Narrative Therapy

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 don't 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 mother's 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 who's 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