Drug and Substance Misuse

Question 1

What are the acute physical effects of dependent drug use?

Answer 1

Complications of injecting- DVT, abscesses, endocarditis
Overdose- Respiratory depression
Poor pregnancy outcomes

Question 2

What are the chronic physical effects of dependent drug use?

Answer 2

Blood born virus- Hepatitis C

Question 3

What are the social effects of dependent drug use?

Answer 3

Effects on families
Drive to criminality and imprisonment
Social exclusion

Question 4

What are the psychological effects of dependent drug use?

Answer 4

Fear of withdrawal

Craving and guilt

Question 5

What is the mx for cocaine/crack use?

Answer 5

Basic harm reduction:

1. Advice to prevent death
   No injecting or injecting more safely
   Not mixing respiratory depressants
   Reducing amount taken after intervals where tolerance is lost

2. Advice to prevent blood borne virus transmission
Not sharing needles
Safer sex (condoms)
Provision of Hep A and B vaccination
Blood borne virus screening

3. Referral where appropriate