Substance Use and Public Health

SLOs Addressed:

• Define key terms associated with substance use

• Describe different models of addiction

• Examine substance use as a chronic relapsing disorder

• Explain what substances are used and abused and their effect on an individual's health and social functioning

• Explore trends in the global burden of mental, neurological and substance use disorders

• Review the UNGASS 2016 position regarding the role of public health in addressing substance use disorders

General Instructions:

In this activity, you will demonstrate your understanding of substance use disorders and their impact on public health through critical analysis and research.

Step 1: Select and Reflect

1. Review the course materials on "Introduction to Substance Use Disorders" and "The Global Impact of Substance Use Disorders."

2. Read the World Health Organization's report "Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health" (most recent edition).

3. You may explore additional resources for a deeper understanding of the issues.

Step 2: Critical Analysis and Response

Based on your readings and research, compose a 500-700 word response addressing the following:

1. Define key terms associated with substance use disorders and explain their significance in public health contexts.

2. Analyze the different models of addiction (disease model, moral model, biopsychosocial model, etc.) and evaluate their implications for public health approaches.

3. Examine substance use as a chronic relapsing disorder and discuss how this conceptualization influences treatment approaches and public health policies.

4. Identify and explain the major categories of substances that are commonly used and abused, analyzing their specific effects on individual health and social functioning.

5. Explore current trends in the global burden of mental, neurological, and substance use disorders, citing current epidemiological data.

Step 3: Share

To share your work, click on the "Add a new discussion topic" button under this post and paste your work into the "Message" box. Make sure to reference others' intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. (N.B.: references are excluded from word counts).

SLOs Addressed:

• Differentiate among the main categories of substance use disorder behaviors

• Explore commonly used substance use disorder screening instruments/tools

• Correlate the social determinants of health to the risk of individual and group development and sustenance of substance use disorders

• Analyze the factors that can contribute positively to individual and group resilience to substance use

• Examine the co-occurrence of substance use and mental health disorders

• Examine substance use and associated health conditions throughout the lifespan

• Examine special reproductive health issues for women in relation to substance use, comorbidity, and pharmacological treatment

General Instructions:

In this activity, you will develop a case study that demonstrates your understanding of substance use disorder assessment, social determinants, and comorbidities.

Step 1: Prepare

1. Familiarize yourself with at least three standardized screening tools for substance use disorders (e.g., AUDIT, DAST, CAGE, ASSIST).

2. Research the social determinants of health that influence substance use risk and resilience.

3. Study common comorbidities of substance use disorders with mental and physical health conditions.

Step 2: Develop a Case Study

Develop a comprehensive case study (500-750 words) that includes:

1. Patient Profile: Create a fictional patient with a substance use disorder, including demographic information, social context, personal history, and presenting symptoms.
   
   

2. Assessment Process: Detail how healthcare providers would assess this patient, including:

• Identify the substance use disorder and its symptoms 

• Selection and application of appropriate screening instruments/tools

• Diagnostic criteria being applied (DSM-5 or ICD-11)

• Possible challenges in the assessment process

3. Social Determinants Analysis: 

• Analyze how social determinants of health may have influenced:

1. The development and sustenance of the substance use disorder

2. Access to care and treatment options

• Identify specific factors that could contribute positively to the individual's resilience to substance use

4. Comorbidity Examination: Identify and explain:

• Co-occurring mental health disorders and their relationship with the substance use disorder

• Associated health conditions that are present throughout the lifespan

5. Treatment Recommendations: Based on your comprehensive assessment, provide evidence-based recommendations for this patient's care.
   

Step 3: Share and Submit

1. Submit the completed case study to the assignment dropbox.

2. Ensure your case study follows APA 7th edition formatting for citations and references.

SLOs Addressed:

• Investigate the range of policy options used to prevent alcohol, tobacco, and other substance use problems in society

• Analyze the impact of policy and environmental interventions on the prevention of substance use disorders

• Examine the role played by family, social networks and other community systems in the prevention of substance use disorders

• Explore addiction prevention strategies such as social and community support, including educational, housing, and vocational support

• Describe the role of healthcare workers in the prevention of substance use disorders

General Instructions:

In this activity, you will analyze evidence-based prevention strategies for substance use disorders across the socio-ecological spectrum.

Step 1: Select and Reflect

1. Review the course materials on "Prevention Programs and Policies" and "The role of healthcare workers and social and community support."

2. Read the UNODC/WHO International Standards on Drug Use Prevention.

3. Select a specific substance (alcohol, tobacco, opioids, cannabis, etc.) as your focus for this assignment.

Step 2: Critical Analysis and Response

Based on your readings and research, compose a 500-700 word response addressing the following:

1. Examine the specific roles played by family, social networks, and other community systems in preventing substance use disorders related to your chosen substance.

2. Explore and evaluate addiction prevention strategies focused on social and community support, including educational, housing, and vocational support, that are relevant to your chosen substance.

3. Describe and analyze the role of healthcare workers in implementing prevention strategies for your chosen substance, including potential challenges and opportunities.

Step 3: Share

To share your work, click on the "Add a new discussion topic" button under this post and paste your work into the "Message" box. Make sure to reference others' intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. (N.B.: references are excluded from word counts)

SLOs Addressed:

• Describe the components of comprehensive substance abuse treatment

• Explain models and effectiveness of relapse prevention

• Discuss recommendations for public health interventions to promote treatment, recovery, and relapse prevention

• Compare and contrast autonomy and independent living with institutionalization

• Differentiate stages of change and processes to undertake behavior change

• Compare different intervention strategies for substance abuse

• Propose addiction interventions that are sensitive to different cultural identities or states of change

• Determine the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions

• Examine the advantages and disadvantages of pharmacotherapy interventions

• Assess strategies to minimize negative physical and social impacts of drug use behaviors

General Instructions:

In this activity, you will  develop a comprehensive treatment plan that demonstrates your understanding of evidence-based interventions for substance use disorders.

Step 1: Prepare

1. Review course materials on "Substance use disorders treatment and relapse prevention" and "Intervention considerations in therapy and control."

2. Research evidence-based psychotherapeutic and pharmacological interventions for substance use disorders.

3. Explore cultural considerations in substance use treatment.

Step 2: Develop a Treatment Plan

Develop a comprehensive treatment plan (800-1000 words) for a case scenario that includes:

1. Case Scenario: Select one of the following scenarios:

• A 45-year-old professional with alcohol use disorder who has attempted treatment twice before

• A 25-year-old with opioid use disorder who began using prescription medications following a sports injury

• A 35-year-old with stimulant use disorder and co-occurring depression

• A 19-year-old college student with cannabis use disorder whose academic performance is declining

2. Treatment Setting Considerations:

• Compare and contrast autonomy and independent living with institutionalization for this case

• Recommend an appropriate treatment setting with justification

3. Therapeutic Approaches:

• Describe the essential components of comprehensive substance abuse treatment for this case

• Determine the most effective psychotherapeutic interventions for this case with evidence-based rationale

• Examine the advantages and disadvantages of potential pharmacotherapy interventions

• Assess strategies to minimize negative physical and social impacts of the client's drug use behaviors

4. Relapse Prevention

• Explain applicable models of relapse prevention and evaluate their potential effectiveness for this case

• Discuss specific public health interventions that would promote treatment, recovery, and relapse prevention for this case

Step 3: Share and Submit

1. Submit the completed case study to the assignment dropbox.

2. Ensure your case study follows APA 7th edition formatting for citations and references.

SLOs Addressed:

• Define stigma in the substance use disorder context

• Compare strategies to mitigate stigmatization, marginalization, and discrimination in SUD care settings

• Summarize the ethical dilemmas faced in substance use disorder from clinical and public health perspectives

• Examine the relevance of the NAADAC Code of Ethics in guiding client-counselor relationships

• Determine appropriate response strategies to disclosure of private and distressing information

• Summarize approach strategies for research involving human participants in LMICs

• Examine key challenges that impact substance use disorder research in LMICs

• Explain the challenges of gaining informed consent from persons involved in SUD research

General Instructions:

In this activity, you will explore ethical challenges in substance use disorder care and research, with a focus on addressing stigma and conducting ethical research.

Step 1: Select and Reflect

1. Select one of the following ethical dilemmas for focused analysis:

• Mandatory treatment versus autonomy

• Confidentiality in the context of disclosure of private and distressing information

• Stigma, marginalization, and discrimination in healthcare settings

• Ethical challenges in researching vulnerable populations with SUDs in LMICs

• Challenges of gaining informed consent in SUD research

Step 2: Critical Analysis and Response

Based on your readings and research, compose a 500-700 word response addressing the following:

1. Define stigma in the substance use disorder context and analyze how it manifests in your chosen ethical dilemma.

2. Compare and evaluate different strategies to mitigate stigmatization, marginalization, and discrimination in SUD care settings related to your chosen dilemma.

3. Summarize the ethical dilemmas faced in substance use disorder treatment from both clinical and public health perspectives, focusing on your selected issue.

4. If applicable to your chosen dilemma, examine the relevance of the NAADAC Code of Ethics in guiding client-counselor relationships and determine appropriate response strategies to disclosure of private and distressing information.

5. If your chosen dilemma relates to research, summarize approach strategies for research involving human participants in LMICs, examine key challenges that impact substance use disorder research in these settings, and explain the challenges of gaining informed consent from persons involved in SUD research.

Step 3: Share

To share your work, click on the "Add a new discussion topic" button under this post and paste your work into the "Message" box. Make sure to reference others' intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. (N.B.: references are excluded from word counts).

For this final assignment, you will illustrate the significance of the ethical principles and human rights protection in addressing the challenges of conducting research with substance use disorder participants in marginalized and vulnerable populations.

Step 1:  Identify two countries in the same OR different regions and examine major ethical and human rights issues that surround substance use disorder research in each of the selected countries.

Step 2: Prepare a reflection piece of 1500-2500 words in length. Based on your findings, suggest strategies that can be used to engage marginalized and vulnerable populations so as to improve data collection and research outcomes.  Ensure that your response includes the following :

• What strategies you would suggest and why?
• What you have learnt in the previous modules with regards to access to substance use disorder treatment and control services in a global setting?
•  How would you apply this knowledge in your local context?

Step 3: To share your work in Moodle, click on the “Add a New Post” button under this post and paste your work in the “message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting; see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library for instructions: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

Item A is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
Item B is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
Item C is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
Item D is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are…

Adapted from https://web.uri.edu/assessment/files/reflection_rubric.doc.