance coverage is a key determinant on whether to seek care or not. The exclusion of our mouths from the rest of our body parts and not receiving the care it requires is quite impossible to rationalize (McClymont, 2015). Dental care is essential in the maintenance of good oral health and in the identification of symptoms of systemic conditions that most likely are manifested through the mouth. As striking and conspicuous as it may sound, Canada has indeed a type of health care system wherein mouth is excepted as a part of the body. As a matter of fact, our lips, tongues, and throats are securely covered while our teeth and gums are left out from the privilege. The most common infectious disease in the world are dental diseases, and the fact that many health issues can be first diagnosed through the oral cavity validates its importance and co-relevance to the rest of our body. Studies have linked poor oral health such as severity of gum infection to AIDS, first stages of osteoporosis, reveal nutritional deficiencies, immune disorders, cancer, and so on and so forth. Xerostomia or dry mouth for an instance is often a symptom of undetected diabetes. Diabetic patients have higher risks of gum infection caused by increased blood sugar, thickening of blood vessels resulting to hindered healing process that is why they are obligated to undergo pre-medication as a form

“The impact of unmet oral health care needs is magnified by the well-established connection between oral health and overall health” (Fineberg, H. 2011, p. ix). Oral health status is linked with general health, as evidenced by the association between poor oral health and chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disease. Poor oral hygiene can also lead to other health issues such as, oral facial pain and digestive problems. “The silent epidemic of oral diseases disproportionately affects disadvantaged communities,

The acids that people use to make meth corrode tooth enamel, letting gross decay to seep in. “when people use meth the users blood vessels shrink, causing the blood flow to your teeth to slow down an this is important because without the flow of blood to your teeth they cant stay in good health.” With repeated shrinkage the vessels die an your mouth tissues decay which leads to dry mouth, and with the normal amount of saliva glands to disable the acids in your mouth the acids attacks your teeth and gums, causing weak spots that are susceptible to cavities.(“HOW METH DESTROY.”)

For example, examine the physical symptoms of an individual that chronically uses methamphetamines. Because methamphetamine has such a high potency (NHTSA, 2002), there are very few areas of the body that are not affected by use. Effects of methamphetamine can be short term or long term, but fatal effects are present in both categories. Just one single high dose is enough for an individual to experience nerve damage that is related to the substance. Short term effects of methamphetamine use include dehydration, heavy breathing, and an elevation in body temperature that could possibly be fatal. In addition, long term use can result in a tolerance, making the individual use more and more in order to reach that feeling of euphoria. Some other long term effects that may be experienced by a client include cardiovascular issues, such as an irregular heartbeat or irreversible blood vessel damage. If the blood vessel damage is severe, it is likely that the individual could have a stroke (Arizona State University, 2005). In many cases methamphetamine use has been linked to osteoporosis, a medical condition known to weaken teeth and other bones. Many individuals will have teeth fall out or break off, which in almost all cases is directly related to the methamphetamine

Many sociological studies fail to provide an accurate picture of substance abuse in a society for a number of reasons. In treatment or survey interviews, substance abusing individuals frequently misrepresent or misreport their frequency of use. Those living in poverty are often more transient in their housing than those of middle and upper classes and may, therefore, be excluded from many types of household surveys. Often, statistical information is gathered from treatment facilities; however facilities do not all report into a national database and a large number of addicts never seek services. One final problem with the validity of studies involving substance abuse and poverty is the isolation, in many studies, of one or more drugs. Many researchers have focused on drugs, such as crack-cocaine or heroin and not marijuana or powder cocaine (Jacobson and Ensminger, 2011). While it is difficult to obtain valid data on the actual rate and incidence of substance abuse in poverty ridden communities, researchers have been able to isolate some negative effects of substance abuse and correlate them to socio-economic status.

It is very common to have little knowledge about oral hygiene and its importance’s. Most people think that everything is fine as long as there isn’t any pain or bad breath. Unfortunately, this is a myth. Oral hygiene requires great importance of attention and is not simply based on how physically attractive a smile looks. In the article, “The health Perils of Gum Disease” it is stated that “gums are a barrier that help prevent inflammation that may damage your body” (Barker 1). In order to maintain a healthy mouth it is necessary to not only keep up with maintenance at home but also frequently seek a dental professional for proper cleanings and guidance. Lacking these tasks can cause great damage not only to the mouth

There are some populations that did not have access to fluoridated drinking water, so to compensate for this, it is advised to use “fluoride toothpaste” (CDC, 2013). Fluoride toothpaste is good to prevent decay because it provides coat to work against sugar and the formation of plaque. Another recommendation is to have a routine for brushing teeth, and the recommendation is to brush ones teeth at least “2 times a day and floss with the nighttime brush” (Rebecca, 2017). This routine can reduce the chances of dental plaque build up and can also prevent periodontal disease or gum disease. A nurse screening for dental problems by using the Kayser-Jones is important, however it is more important to see a dentist regularly, even if they may have no teeth or dentures. The dentist is more capable for screening for cancer in the oral cavity. Some patient education is to avoid the use of “tobacco and alcohol” (CDC, 2013), and these 2 items affect the oral cavity by damaging the lining of the mouth and throat, and can increase the risk of cancer and infections. Also, for patients with cancer and would have “chemotherapy” (CDC, 2013) around the head and face; the patient may experience a damage of tissue cells around the mouth. This includes ulcerations in the mouth, loss of sensitivity to taste, and also a lack of the production of

Drug abuse is too much consumption of drugs which results in problematic consequences as a result of the excessive consumption. The issue of drug abuse has presented major controversies as to whether or not is detrimental to health and should not be used or whether people have the absolute right to do whatever they may please with their lives so long as nobody else is being affected. The abuse of drugs has not only disastrous consequences for a drug user but his or her entire family as well. In the present times, the abuse of drugs is at its peak. Particularly in the third world countries and the developing countries, individuals and specifically youth has been involved in such nefarious activities which are only ruining their lives. At the name of freedom and liberty, many countries are disseminating such a mentality that every adult is free to his or her own life styles (Regier et al., 1990).

In addition to the technical and scientific knowledge of dental hygiene, I expect to expand my knowledge of social and cultural issues of health and illness in medical care that transcends into the dental field. During the curriculum, I will gain the ability to navigate multifaceted political, economic, social, and, ethical issues that surround dental, medical, and pharmaceutical claims. In response, I will learn steps that allow me to detect, educate, monitor, and, counsel patients at risk of abuse or addiction to prescribed pain medicine highly involved in dentistry. I also intend to learn past drug regulations to gain necessary information to remain current about drugs being abused and mindful of how their actions may help to prevent future abuse patterns. In all, dentistry is seldom mentioned in addressing prescription drug abuse but I hope to transform dentistry to be the first line defense in the scheme and prevention of the growing epidemic of drug abuse in America.

The world prison population has increased by 25-30% in the last 15 years. 144 people per 100,000 globally are prisoners. To meet the oral health needs of prisoners at this growing rate there has not been a corresponding increase in the level of dental health services. The growth in the number of prisoners has placed huge demands for dental healthcare services in prison settings. The majority of prisoners are young. However, there has been a sharp increase in the number of older prisoners due to longer sentences being given for serious crimes. Both age groups have significantly different oral health needs. Young prisoners have a high number of decayed surfaces and gingival bleeding scores. Older prisoners have more missing teeth and periodontal

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGYIntroductionAmid the substance abuse crisis in Alaska, policy makers, the justice department, and public health planners are anxious to find collaborative approaches to combat the epidemic (Alaska State Troopers, 2015; Hull-Jilly & Castro, 2013; McDowell Group, 2017). The Surgeon General urges all healthcare professionals to aide in the prevention of substance misuse (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HHS], 2016). Oral Healthcare providers are an integral part of the healthcare profession. An essential aspect of dentistry is assessing dental patient’s health history. The information provided by the patient allows oral healthcare providers to assess a patients’ general health in combination with