In the 21st century, the globe has been grappling with serious substance abuse problems. These problems include alcohol abuse, illegal drugs or the wrongful use of other prescribed medications. The cases of addiction have been reported to be on the rise all over the globe with over $420 billion being spent on healthcare. Substance use disorder refers to a medical condition where the use of a substance or substances causes a clinical impairment. Substance use disorders have resulted in the deterioration of the quality of the health, education and social systems. In this regard, it is essential to translate scientific advances in disease intervention into clinical practice. This move will help reduce the gap that exists between research and practice in the field of substance use disorders. The use of evidence-based practice has enabled health care systems dealing with addiction treatment. This paper will enrich our knowledge of substance use disorders (SUD's) and the concepts about addiction and addiction treatment. The thesis of this paper is to describe how the knowledge about the evidence-based practice on the use of a patient-friendly language will impact future nursing practice.
Throughout this paper, substances will refer to any psychoactive compound capable of causing health and social problems such as substance use disorders. Substance use disorders are caused by prolonged or repeated use of these substances at high doses (Walker, 2015). According to Walker (2015) disorders may vary from mild to chronic conditions. When substance use disorders reach a severe and chronic stage, it is referred to as an addition. The provision of evidence-based care for an adequate period of time to people with severe cases of substance use disorders will yield results in ensuring these individuals recover (Glasner-Edwards & Rawson, 2010). It is essential that clinicians observe the use of patient-friendly language dealing with patients.
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Stigma has been reported to be one of the challenges affecting the recovery of patients with substance abuse disorder. Stigma is brought about by the terminology used to describe addiction by clinicians and other people surrounding the patient (Glasner-Edwards & Rawson, 2010). These terms were used during the campaign against drugs to dissuade people from engaging in substance substances. At the time very little was known about substance use disorders and addiction. It is therefore essential to change the language used in addiction medicine to reflect the current understanding of substance use disorders. This change will change the negative stereotype associated with addiction. A patient-friendly language will get rid of the negative stereotype that members of the public associate with addiction patients (Glasner-Edwards & Rawson, 2010). The use of certain words to describe people with substance use disorders may be responsible for removing the distinction between the person the disease (Glasner-Edwards & Rawson, 2010). In discussing substance use disorders, certain words carry more weight when informing, clarifying, encouraging and supporting those affected by substance use disorders.it is vital to raise awareness on the use of words during patient treatments.
Evidence-based practice on the patient-friendly language will raise awareness around language and offer alternatives to stigmatizing words associated with substance abuse disorders (Glasner-Edwards & Rawson, 2010). Attention to language is essential in the reduction of stigma and transformation of people's perceptions and attitudes concerning substance use disorders. These developments will create a patient-friendly environment which will support the prevention, treatment, and recovery of substance use disorder patients.
Several pieces of research have been conducted, and over the years, these researches have transformed clinician’s knowledge of substance use and its effects on the brain. Research on the neurobiological aspects of addiction provides different approaches to the prevention and treatments of substance disorders. This research reveal that different classes of addictive substances affect the brain in different ways and influence the risk for substance use disorders (Wise, 2014). The understanding of the neurobiological aspects of addiction helps clinicians to understand severe substance use disorders such as addiction better (Walker, 2015). Research demonstrating that changes in the brain because addiction have assisted to minimize the negative stereotypes related to substance use disorder patients (Walker, 2015). This research on underlying neurobiology about addiction has led to the creation of effective medications in the control of opioid, nicotine uses disorders and alcohol consumption.
Scientific research reveals that addiction to drugs is a case of a chronic brain disease capable of recurring and recovery. According to Wise (2014), the addiction process occurs in a three-stage cycle. The first stage is known to as the intoxication stage; the second stage is the negative effect or withdrawal stage, and the third stage is the anticipation stage. The severity of the cycle increases with continued use of the substances. Research reveals that substance use causes disruptions in the following areas of the brain. These areas are the prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia, and the extended amygdala (Wise, 2014). These disruptions are responsible for the reduced sensitivity of the brain and heighten the activation of brain stress systems; the disruptions are also responsible for the reduced functioning of the brain control systems. These disruptions also causes substance associated cues to start substance seeking. Importantly, these brain disruptions continue to remain longer after substance usage stops (Glasner-Edwards & Rawson, 2010). Brains undergoing significant development especially in teenagers and adolescents are at a high-risk period of substance use disorders and addiction.
Wise (2014) affirms that continued substance abuse results in continuous disruptions called neuroadaptations. These changes affect brain’s structure and its functionality. These neuroadaptations are responsible for compromising the brain’s function and causes the shift from controlled substance use to chronic misuse (Wise, 2014). The changes in the brain can last long after a patient stops substance use and may be responsible for relapse in patients treated for substance use disorder.
Chronic substance use disorder such as addiction is an example of a relapsing disorder. More than 70% of substance use disorder patients undergo relapse during the first year after being released from treatment (Walker, 2015). Addiction is exhibited by drug seeking, repetitive use and long-lasting brain changes. Addiction is the severe form of substance abuse disorders caused by the repeated use of substances (Dennis & Scott, 2010). Chronic relapse occurs when a previously treated substance abuse patient uses a drug again after being sober for some time. Relapse is caused by a trigger that acts in the brain of a recovering addict to begin cravings. The disruptions in the brain caused by substance use are responsible for associating these triggers with substance abuse. According to Dennis & Scott (2010) these triggers cause a cycle of chronic relapse on the substance use disorder patient. Relapses can be handled by the decision of substance use disorder patients to engage in one-on-one therapy, group support, and alternative therapies to help solve the problem of chronic relapse.
In conclusion, the knowledge of the patient-friendly language will eliminate the use of stigmatizing language on substance use disorder patients and their concerned families. Through, the use of less stereotyping vocabulary, I will be able to properly handle sessions with patients recovering from chronic substance abuse disorders. It is also essential for the general public to ensure that they adopt less stigmatizing vocabulary when referring to substance abuse disorder patients. Chronic substance abuse disorders, for instance, addiction are caused by the disruption of different parts in the brain. This understanding will enable me to adopt a new approach to handling patients. These approaches will not only help to prevent relapses in patients but also assist in educating the family members and the general public on the proper care of substance use disorder patients.
Reference
Dennis, M., & Scott, C. K. (2010). Managing addiction as a chronic condition. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice , 4 (1), 45.
Glasner-Edwards, S., & Rawson, R. (2010). Evidence-based practices in addiction treatment: Review and recommendations for public policy. Health Policy , 97 (2-3), 93-104. doi: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2010.05.013
Walker, R. (2015). Substance Use Disorders, Evidence-Based Practices and the Possible Nature of Deep Flaws. Substance Use & Misuse , 50 (8-9), 956-963. doi: 10.3109/10826084.2015.1010905
Wise, R. A. (2014). Neurobiology of addiction. Current opinion in neurobiology , 6 (2), 243-251.
