Nursing Management Substance Use
Nursing Management Substance Use Nursing Assessment Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Screening for problems using standardized screening tools Brief intervention or teaching about consequences of use and abuse Referral for further treatment Determine when substance last used Assess for withdrawal Notify HCP of polysubstance use Mental health disorders Blood work Nursing Diagnosis […]
Inhalants
Inhalants Household and workplace products contain chemicals with psychoactive properties when inhaled Rapidly absorbed and reach CNS quickly Most are depressants Long-term use can result in brain damage Cannabis THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) a key ingredient in cannabis causes psychoactive effects Low to moderate doses produce alcohol-like effects Long-term use has cardiopulmonary and mental health effects Legalization […]
Depressants
Depressants Rapid development of tolerance and dependence Commonly used with alcohol Commonly types used: Sedative-hypnotics Barbiturates Benzodiazepines Barbiturate-like drugs Depress CNS Tolerance develops to drug’s effects but not brainstem-depressant effects Opioids Misuse of illegal street drugs and prescription opioids Cause sedation and analgesia Frequently abused Toxicity Unintentional overdose occurs frequently Death can occur from CNS […]
Stimulants
Stimulants Highly addictive Increase cardiac activity Excite CNS by increasing neurotransmitters Norepinephrine Serotonin Dopamine Toxicity Sympathetic overdrive Can be fatal No antidote Emergency management is based on clinical manifestations Supportive care for agitation and cardiovascular symptoms Withdrawal Not an emergency Supportive care Quiet environment Sleeping and eating at will Suicide precautions if indicated Assessment findings […]
Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium
Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium Serious complication Can occur 2-3 days after the last drink Lasts 2-3 days Risk increases with greater alcohol dependence Manifestation Interprofessional Care Disorientation Visual, tactile, or auditory hallucinations Seizures Continued use of benzodiazepines Carbamazepine (Tegretol) or valproate (Depakote) to treat seizures Antipsychotic agents e.g. chlorpromazine (Thorazine), haloperidol (Haldol) Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) if psychosis […]
Manifestations – Interprofessional Care
Manifestations Interprofessional Care Agitation Anxiety Increased Heart rate Increased BP Sweating Nausea Tremors Insomnia Hyperactivity Benzodiazepines e.g. lorazepam (Ativan) or midazolam (Versed) to prevent seizures and delirium Thiamine to prevent Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome Multivitamins e.g. folic acid, B vitamins Magnesium sulfate to treat low serum magnesium IV glucose solution to treat hypoglycemia β-blockers (e.g. propranolol) or […]