SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND SUBSTANCE DEPENDENCE

What is SUBSTANCE ABUSE?

• Use of a substance for other than its legitimate medical purpose

What is SUBSTANCE DEPENDENCE?

• Physiological and psychological dependence of the body on a substance as evidenced by tolerance and withdrawal.

What is Tolerance?

• Need for an increasing amount of the substance to produced its desired effect or it refers to the declining effect of the drug.

What is Withdrawal?

• Syndrome or a group of symptoms experienced by the patient when the amount of the substance is reduced or when the intake is stopped.

What are the COMMONLY ABUSED SUBSTANCES?
Click here to view..

What is the PRIORITY NURSING DIAGNOSIS?

• Ineffective individual coping

What are the NURSING INTERVENTIONS FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSERS?

1. Behavior Modification (Firmness-matter of fact attitude)
2. Detoxification - first step in rehabilitation
3. Administer medications as ordered

• antihypertensive; antianxiety - administered to patients who are abusing stimulants
• antianxiety; antidepressants - administered to patients who are abusing depressants
• antianxiety (Librium ) disulfiram (antabuse) - administered to patients who are abusing alcohol.