As we discussed in the public health-related trends at the beginning of this class, substance abuse and violence in the U.S have become epidemic. This posting assignment will help you realize how serious the problems are and how PHNs can play significant roles in resolving the issues.
Search on the news or articles related to substance abuse or violence in your community or the U.S. If you have previously chosen one of these issues when you completed Module 1 discussion, you must choose the other one.
Discuss the significance of the issue (how serious the problem is, what the consequences of the problem are). Use data/stats from recently published articles to support your discussion.
As a community-based nurse, offer at least 3 specific interventions or ideas that you would implement. Use the PHN Intervention Wheel Links (linked below) to an external site. to guide and/or frame your thoughts.
Post your discussion on this WDB.
Full Answer Section
Substance abuse has a number of serious consequences, including:
- Health problems: Substance abuse can lead to a variety of health problems, including liver disease, heart disease, cancer, and mental health problems.
- Social problems: Substance abuse can lead to social problems such as job loss, relationship problems, and homelessness.
- Economic problems: Substance abuse costs the United States economy billions of dollars each year in lost productivity, healthcare costs, and criminal justice costs.
Data/stats from recently published articles
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 107,000 people died from drug overdoses in the United States in 2021. This is the highest number of drug overdose deaths ever recorded in the United States.
- According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), an estimated 18.2 million people aged 12 or older in the United States had an alcohol use disorder (AUD) in 2020. AUDs are defined as compulsive alcohol use that results in clinically significant impairment or distress.
- According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an estimated 10.5 million people aged 12 or older in the United States had a marijuana use disorder (MUD) in 2020. MUDs are defined as compulsive marijuana use that results in clinically significant impairment or distress.
Interventions/ideas for a community-based nurse
Here are at least three specific interventions or ideas that a community-based nurse could implement to address substance abuse:
- Education and prevention
Community-based nurses can play a vital role in educating the public about the dangers of substance abuse and preventing substance use disorders. This can be done through a variety of methods, such as:
- Giving presentations at schools and community centers
- Developing and distributing educational materials
- Working with policymakers to implement prevention programs
- Screening and early intervention
Community-based nurses can screen for substance use disorders and provide early intervention to people who are at risk. Early intervention can help to prevent substance use disorders from developing or worsening.
Screening and early intervention can be done through a variety of methods, such as:
- Offering screenings at community health clinics and other healthcare settings
- Developing and implementing educational programs for healthcare providers on how to screen for substance use disorders and provide early intervention
- Treatment and support
Community-based nurses can help people with substance use disorders access treatment and support services. This can be done through a variety of methods, such as:
- Referring people to treatment programs
- Providing support groups and other social support services
- Working with policymakers to ensure that treatment and support services are accessible and affordable
Using the PHN Intervention Wheel
The PHN Intervention Wheel is a tool that can be used to guide and frame thinking about PHN interventions. The wheel is divided into four quadrants:
- Individual: Interventions that focus on the individual, such as education, counseling, and case management.
- Family: Interventions that focus on the family system, such as family therapy and support groups.
- Community: Interventions that focus on the community, such as education programs, community organizing, and advocacy.
- Systems: Interventions that focus on changing the systems that contribute to substance use disorders, such as policy advocacy and funding for prevention and treatment programs.
Community-based nurses can use the PHN Intervention Wheel to develop and implement interventions that address substance abuse at all levels. For example, a community-based nurse could develop an educational program for parents on how to talk to their children about substance abuse (individual level), start a support group for people with substance use disorders and their families (family level), advocate for increased funding for prevention and treatment programs (community level), and work to change policies that contribute to substance abuse (systems level).
Conclusion
Substance abuse is a major public health problem in the United States. Community-based nurses can play a vital role in addressing substance abuse through education, prevention, screening, early intervention, treatment, and support. By using
Sample Answer
Substance abuse is a major public health problem in the United States. In 2020, an estimated 28.4 million people aged 12 or older in the United States had a substance use disorder (SUD). SUDs are defined as compulsive drug use that results in clinically significant impairment or distress.
Alcohol is the most commonly abused substance in the United States, followed by marijuana and prescription opioids. Other commonly abused substances include cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin.