1. Select an issue or trend that impacts psychiatric mental health practice. Examples include ethical issues, mental health treatment disparities, substance abuse, recovery, or wellness issues.
2. Select one of the phenomena of concern for psychiatric mental health nurses as described by the American Nurses Association et al. (2022) text on pp. 4-5.
Source: American Nurses Association, American Psychiatric Nurses Association, & International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses. (2022). Psychiatric–mental health nursing: Scope and standards of practice (3rd ed.). American Nurses Association.
Include the following sections:
I. Application of Course Knowledge: Answer all questions/criteria with explanations and detail.
a. Describe the issue or trend.
b. Provide an example from practice.
c. Discuss how the phenomenon you selected relates to or impacts your selected issue/trend.
### Substance Abuse: A Major Trend in Psychiatric Mental Health Practice
#### I. Application of Course Knowledge
**a. Describe the issue or trend**
Substance abuse remains a significant issue in psychiatric mental health practice. It encompasses the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs. Substance abuse leads to dependence syndrome—a cluster of behavioral, cognitive, and physiological phenomena that develop after repeated substance use and typically include a strong desire to take the drug, difficulties in controlling its use, persisting in its use despite harmful consequences, a higher priority given to drug use than to other activities and obligations, increased tolerance, and sometimes a physical withdrawal state.
**b. Provide an example from practice**
In clinical practice, a common example of substance abuse can be seen in patients suffering from opioid addiction. Opioids, which include prescription pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, have led to a nationwide epidemic in many countries. A patient with opioid use disorder may present with a history of escalating doses of opioids, seeking prescriptions from multiple doctors, experiencing withdrawal symptoms, and suffering significant impairments in personal, social, and occupational functioning. Treatment often involves a combination of medication-assisted therapy (MAT) with drugs like methadone or buprenorphine and behavioral interventions.
**c. Discuss how the phenomenon you selected relates to or impacts your selected issue/trend**
The phenomenon of **”the experience of emotional and mental suffering and altered states of consciousness”** is particularly relevant to the issue of substance abuse. This phenomenon, as described in the American Nurses Association et al. (2022), includes the various emotional and psychological states that patients with mental health issues may experience.
1. **Emotional and Mental Suffering**:
– Patients with substance use disorders often experience profound emotional and mental suffering. This suffering can be a contributing factor to the initiation and continuation of substance abuse, as individuals may use substances as a form of self-medication to cope with anxiety, depression, trauma, and other mental health issues. For instance, a patient with untreated PTSD might turn to alcohol or drugs to alleviate their symptoms, which in turn leads to a substance use disorder.
2. **Altered States of Consciousness**:
– Substance abuse directly induces altered states of consciousness, impacting cognitive and emotional functioning. These altered states can exacerbate existing mental health issues or create new psychiatric symptoms. For example, chronic use of stimulants like methamphetamine can lead to psychosis, paranoia, and severe mood disturbances, significantly complicating the treatment and recovery process for these individuals.
The relationship between substance abuse and emotional and mental suffering is bidirectional. Mental suffering can lead to substance abuse as individuals attempt to self-medicate their symptoms, and substance abuse can exacerbate or create new mental health issues, creating a vicious cycle that can be challenging to break. Addressing this phenomenon in psychiatric mental health practice requires a comprehensive approach that considers the interplay between emotional suffering, substance use, and altered states of consciousness. This approach may involve integrated treatment models that combine mental health care with substance abuse treatment, ensuring that both issues are addressed simultaneously.
In conclusion, substance abuse is a critical issue in psychiatric mental health practice, deeply intertwined with the phenomenon of emotional and mental suffering. Understanding and addressing this relationship is essential for effective treatment and recovery of individuals affected by substance use disorders.
#### References
American Nurses Association, American Psychiatric Nurses Association, & International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses. (2022). *Psychiatric–mental health nursing: Scope and standards of practice* (3rd ed.). American Nurses Association.
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