Narrative Therapy
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ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE:
HEALTH IMPACTS AND PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS
In the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 1997 10,000 people had prevalence to substance abuse disorders.
Dependence – has replaced the word addiction
Harmful use – has replaced the word Abuse
Australia is ranked 15TH in the world with Alcohol Abuse. France is ranked No. 1
Drug use disorders overall substance abuse 18-25 21.5% males
10.6% females
Alcohol abuse is most prevalent in these age groups, although female figures are consistently lower.
30% of the Australia Population smoke, 99% of these are also substance abusers.
It should be noted that most substance abusers poly drug use. Although heroin users dont as a rule drink alcohol when on heroin – (alcohol and heroin can cause a fatal overdose.)
Cocaine (professional drug) use in Melbourne has been minimal, because Cocaine makes people hyper alert (there has not been a Cocaine overdose in Melbourne).
It appears that Cocaine is widely spread in the hospitality industry to keep people AWAKE!
HEROIN is the opposite it slows you down.
Heroin is a major concern with young mothers using/or expectant mothers, Expectant mothers on heroin can have premature spontaneous abortion. Heroin users that a pregnant may have development delays. Heroin users are usually irritable and agitated and have extreme feeding problems. With feeding there is also the nutrition issue. A large percentage of young children whos parents or parent are heroin abusers may become orphans.
Heroin addicts that are mothers have a big affect on all people around them not just themselves.
RISKS WITH TAKING DRUGS
AMPHETAMINES & HALLUCINOGENS:
People take risks driving
Although these do not become addictive.
When withdrawing from amphetamines there is a tendency to become violent., be grandiose, expansive, aggressive, paranoid and suspicious. Violence is difficult to control and may be over the top.
LSD & ECSTASY:
these are quite easy to obtain and also cheap,($5-$25) the major health concern with these is dehydration and heart failure, there is also a risk of cerebal haemorrhage.
HEROIN – in 1991 their were 49 deaths for the year
1999 there is an average of 1 death per day of overdose.
A widely used drug to withdraw from heroin is Naltraxone also used is Narcan these are opioid receptors. Heroin is a long lasting drug in the system it can last between 8 and 10 hrs.
In the Northern Suburbs there is DROP (Direct Response Overdose Prevention), any person who has overdosed is recommended to have debriefing with this service.
ALCOHOL ABUSE
ALCOHOL ABUSE is a major health issue. Alcohol abusers not only abuse the alcoholic beverages as we know but also quiet a number of other substances as alcohol alternatives these being:-
Vanilla Essence (a popular alternative)
Cholorhexadine
Methylated spirits
Cough mixtures
Oranges injected with vodka
Alcohol swabs soaked in water (prisoner use these a lot)
ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS
THESE SYMPTOMS USUALLY OCCUR 8-12 HOURS AFTER LAST DRINK:-
Loss of appetite
Nausea, flushed face, thirst
Anxiety
Tachycardia
Hypertension
Inability to sleep
Irritability
Confusion
Tremors/agitation
Sweating
SEVERE WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS ARE:-
Convulsions
Cramps
Vomiting
Delusions
Hallucinations
Death due to seizures
WITHDRAWAL AFTER 24-48HRS:-
Anorexia
Nausea
Vomiting
Diahorrea
Temperature
Anxious
Vomiting
Craving alcohol
WITHDRAWAL AFTER 48 HOURS:-
Confusion
Disorientation
Delirium
Hallucinations
IF THESE ARE NOT TREATED PATIENT MAY GO INTO A
A COMA AND DIE
PATIENT WANTING TO WITHDRAW FROM ALCOHOL SHOULD START BY DRINKING LESS BY:
Starting with soft drinks
Use standard drinks
Drive slowly.
WHEN MONITORING A PATIENT