Reference no: EM134042463 , Length: Word Count:1500

Brief overview of classes of illicit and prescribed drugs and their pharmacology

Introduction

This first week focuses on illicit and prescribed drugs and their pharmacology. Illicit drug use is a public health concern both globally and within Australia, associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The prevalence and associated harms of prescription drug misuse can also lead to serious health consequences.

Our community has widely differing views about substance misuse, the reasons for it, the most effective treatments and ways of managing heavy or destructive use, whether the harm is incurred by the user or by others. There are biological, psychological and sociological explanations for substance misuse and dependence (Carter, Hall, Capps & Daglish, 2009). Dependence affects several different areas of the brain including those concerned with reward and motivation, learning and memory and behavioural inhibition. In addition, some people are more vulnerable to becoming dependent, linked to their genetics, age of first exposure to drugs, and several other environmental factors (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018). Different disciplines contribute to our understandings of substance misuse which is why there are Readings from Human Bioscience and from Sociology to broaden your perspectives. At the end of the course there is a brief review of Australian policies regarding drug and alcohol use and an short overview of prevention.

However, the focus of the course is on practical clinical skills in drug and alcohol nursing. You will be familiar with the management of the intoxicated person and probably with the management of withdrawal. We work through those topics and then come to the multitude of treatments and therapies available today for people who misuse substances.

(Department of Home Affairs, 2019)

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

Conduct a comprehensive Alcohol and Other Drugs assessment

Assess readiness for change based on Stages of Change model

Describe and deliver appropriate brief interventions

Critically evaluate and provide appropriate psychotherapies

Critically evaluate current pharmacotherapies used in the treatment of substance misuse

Advise on harm minimisation and prevention strategies

Examine and criticise the multi-factorial determinants for substance misuse

Week 1 Learning Outcomes

By the end of this week, students will be able to:

Define illicit substance use

Gain an understanding in the epidemiological trends in illicit substance use globally and within Australia

Provide a brief overview of classes of illicit and prescribed drugs of abuse and their pharmacology

Identify priority populations and substances in Australia

Here is the case study about Emily on which your first assignment is to be based.

Case Study

Brief Purpose-

The purpose of this assessment is to determine students' knowledge on withdrawal management and to identify risks for a person living with a substance use disorder exiting residential treatment and to advise of harm minimisation and prevention strategies to reduce risks.

The Case

study on Emily will be provided in Canvas Assessment 1 folder. The case study is modified from Marel et al. (2019, pp. 42, 161).

In this assessment, you are required to consider Emily's case study and discuss withdrawal management as part of your alcohol and other drug assessment. Then in order to provide holistic healthcare, consider the physical, mental health and psychosocial-related problems which may affect Emily following successful detoxification and discharge from residential rehabilitation.

You are also required to recommend appropriate harm minimisation strategies relevant to any potential harms identified.

All sections need to use person-centred language as outlined in the marking rubric.

Use the following headings:

Introduction (approx. 100 words): Provide a logical succinct overview of the main points.

Withdrawal management (approx. 500 words): Discuss withdrawal relevant to the main substances in the case study, including onset, signs, symptoms and problems related to poly-substance use. Critically evaluate withdrawal scales you would use to monitor withdrawal.

Responding to and managing risks and needs (approx. 500 words): Considering the potential risks of ‘recent release from hospital or residential health setting', identify and discuss:

• two (2) physical health-related risks,
• two (2) mental health-related risks and
• two (2) psychosocial-related risks related to AOD use that could affect Emily following discharge.

Interventions (approx. 300 words): Identify and describe relevant AOD-related or comorbidity-related strategies to manage two of the risks identified above. Justify your choice.

Conclusion (approx. 100 words): Present a summary of the main points of the essay.

References: Use APA 7th referencing style.