Recreational Drugs & Dentistry Importance

Recreational Drugs/Substance Misuse and Relevance in Dentistry

• The presentation covers the relevance of recreational drug use in dentistry.
• The speaker, Sarah Balian, discussed GDC learning outcomes related to substance misuse.
• Key learning outcomes include recognizing psychological and sociological factors affecting oral health and treatment success.
• Recognizing changes in patient reported oral health and taking appropriate action is crucial.
• Referring to other dental team members and arranging follow-up care is necessary.
• A preventive approach to patient care is important for long-term oral and general health.
• Risks of diet, drugs, and substance misuse (like tobacco and alcohol) on oral and general health are emphasized.
• Effective communication with patients, their representatives, and the public is vital.
• Communication skills are needed in various situations, including difficult conversations about issues like alcohol use.

Intended Learning Outcomes

• Understanding the prevalence of drug misuse in the UK population is important.
• Dentists play a role in delivering general health messages.
• Evaluating patient data and offering appropriate advice is necessary.
• Discussing the impact of illegal drugs on oral and general health is essential.

Assessment

• Formative and summative assessments are planned.
• Unseen cases, class discussions, and clinical activities are parts of the assessment.
• Case presentations are also included.

Recall of Information

• The presentation emphasizes the need for information recall.

Office for National Statistics Data

• One in five adults (aged 16–24) have used drugs in the past year, about 1.3 million people.
• 3.4% of adults (aged 16–59), and 7.4% of adults (aged 16-24) used Class A drugs in the past year.
• 2.1% of adults (aged 16-59) and 4.3% of adults (aged 16-24) were categorized as frequent drug users, defined as using a drug more than once a month during the last year.

Types of Substance Users

• Substance users are categorized as social, abuser, and addict.

Types of Drugs

• The presentation mentions specific drugs including Cannabis, Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Heroine, MDMA Ecstasy, and Nitrous Oxide.

Drugs/Substance overview

• Caffeine occurs naturally in tea, coffee, and cocoa and is an additive in many products.
• Energy drinks are a significant source of caffeine consumption among adolescents, with potential health risks.
• Synthetic cannabinoids (K2/Spice) are not marijuana and have unpredictable effects; its consumption is often life-threatening.

Drug Wheel

• The Drug Wheel is a model for substance awareness, showing different categories and types of drugs. This aids in recognizing different types of substance misuse.

Important Considerations

• Treatment and drug interactions within the context of oral health and general health should be considered.
• Prevention, sensitive communication, identification of substance misuse or use (E/O & I/O), and asking questions are necessary to effectively address the topic.

Impact on Oral Health & General Health

• The presentation highlights the impact of drug misuse on oral health and general well-being.

Resources for Information

• Reading material, FRANK (talktofrank.com), and http://www.thedrugswheel.com/ are suggested resources.

Mind Map Criteria for Drugs

• Students should create mind maps for various drugs, considering alternative names, methods of intake, oral health impact, and general health impact.

This quiz explores the relevance of recreational drug use and substance misuse in dentistry, highlighting key learning outcomes discussed by Sarah Balian. It covers the psychological and sociological factors that affect oral health, the importance of effective communication with patients, and the need for preventive care. Gain insights into how these elements contribute to better dental practices and patient well-being.