Verified Document

Substance Abuse In Primary Care Article

Researchers such as Jackson, Alford, Dube and Saitz assert that despite the widespread substance abuse problems in our nation, there is a considerable lack of training for primary healthcare providers in this area. Both psychotherapeutic (such as cognitive and behavioral strategies) and pharmacological (such as Buprenorphine, Methadone, LAAM and Naltrexone) interventions have shown to be successful at treating substance abuse. However, if the medical professionals making contact with these individuals are not properly trained to deal with these issues, nobody benefits. As a primary care nurse, it is also important to know the best treatment centers for referral in the community. While most communities have Alcoholics Anonymous and other twelve step programs readily available, knowing where to refer a client for in-patient treatment is critical as well. Some in-patient treatment facilities can be very difficult for substance abusers to get into on their own, but a referral from a medical professional can help them get accepted more quickly.

Once again, your attitude toward substance abuse will play a significant role in how likely you are to make these types of referrals. In addition, the NIDA study (mentioned above) reports that having a manual or a written set of guidelines that explains exactly what nurses should do to recognize and inquire about...

To be competent in caring for these clients means being confident that you have the training, knowledge and skills necessary to identify, confront and handle the situation properly. It also requires having a positive attitude toward the ability of both counseling and pharmacological therapy to provide successful treatment for these clients. Nurses who have been properly trained and have optimistic attitudes toward rehabilitative intervention methods are significantly more likely to be a part of the helping process. Therefore it is up to you, the nurse, to make a concerted effort to advance your knowledge and understanding of substance abuse in order to provide the highest quality of nursing care possible.
References

Jackson AH, Alford DP, Dube CE, Saitz R. Internal medicine residency training for unhealthy alcohol and other drug use: recommendations for curriculum. BMC Med Educ. 2010 Mar 20;10(1):22.

Rieckmann TR, Fuller BE, Saedi GA, McCarty D. Adoption of practice guidelines and assessment tools in substance abuse treatment. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy. 2010 Mar 26;5(1):4

Sources used in this document:
References

Jackson AH, Alford DP, Dube CE, Saitz R. Internal medicine residency training for unhealthy alcohol and other drug use: recommendations for curriculum. BMC Med Educ. 2010 Mar 20;10(1):22.

Rieckmann TR, Fuller BE, Saedi GA, McCarty D. Adoption of practice guidelines and assessment tools in substance abuse treatment. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy. 2010 Mar 26;5(1):4
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Substance Abuse and Homeless Youth
Words: 6346 Length: 20 Document Type: Research Paper

For some, there will be a denial and minimization of the substance habit as being inconsequential, purely recreational or extremely intermittent. This response is akin to the young adult asserting that there is no problem. For other homeless youths, their drug or alcohol habit maybe viewed as a form of survival: these drugs help these teenagers bear life on the street. In that sense the substance is attributed as

Substance Abuse Group Psychotherapy Proposal for a
Words: 1993 Length: 7 Document Type: Essay

Substance Abuse Group Psychotherapy Proposal for a Diverse Homeless Population We find several problems associated with substance abuse people in our environment. Researches show that men are more likely to develop a substance abuse personality. As a result they lose jobs and homes. Uncountable homeless families depend on substance abuse men. A variety of group treatments are employed to meet the needs of such people during the recovery process. This essay

Substance Abuse Treatment Analysis of David Ruffin
Words: 5517 Length: 20 Document Type: Essay

Substance Abuse Treatment Analysis of David Ruffin Most people today probably recognize his signing voice from his hits such as "My Girl," but few may remember David Ruffin of The Temptations music group from the latter half of the 20th century. Like many of his contemporaries, Ruffin fell victim to the ravages of drug abuse during the height of his career, leaving his millions of fans with a musical void in

Substance Abuse Group Therapy African Americans
Words: 2219 Length: 7 Document Type: Term Paper

Substance abuse is a significant problem for all Americans. Research has revealed increased risk factors including exposure to drugs among African-American males, making a race-specific intervention program necessary to ensure recovery success rates (Wallace & Muroff, 2002). Moreover, psychological counseling and intervention programs need to be culturally sensitive if they are to be successful. Variables such as communication styles, worldviews, family values, gender roles and norms, urban vs. rural living

Substance Abuse Programs Illicit Drug
Words: 1049 Length: 4 Document Type: Research Paper

In principle, the common philosophy of all Twelve Step-based programs emphasize the psychological acceptance of the problem, the extent of its detrimental effects on the lives of addicts and their families, acknowledgement of the inability of the addict to solve the problem without help, and the development of self responsibility and a social support network to help them overcome residual (or recurring) negative impulses or behaviors. Much of that is

Substance Abuse
Words: 1232 Length: 4 Document Type: Case Study

Substance Abuse Case Study: Multi-Axial Diagnosis Substance Abuse Substance Abuse Case Study: DSM-V-TR Multi-Axial System Diagnosis Substance Abuse Case Study: DSM-V-TR Multi-Axial System Diagnosis Al (A.L.) is obviously in enough distress that his family felt the need to drag him, kicking and screaming, to the emergency room. Despite having a normal appetite, concentration, energy levels, interest, and sleep patterns, the alcohol abuse, deep despondency, and acute family concern suggest that this behavior is abnormal

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now