Drug Addiction and Treatment Strategies

Study Notes

Drug Addiction Treatment Approaches

Approaches vary between imprisonment, promoting cessation of illicit substance use, and harm reduction.
Substitution therapy is commonly used for treating diamorphine (heroin) addiction, involving the prescription of alternative medications.
Substitution therapy helps patients avoid withdrawal symptoms by replacing illicit drugs with prescribed substitutes that do not provide the same high.

Rationale for Substitution Therapy

Primary goals include:
- Overall cessation of diamorphine and substitute use.
- Reduction of drug addiction-related harm.
Prescribed substitutes administered orally are less harmful compared to street diamorphine.

Common Substitution Drugs

Buprenorphine and methadone are the two main drugs used in substitution therapy.
Prescriptions are often dispensed in instalments to promote safety and prevent illegal sales.

Harm Minimisation

Some regions provide pharmaceutical-grade heroin and safe injection facilities as an innovative harm minimisation method.
This approach is relatively new in the UK but widely adopted in other countries.

Legislative Background

The laws governing controlled drugs derive from international treaties and inquiries, notably those related to Harold Shipman’s case.

Drug Tolerance and Habitual Use

Repeated use of opioids can lead to tolerance, necessitating higher doses for the same effect.
Tolerance shifts the dose-response curve, allowing for increased safety in legitimate medical use for pain management.

Withdrawal Symptoms

When an individual stops using opioids, they may experience withdrawal symptoms such as muscle pain, insomnia, cold flashes, and gastrointestinal issues.
Acute withdrawal symptoms typically peak within 24-48 hours and subside after about a week.

Collaborative Intelligence Networks

The Health Act 2006 mandates collaboration among healthcare and law enforcement to address controlled drug issues.
Local networks aim to share intelligence regarding concerns about controlled drugs.

Inspections and Regulations

The Health Act 2006 grants police and designated personnel the authority to inspect premises and relevant records during reasonable hours.

Instalment Dispensing

Controlled drugs in Schedules 2 and 3 can be prescribed in instalments, particularly for methadone and buprenorphine in substitution therapy.
New patients generally start with daily collection of prescribed medicine before transitioning to less frequent intervals.

Instalment Direction Requirements

An instalment direction must specify:
- The amount of medicine supplied per instalment.
- The time interval between each supply.
Special NHS prescription forms (FP10 MDA) facilitate instalment prescribing in England.

Description

Explore the different approaches to treating drug addiction, including imprisonment, harm reduction, and substitution therapy. This quiz focuses on the treatment of heroin addiction and the use of alternative medications to alleviate withdrawal symptoms. Test your knowledge about the effectiveness of these methods and their impact on patients.