Understanding alcohol and substance misuse

Introduction

Drugs, including alcohol, are a central feature of our society and are used by many people for lots of different reasons. Drugs in themselves shouldn’t necessarily be perceived as good nor bad; they feature commonly as medicines and social enablers amongst other uses (Gossop, 2013). Our relationship with drugs and drug use is complex. Drug and alcohol use for many is a largely enjoyable affair and unwanted outcomes such as hangovers are often managed to maximise the pleasure and minimise the harm. For some however, use can become problematic and impact more negatively on our health and wellbeing.

As nurses and health care professionals we are required to remain vigilant to the problems presented by our patients and it is our job to respond to these with compassion and care. People often fail to spot patterns in themselves and those closest to them. This may prevent or delay seeking