VIRGEN MILAGROSA UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION

Dr. Martin P. Posadas Ave., San Carlos City, Pangasinan

COLLEGE OF NURSING

NCM 105 Psychiatric Nursing;

Related Learning Experience

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Submitted to:
Mrs. Merly Cabansag
Clinician Instructor

Prepared by:
Dianne Bautista
Jeannerose Bell
3rd Year Student
COMMON TERMS
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
- U
se of a drugs in a way that is inconsistent with medical/social norms and despite
negative consequences

SUBSTANCE INTOXICATION
- is
a transient condition of altered consciousness and behavior associated with recent use of
a substance.
- It
is often maladaptive and impairing, but reversible.

SUBSTANCE TOLERANCE
- t
he escalating effect of a drug resulting from repeated administration at a given dose
- a
pharmacological concept describing subjects' reduced reaction to a drug following its
repeated use.

SUBSTANCE WITHDRAWAL
- t
he group of symptoms that occur upon the abrupt discontinuation or decrease in the
intake of medicational or recreational drugs.

SUBSTANCE DEPENDENCE
- D
ependence can be a bodily response to a substance.
- T
his often occurs if you rely on medications to control a chronic medical condition.
- a
n adaptive state that develops from repeated drug administration, and which results in
withdrawal upon cessation of drug use.

SUBSTANCE DETOXIFICATIONS
- P
rocess of safely withdrawing from a substance
TYPES of SUBSTANCE ABUSE
1. ALCOHOL
- A
central nervous system depressant that is absorbed rapidly into the bloodstream.
- U
sually effects are relaxation and loss of inhibitors
INTOXICATION
- S
lurred speech
- U
nsteady gait
- L
ack of coordination
- I
mpaired attention / concentration / memory
- S
ome people become aggressive or display inappropriate sexual behaviours
- W
orst case; blackout
 OVERDOSE
- C
an result I vomiting, unconsciousness and respiratory depression, aspiration
pneumonia / pulmonary obstruction
WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS
- B
egin 4 to 12 hrs after cessation / marked reduction of alcohol intake.
- T
remors
- S
weating
- E
levated PR & BP
- I
nsomnia
- A
nxiety
- n
/v
- s
evere: seizures & hallucinations or delirium tremens
TREATMENT
- S
upportive care
- S
imilar to nervous system depressant; gastric lavage
- B
enzodiazepines

2. AMPHETAMINES / COCAINE / METHAMPHETAMINE

- S
TIMULANTS DRUGS ( stimulate / excite the CNS)
- A
MPHETAMINES (“uppers” used by people who wants to lose weight or stay awake)
- C
OCAINE (an illegal drug with virtually no clinical use in medicine / highly addictive
and popular recreational drug due to the INTENSE AND IMMEDIATE FEELING OF
EUPHORIA it produces).
- M
ETHAMPHETAMINE (particularly dangerous / HIGHLY ADDICTIVE and causes
PSYCHOTIC BEHAVIOR / can cause brain damage r/t frequently used)
INTOXICATION
- -
- -
- -
- -
OVERDOSE
- S
eizures / coma
- D
eath are rare
WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS
- O
ccurs within a few hours to several days after cessation
- D
epressive mood
- S
uicidal ideation
- U
npleasant dream - insomnia
- I
ncreased appetite
TREATMENT
- -
- -
3. CAFFEINE
- a
central nervous system stimulant that has the ability to enhance concentration,
increase metabolism, and boost mood.
INTOXICATION
- A
persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control caffeine use
- C
ontinued caffeine use despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical
or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by
caffeine
OVERDOSE
- A
need for markedly increased amounts of caffeine to achieve desired effect
- M
arkedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of caffeine
WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS
- -
Headache Difficulty concentrating
- -
Irritability Depressed mood
- -
Fatigue Tremors
- -
Anxiety Low energy
TREATMENT
- D
ecrease caffeine consumption gradually.
- w
ater down drinks that contain caffeine.

4. CANNABIS / MARIJUANA

- C
annabis sativa is the hemp plant
 - W
idely known for its psychoactive resin that contains more than 60 substance-
CANNABINOIDS

- M
ARIJUANA refers to upper leaves, flowering tops and stem of the plant.

- H
ASH refers to dried resinous exudate from the leaves of the female plant

- C
ANNABIS most often smoked in cigarettes but it can be eaten / widely used illicit
substance
INTOXICATION
- B
egins to act less than 1 minute after inhalation.
- P
eak effects usually occurs in 20-30 minutes and last to 2-3hours.
- I
mpaired motor coordination
- I
nappropriate laughter
- A
nxiety
- I
ncreased appetite
WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS
- -
- -
TREATMENT
- S
upportive care
- A
ntipsychotic drugs