SUBJECT: COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING-II

Submitted to Submitted by
Mr. Pramod Kumar Nishu Rani
Jr. Lect. (CON) M.Sc 1Ind year
PGIMS, Rohtak 405/13
 ROLE OF NURSE IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Definition: Drug abuse defined as in term of societys disapproval and the effect it has on the
persons social and emotional well being drug abuse may involve the following-

1. Using drugs, usually illegal drugs, recreationally

2. Using mind altering drugs to relieve medical problems or symptoms without a health
care practitionars recommendation
3. Using drug because of a strong psychological and physical compulsion

Methods of uses:

Drug may be:-

Swallowed
Smoked
Inhaled through the nose
Powder form
Injected.

Screening; Involve checking for drugs abuse in the people who do not necessarily have any
symptoms of drug abuse. It may be done systematically and randomly in people such as

1. Certain group of people, such as students, athletes, and prisoners.

2. People such as pilots or commercial truck drivers
3. Motor vehicle or boating accidents or accidents at work
4. Attempted suicide by unclear mean
5. People in a substance abuse treatment programme to detect continuing substance abuse
People have to give consent for screening
It cant determine how often substance is used and cant distinguish causal users
Substance most commonly targeted alcohol marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines,
phencyclidine, benzodiazepines and barbiturates.

Drug rehabilitation centers and hospitals provide care to patients recovering from drug addiction.
Responsibilities vary according to hospital policy and educational level of the nurse.

ROLE OF NURSE:
Detoxification
Nurses working in a drug rehabilitation facility are often charged with monitoring the
detoxification of patients who are admitted. These patients may experience physical
withdrawal for the first several days of admission and require close monitoring of their
vital signs, general health and behavior. Nurses administer medications when needed and
report changes in patient condition to the patient's physician.

Medical Care

Nurses are responsible for the medical care needed by patients in the rehab hospital.
Patients may have any number of medical problems, from heart disease to AIDS,
requiring medication, treatment and monitoring by the nursing staff. Patients may have
physical wounds that require treatment.

Mental Health Care

In some facilities, nurses are responsible for much of the mental health care that the
patients receive. Patients are encouraged to talk about the issues that led to their drug
addictions. Many patients suffer from mental illnesses that can complicate their recovery,
such as anxiety, depression or schizophrenia, and these must be treated as well.

Monitoring for Safety

Nurses are often responsible for the safety in a drug rehabilitation hospital. They are
specially trained to know when a patient is about to become aggressive and harm himself,
staff or other patients. The nurse must be able to defuse the situation or call for
assistance. She is frequently in charge of assistants who also monitor safety.

Education

Nurses are often charged with educating patients, either individually or in groups, about
addiction. They teach patients how to develop the skills to cope with life without drugs
and prepare them for discharge back into society. Addiction nurses also assist families to
understand the addiction process and cope with the needed family-related changes,
reports Bright Hub.