Introduction
Substance abuse, that is also referred to as drug, alcohol, and tobacco abuse, is the use of substances by methods considered to be harmful. It leads to health issues, long-term personality changes, antisocial behavior, and even criminal cases. This essay will examine the population affected, the prevalence of the issue, recourses to address related concerns, nursing interventions intended to resolve the problem, the way those solutions and current practice changers, and what type of fundraising can be done.
Background
The following statistics can be provided with respect to the population vulnerable to substance abuse. Thus, 22% of males and 17% of females reported the use of illegal drugs or misused prescription drugs within the year 2020 (Drug Abuse Statistics). Including alcohol and tobacco, more than 165 million or 60.2% of Americans aged 12 or older currently misuse medications, illegal drugs, alcohol, or tobacco (Drug Abuse Statistics).
Substance abuse prevalence is the highest among persons between the ages of 18-29 and equals 73%. Moreover, 47% of younger generation representatives use an illegal drug by the time they graduate from high school (Drug Abuse Statistics). To deepen the insight into the severity of the problem, it is possible to mention that over 70.000 drug overdose death occurs in the US annually, and this number increases at the rate of 4.0% every year (Drug Abuse Statistics). Therefore, the issue is of critical significance, as a considerable proportion of society is affected.
The following information can be provided regarding the availability of resources intended to manage substance abuse. Web resources are considered to be the most affordable ways to assist ones suffering from the abuse. Such sites may help in determining the issue, provide some initial knowledge of potential consequences, and suggest visiting a clinic for some constructive support. It is possible to claim that there are enough such resources globally, but not every specialized medical facility has one. Another resource available is Theravive, known to be a network of therapists and psychologists offering assistance to anyone in need. AccessMHA is another resource designed to help clients and families by counseling, treatments, support programs, and more. Finally, there are podcasts enabling individuals to cope with the adverse consequences of substance abuse. Without considering specialized clinics, it seems that there are enough resources to assist those endangered. However, concerning the negative statistics, some resources are not affordable if a few people decide to use them.
Nursing Interventions
Identification of interventions
It is possible to state that intervention may significantly differ based on the type of treatment plan chosen. Assuming one of the most frequent cases is “ineffective individual coping,” I can propose the following nursing interventions (Resources). Determination of understanding of the current situation and other methods of coping is the first strategy. The second one is encouraging verbalization of feeling, dears, and anxiety (Vera). Those interventions are key measures to help an individual in coping with substance abuse which I can implement in my nursing practice.
The Way Interventions are Helpful
The particular usefulness of the outlined interventions for helping patients with their problems and providing personalized and effective support can be stated. The first strategy enables me to reveal patients’ efforts taken which proved to be non-contributing ones (Vera). It gives information on the degree of denial and commitment to change and emphasizes vital coping skills. My support may significantly relieve the burden of past mistakes a patient has and ensure that they reach complete recovery. The second strategy is also psychology-centered, with an additional emphasis on communication of a client with family members and other people (Vera). With it, I am intended to help with coming to terms with long-unresolved issues. Eventually, both interventions are expected to succeed with developing bonds of patients with their friends and relatives, managing consequences of substance abuse, and detecting the most effective coping techniques.
Changing the Current Practice Behaviour and Fundraising
Although current practices, which are highly focused on managing adverse consequences of substance abuse, become more personalized and human-centered, they still do not emphasize the psychology of a patient (Resources). The examined interventions are to help nurses pay more attention to communication with patients, making them less likely to abandon treatment and increase the participants of family members in the recovery process. Concerning the fundraising, those measurements are not likely to be resource-consuming as they are to be integrated into existing practices. However, it may be recommended to establish additional groups within which patients may discuss their difficulties and insecurities through individual sponsoring or as a part of existing support programs.
Conclusion
It is possible to reveal adverse statistics that indicate the growth in the number of people aged 18-29 misusing prescription medications or taking illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. The younger generation is particularly vulnerable to substance abuse and has difficulties with individual coping with negative consequences. Interventions that determine the understanding and encourage verbalization are expected to be of particular usefulness. In contrast to existing practices, they are more patient-focused and may significantly help with fixing communication and bringing the sense of personal responsibility of people affected. Those strategies are affordable and are the methods of support by definition.
Works Cited
“Drug Abuse Statistics.” DrugAbuseStatistics, Web.
“Resources.” Families for Addiction Recovery, Web.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US). US Department of Health and Human Services, Web.
Vera, Matt. 8 Substance Abuse Nursing Care Plans. Nurseslabs, Web.